In June 2025, India’s securities regulator SEBI introduced a regulatory framework for ESG-labeled debt instruments—including social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked bonds. This aims to enhance transparency and combat greenwashing in the country’s fast-growing green finance market.

Despite regulatory frameworks on building energy efficiency, many buildings in the UK and EU still fall short due to weak enforcement, limited financial incentives, and low market momentum. Green loan discounts remain minimal, posing challenges for real estate decarbonization.

The ISO and GHG Protocol have announced a strategic partnership to develop unified global standards for corporate GHG emissions accounting and reporting. This move aims to eliminate discrepancies between standards and improve consistency and transparency for companies worldwide.

The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) published a new guide to help private market investors evaluate and manage ESG risks across supply chains, offering practical tools to drive sustainability in non-listed asset classes.

The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is now entering a binding phase across the EU. Companies will be required to identify and address environmental and human rights risks across their operations and supply chains.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) now mandates ESG disclosures aligned with the TCFD framework, with a roadmap to full IFRS S1/S2 alignment starting in 2025. Given Hong Kong’s international investor base, disclosures must not only meet regulatory requirements but also demonstrate governance quality and investment value.

Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have set net-zero targets for 2050/2060 and are increasingly requiring ESG disclosures from SOEs and financial institutions. Sovereign funds such as PIF, Mubadala, and ADQ now treat ESG compliance and transparency as prerequisites for international financing and IPOs.

Adaptation (climate impact on communities, infrastructure, water)