In an address at the MAS-Banque de France Seminar during Ecosperity Week, Marcus Lim, Assistant Managing Director (Banking & Insurance) of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), talked about how sustainability isn’t just about preventing the inevitable collapse of systems, it’s about maintaining balance before we reach a tipping point.
In my previous article, Rethinking ESG: Rediscovering the Meaning of Stewardship, I explored the idea that ESG, at its core, is not a political tool or a passing trend but rather a commitment to stewardship—taking responsibility for the resources we use, the communities we affect, and the systems that govern our organizations. As we continue to see ESG become a focal point for both praise and criticism, it's essential that we reframe the conversation around its true meaning. In this follow-up, I’ll dig deeper into the layers of stewardship embedded within ESG, examining its practical application across the three pillars—environmental, social, and governance—and the critical role GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) plays in making this vision a reality.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has just dropped a draft of its Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under the EU’s ESG Rating Regulation. These proposed rules aim to bring more clarity, transparency, and trust to the world of ESG ratings, an area that has seen rapid growth but little oversight, until now.
Amid claims that ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainable investing were set to fade into obscurity under a second Trump presidency, new data from Morgan Stanley suggests otherwise. Instead of waning interest, sustainable investing is experiencing a significant surge, driven particularly by younger generations who are not just interested in financial returns but also in aligning their investments with their values.
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) kicked off May 2025 with an important update on their priorities for sustainable finance. As consumers increasingly demand financial products that align with their values, the AFM has issued clear guidance on how financial institutions can meet this new wave of demand. But while progress has been made, the AFM is urging financial firms to do even more—and they’re not holding back on their expectations.
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced recently that it’s temporarily pressing pause on two highly anticipated projects: the development of mandatory climate-related disclosure rules and changes to diversity-related disclosure requirements. The decision, which comes at a time of mounting geopolitical and economic uncertainty, signals the CSA’s focus on supporting Canadian businesses as they navigate the fast-moving, sometimes turbulent, regulatory landscape.
In a move that will surely be welcomed by businesses throughout the European Union (EU), the European Commission has announced new measures to simplify the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), reducing the burden on operators and traders while maintaining the regulation's environmental goals. As the EUDR is set to fully come into force at the end of this year, these changes aim to make compliance easier without sacrificing the core focus: tackling deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss.