ESG Thought Leadership

Innovative Construction - Building for a Sustainable Future

Chambers - Real Estate and the EU's Green Agenda

ESG Through the Governance Lens

Governance connects and facilitates the environmental and social aspects of ESG, by implementing appropriate policies and procedures, oversight functions, best practices and internal controls. As the financial services industry has engaged with ESG initiatives on multiple fronts, including corporate conduct, investment decisions, ownership activities and through regulation, it is imperative that fiduciaries now consider the ESG objectives of stakeholders through the lens of governance.

In The Spotlight: ESG Integration for ManCos

The AIFMD and UCITS Delegated Acts related to ESG came into effect on 1 August and 12 September 2022 respectively. In this webcast, Stephen Carty and Lorna Smith provide a brief overview of the key changes which were introduced and steps firms should take to embed the new requirements into their core frameworks.

A Leaf Through Key Considerations Relating to Green Leases in Ireland

Green leases are not a new concept, however, there is increased focus on such leases in the Irish real estate sector recently due to environmental concerns, a collective responsibility (and indeed desire) to become more energy and environmentally efficient as well as increased scrutiny on environmental, social and governance ("ESG") requirements.

ESG Certification: Assisting in Mitigating Greenwashing for Investors, Managers, Funds and Regulators

When it comes to ESG, funds and managers are struggling to showcase and validate their initiatives. A clear framework and methodology for independent ESG reporting and certification can help overcome this issue and can establish credibility with respect to their ESG strategies. Through collaboration among key stakeholders such as asset managers, service providers, consultants and academic researchers, the industry can strive to set the standard for ESG investing certification.

Maples Group Launches Industry-Leading ESG Fund Services Solutions

The Maples Group is pleased to announce the expansion of its global Fund Services offering with the launch of new ESG solutions to support fund managers and institutional investors committed to investments with strong environmental, social and governance ("ESG") and impact investing credentials.

Walking the Walk on ESG: Mitigating Greenwashing Risk on the Path to Investing Sustainably

In this article, the latest edition of the AIMA Journal, Stephen Carty and Brian Clarke discuss some practical measures for asset managers and how to effectively manage and mitigate risks regarding environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.

New Mandatory Consideration of ESG Factors for EU Investment Fund Managers

A range of new EU legislative measures on sustainable finance become effective on 1 August 2022.

MiFID Sustainability Preferences - Putting ESG at the Centre of the Sales Process

A wide range of new EU sustainable finance measures come into force on 1 August 2022.

Do No Significant Harm Handbook

The Do No Significant Harm principle ("DNSH") is a set of criteria featuring in both the European Union's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and the Taxonomy Regulation.

ESG EMEA Report 2022 - Ireland

In this report, Niamh O'Shea and Ian Conlon analyse the twin difficulties of delays to implementation and lack of transparency and reporting standards for ESG data in the EU. Their contribution formed part of the ESG EMEA Report 2022 published in April 2022.

Sustainable Finance – Changes for UCITS Managers and AIFMs

On 1 August 2022, a wide range of new EU legislative measures on sustainable finance (collectively referred to as the "Delegated Acts") are due to become effective.

ESG Trend Continues for 2022 Sukuk Issuance Using Offshore Centres

In this Country Correspondent Report for Islamic Finance News ("IFN"), Manuela Belmontes discusses the growth in Sukuk transactions in 2022 and how environmental, social and governance ("ESG") and the issuance of green Sukuk continue to be a prominent trend in the market.

ESG – Sustainable Securitisation Report

One of the amendments to the EU Securitisation Regulation1 which came into force in April 2021 required the European Banking Authority ("EBA") to publish a report on developing a sustainable securitisation framework to integrate sustainability-related transparency requirements into the EU Securitisation Regulation. The EBA published this report, Developing a Framework for Sustainable Securitisation, on 2 March 2022 (the "Report").

Guide to the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation - Regulatory Technical Standards

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation ("SFDR") Level 2 requirements as set out under the Regulatory Technical Standards ("RTS") will apply from 1 January 2023 ("SFDR Phase II"). Our Level 2 Guide to the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation considers the main deliverables for SFDR Phase II and provides a compliance checklist for firms in order to prepare for Phase II.

Webinar SFDR Level 2 Implementation Guide

Ian Conlon and Niamh O'Shea of our Funds & Investment Management team discuss the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation ("SFDR") Level 2 requirements as set out under the Regulatory Technical Standards ("RTS") which will apply from 1 January 2023 ("SFDR Phase II"), in a recent webinar in association with AIMA.

Webinar: SFDR Phase II – Completion of Pre-Contractual Template

Ireland as a Centre for Green Finance - Guide to Sustainable Investment Funds

Our Guide to Sustainable Investment Funds examines Ireland as a Centre for Green Finance, provides an overview of the Irish investment fund sector, legal structures and regulatory regime and the EU Commission's Sustainable Action Plan.