Latest news with #environmental
Bloomberg
27-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
How investors can navigate the sustainable data disclosure gap
Tackling gaps in sustainability data However, for the foreseeable future, investors will continue to rely on legacy voluntary disclosures. To help investors face this large, sparsely populated dataset, Bloomberg provides a curated set of waterfall fields (i.e. providing the best available data from a prioritized sequence of fields) and derived metrics, and standardizes the different units of measure used by companies around the world. Our standard dataset for entity-level sustainability disclosures, covering a universe of companies equivalent to ~95% of global market cap, illustrates the challenges of voluntary reporting. The absence of binding requirements and a lack of standardization result in a large number of related but ultimately distinct disclosures for a given metric, together with low levels of disclosure (Figure 1). More specifically, sustainability analysts must navigate between hundreds of fields, knowing that environmental fields are reported by 1 in 5 entities, while social metrics are available for 1 entity in 3. The extent of disclosure depends on the topic and type of business activity (see Figure 2. Note: These differences in company focus will be captured by the double materiality assessment under CSRD). For instance, a mining company's investors may prioritize details about community engagement and water consumption, while a hardware manufacturer might emphasize aspects of the circular economy. In contrast, an entertainment company with a smaller environmental impact may have fewer data points to report. The level of disclosure varies by company size. For instance, large companies with revenues in excess of US$10 billion report twice as many environmental metrics as smaller firms with revenues under US$100 million. Large companies tend to attract the most sophisticated investors and are better positioned to allocate more resources toward measuring sustainability performance. The level of disclosure also varies by region (Figures 3 and 4). Based on Bloomberg coverage of over 16,000 companies, the average field completeness is similar in Europe and APAC. The former has a slight edge on climate metrics while the latter comes out slightly ahead in the total number of environmental and social datapoints (108 versus 104 populated fields). Meanwhile, firms in North America lag behind with approximately 20% fewer datapoints across those categories, but US regulations and long-standing practice result in more governance datapoints than firms in other regions. Investor demand for sustainability data has contributed to a twofold increase in the rate of disclosures over the past 20 years (Figure 5). Investors seeking to understand the impact of sustainability on financial performance ask for more transparency, but voluntary reporting has shortcomings. The standardization of sustainability reporting around mandatory reporting frameworks like CSRD and IFRS S1 and S2 should result in more useful datasets. As a result, companies should receive fewer bilateral data requests from their investors, suppliers and customers. In due course, investors may be able to do more with less, as interest in non-mandatory disclosures with lower completeness should fade over time.
Geek Wire
23-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Amazon shareholder revolt loses steam
In-depth Amazon coverage from the tech giant's hometown, including e-commerce, AWS, Amazon Prime, Alexa, logistics, devices, and more. GeekWire File Photo / Todd Bishop Amazon's latest shareholder results, released Thursday afternoon, show a continued decline in support for some high-profile environmental and social proposals. Measures on packaging waste and warehouse safety each received noticeably less backing than comparable resolutions did in prior years. It's a sharp change from 2022, when similar resolutions came close to passing. The trend signals waning momentum for activism among Amazon shareholders, despite ongoing scrutiny of its environmental impact and workplace practices. Amazon's board opposed all of the environmental and social resolutions, as it has in previous years, saying the proposals were unnecessary given the company's existing disclosures, policies, commitments, and progress on the underlying issues they raised. The company announced during its annual meeting Wednesday that none of the shareholder resolutions had passed, but the vote totals weren't disclosed until a regulatory filing today. Among the most striking results was a proposal calling for additional reporting on Amazon's use of plastic packaging, which drew 49% support in 2022 and 13.5% this year — a drop of more than 35 percentage points in three years. The top shareholder resolution for 2025 was a proposal on warehouse working conditions, with 22% support. However, that compared to 44% support for a similar resolution in 2022. A proposal on carbon emission reduction received 14% support, down from 15% in 2024. However, a separate proposal calling for a report on the climate impact of Amazon's growing data center operations — driven in part by AI — drew more attention and votes. It questioned whether the use of renewable energy credits can keep up with rising energy demands. The measure, backed by former Amazon employees associated with the advocacy group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, received 19.9% support — the second-highest among this year's shareholder proposals. That was despite strong opposition from the company and an unsuccessful attempt to block it from the ballot. In a statement after the vote, co-filer Eliza Pan, a former Amazon employee, criticized the company's disclosures, saying they fail to reflect the true environmental cost of its AI expansion. 'Amazon is hiding the massive impacts of its AI with misleading reporting,' she said. 'If the company is serious about its Climate Pledge, we need to know what's really happening.' All board-backed proposals were approved by shareholders, including an advisory vote on executive compensation, which received 78% support — up from 68% in 2023.
Globe and Mail
14-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Two Dallas/Fort Worth Area Environmental Businesses Complete Sale of Assets to Publicly Traded Company
NASHVILLE, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truxton Capital Advisors (TCA) announced today the sale of two commonly owned environmental businesses to a publicly traded company in a combined asset purchase. The acquisition positions the acquirer to garner a significant market share in the provision of environmental testing products and services in North America. TCA advised on deal terms and provided significant financial, accounting, tax and general due diligence support. 'We were proud to be involved in the transaction of these two businesses, which marked a significant event in the lives of the families who owned them,' remarked Peter Deming, Managing Director of TCA. 'We're very pleased with how the succession of these two businesses were handled, the consideration given to hardworking employees, the achievement of management's goals, and the solidification of the owners' legacies. Our Firm's ability to serve these families extends well beyond this transaction, bringing to bear the significant planning and financial resources of Truxton Wealth and Truxton Banking to provide world-class service.' Maynard Nexsen served as legal counsel for the sellers, led by Robert Waller and Brian Howaniec. "Truxton Capital Advisors provided exceptional guidance throughout the entire process,' stated the longtime family business owner. 'Their expertise, professionalism, and unwavering support were integral to the successful execution of the transaction." Truxton Capital Advisors (TCA) provides family-owned businesses with thoughtful, consultative services and investment banking strategies to meet their capital needs. Through a comprehensive, relationship-focused approach, TCA delivers highly sophisticated, tax-sensitive solutions to maximize desired outcomes both for the business today and for the family long-term. About Truxton Truxton is a premier provider of wealth, banking, and family office services for wealthy individuals, their families, and their business interests. Serving clients across the world, Truxton's vastly experienced team of professionals provides customized solutions to its clients' complex financial needs. Founded in 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee, Truxton upholds its original guiding principle: do the right thing. Truxton Trust Company is a subsidiary of financial holding company, Truxton Corporation (OTCPK: TRUX). For more information, visit
CBC
07-05-2025
- Science
- CBC
Humans are accidentally making new rocks with their industrial waste
Researchers have discovered a new rock cycle in which industrial waste rapidly turns into rock. As Johanna Wagstaffe explains, this fascinating new process raises serious environmental concerns.
