Key topics in Akin’s July 2024 Sustainability/ESG Policy and Regulatory Update include: Updated Assessment of SFDR by EU Regulators: The European Supervisory Authorities have proposed changes to the Sustainable Finance...more
On 31 May 2024, a new anti-greenwashing rule is being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) as part of its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (“SDR”). We cover here the introduction of the FCA’s...more
Amid a rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing and initiatives, the European Union and United Kingdom have set their sights on efforts to combat greenwashing in the financial sector. Regulations...more
On November 28, 2023, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") published its long-awaited final rules and guidance on Sustainability Disclosure Requirements ("SDR") and investment labels. According to the FCA, it intends...more
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in green products and the promotion of sustainable objectives across the financial services industry. For example, we have seen much discussion of green loans, green...more
In our previous alert, The Sustainability Disclosure Requirements and Investment Labels Rules: Tougher ESG Standards for UK Private Fund Managers, we discussed the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) October 2022 consultation...more
On 28 November 2023, the long-awaited UK regime for the labelling, marketing and disclosure of sustainable funds (Sustainability Disclosure Requirements or “SDR”) has been published in the Financial Conduct Authority’s...more
The UK’s financial services regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has delayed the release of its policy statement setting out the final rules of the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDRs), leaving asset...more
Both opportunities and challenges have arisen for the asset management industry as a result of the rapid introduction of UK and EU sustainable finance regulation in recent years. The new requirements have been heightened in...more
On 1 June 2023, the three European Supervisory Authorities (the “ESAs”) published their respective progress reports (ESMA, EBA and EIOPA) in response to a request for their input from the European Commission (the...more
On 20 February 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority’s (“ESMA”) consultation paper (ESMA34-472-373) “Guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms” (the “Consultation”) closed to comments....more
Following the turn of the new year, our UK Regulatory specialists have examined the key regulatory developments in 2023 impacting a range of UK and European firms within the financial services sector. The key dates have been...more
After some delay, the United Kingdom’s financial services regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) has published Consultation Paper CP 22/20 (Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (“SDR”) and investment labels)...more
At COP26 last year, the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned the financial services industry that it was time to “walk the walk”, and emphasised that greenwashing would not be tolerated in the...more
The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued proposed rules to establish a U.K. sustainability disclosure regime (SDR) providing a U.K. take on a topic many investment managers have been dealing with in...more
On 25 October 2022, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) published a consultation paper (CP22/20) on Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (“SDR”) and investment labels (the “Consultation”). The...more
There have been numerous positive developments in the evolution of ESG investing. Still, the research needed to assess which investments are truly ESG-compliant and which are tantamount to greenwashing is burdensome...more
As appetite in the market for “green” and ESG badged products grows and grows, so too grows the number of legislative and regulatory initiatives intended to prevent or mitigate the risk of greenwashing. ...more