The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
Adani’s Carmichael mine has been “covertly funded” by the World Bank through a private arm that is supposed to back “sustainable development”, according to a US-based human rights organisation. Adani Enterprises acquired exploration rights for Australia’s largest proposed coalmine in 2010 with a US$250m loan from banks including India’s ICICI, …
Banks have financed companies responsible for rainforest destruction in Southeast Asia to the tune of billions of dollars, a study showed Tuesday, and called on lenders to stop "fuelling forest crime". Southeast Asia is home to some of the world's most diverse rainforests, but they have come under threat in …
Asia Pacific’s financial institutions have begun to factor climate risks and opportunities into their activities, but they have a long way to go before they can fully unlock the multi-trillion dollar financing opportunity that climate change presents, a new report has found. Titled ‘Investing for the Climate in Asia’ and …
A ‘first of its kind’ initiative which will help to enable more emphasis on Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs through a curriculum Course to benefit more than 200 Under Graduate students (UG) and 40 Post Graduate (PG) students this year Advanced educative methodologies to be adopted, participative …
In a bid to cut the increasing cost of running their branches across the country, many Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) are now opting for renewable energy. LEADERSHIP gathered that the new strategy by the banks is to enable them spend less on diesel and maintenance of their power generating plants. …
The world’s insurers, banks and pension funds are "inherently susceptible" to threats from climate change and must make adjustments, from shifting investment toward environmentally friendly industries to revamping strategies to reduce risk, said the Global Risk Institute. Climate change is a top priority that must be addressed systemically and without …
The £3.8bn green investment bank was set up in 2012 to ‘accelerate the UK’s transition to a greener, stronger economy’. The bank set up by the government to to fund green infrastructure and cited frequently by David Cameron as evidence of the UK’s leadership on climate change will no longer …
The opinion of some that the balance of the global green bonds market is set to shift towards the developing and emerging markets has received a huge boost with two Chinese banks raising billions in fresh issues. The China Industrial Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank recently raised a total …
HSBC has become the latest bank to ramp up its commitment to sustainable business with the launch of a new $1bn green bond portfolio that will be used to fund projects in the renewable energy sector. The bank has pledged to place the $1bn portfolio into 'high-quality liquid assets', forming …
Involvement with the mine, which critics say threatens endangered species, was exposing the London-based bank to reputational damage Standard Chartered bank is pulling out of a vast coalmining project in Australia that critics say threatens endangered species and could wreck international efforts to contain global warming. The London-based bank revealed …
President Jakaya Kikwete on Friday launched Tanzania's first ever national bank for agricultural development with a view to bring a focused approach to financing farmers. The Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank Limited (TADB) has been established to address national goals enshrined in the Tanzania Vision 2025, specifically to facilitate attainment of …
The majority of financial institutions do not have policies requiring clients to comply with forestry regulations, according to a study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) revealed today (29 July). Of the 30 major financial institutions assessed by UNEP, most had had no mechanisms to promote sustainable forest conservation …
Standard Chartered bank has put palm oil and soy companies on notice that it will soon stop dealing with businesses whose operations drive the widespread destruction of tropical forests. The lender has signed up to an industry agreement, which also covers timber product companies, that commits it to avoid groups …
Strong macroeconomic fundamentals offer India a “reasonable degree of resilience” to fight uncertainties, but poor asset quality of banks and managing expectations are key challenges for regulators and the government, says the Financial Stability Report. There has been a significant improvement in the macroeconomic environment, and going forward, economic performance …
China needs to cut lending to coal-related industries and shift more financing to cleaner businesses in order to address a huge funding gap that is hindering the country's war on pollution, a study drawn up in part by central bank researchers said. Some 2.9 trillion yuan ($468 billion) a year …
China needs to cut lending to coal-related industries and shift more financing to cleaner businesses in order to address a huge funding gap that is hindering the country's war on pollution, a study drawn up in part by central bank researchers said. Some 2.9 trillion yuan ($468 billion) a year …
Researchers affiliated with China’s central bank have proposed creating a China Ecological Development Bank with at least 100 billion yuan ($16 billion) in capital as part of a broad plan to boost “green finance.” Discussion is continuing about whether such a bank is necessary and how it should be financed, …
Jim Yong Kim endorses rival development bank AIIB, saying new initiative could help end extreme poverty if it ensures high standards for projects The World Bank plans to work together with the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to fight poverty and fund infrastructure projects, the World Bank president, Jim Yong …
A new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) identifies critical innovations in the US$300+ trillion global financial system, which, if brought to scale, could help close the widening sustainable development investment gap. The report is being launched at the World Economic Forum at Davos - at the …
Eight banks have so far initiated action Public sector banks (PSBs) are to accept rooftop solar installation cost as part of home loan or home improvement proposals of individual customers. The Union Finance Ministry is reported to have advised the PSBs to encourage home loan/ home improvement loan seekers to …
