Fed flexibility on balance sheet normalization could have far-reaching consequences. Tech stock valuations suggest fears that trade war is morphing into tech war.  A more dovish Fed spells respite for highly indebted EM borrowers.  There has been unprecedented growth in green syndicated lending – not just green bonds – ...

The EU budgets for 2021-27 aim to boost recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and advance EU societal objectives, including the European Green Deal.  The €1.8 trillion package reflects a 30% climate target on all EU spending, the EU 2030 emissions reduction target, halving the Just Transition Fund (JTF).  It turns the Euro ...

Sustainability and digital processes are the future for 74% of the responding surveyed hotel investors, owners, leaseholders and developers. While owners of hotel properties are struggling with loss of rent, defaults and the risk that the hotel asset class will be downgraded, going forward investors, owners and operato ...

Sustainability linked loans induce borrower achievement of ambitious, predetermined performance objectives and promote sustainable development.  The borrower’s sustainability performance is measured against sustainability performance targets (SPTs) as set against key performance indicators, external ratings and/or equi ...

Green loan principles (GLP) facilitate and support environmentally sustainable economic activity through use of green loan products.  Green loans are any type of loan instrument made available exclusively to finance or refinance in whole or in part new and/or existing eligible "green projects".  Financial institutions ...

The business case for sustainable hotels establishes the benefits for each of the different participants in a hotel development project.  By working together to integrate sustainability into the development of new builds and retrofits, the best financial benefits are realized for all parties along the hotel value chain ...

"Green loans" are used to finance green projects, whereas "sustainability linked loans" are linked to the borrower's sustainability performance.  In the European Union in recent years, there has been rapid growth in green financial products only for use to fund green sustainable projects.  Unlike green loans, the use o ...

Sustainability is viewed as the new normal and envisaged for the future of tourism, as announced by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).  This publication elaborates on and expands the UNWTO Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism, with the aim to emerge stronger and more sustainable from the COVID-19 crisis.  The reco ...

What does Maslow's hierarchy of needs have to do with sustainability, a circular economy and COVID-19, asks Jan Hein Simmons.  Everything!  He argues we are ignoring the fact that we live in a closed system as long as we focus on linear economic growth for shareholders – at the exclusion of many stakeholders.  He remin ...

The ways the hospitality industry deals with the COVID-19 crisis provides insight into the crisis management endeavors in building a business case for disaster and climate resiliency. The Sustainability in Hospitality Panel is supported by experts across many fields. The panel's goal is to have sustainability anchored ...

For long-term economic recovery and strength, integration of green transition and digital transformation into Europe’s economic recovery could be crucial. The COVID-19 stimulus packages will likely require compliance with sustainability goals. This condition could provide the Europe with an advantage over other economi ...

Kamala Harris is a proven fighter for sustainability and an advocate for environmental justice, prioritizing sustainability strategies for the US. The Biden-Harris ticket for the US presidential election is focusing on the impact of climate change and ensuring communities already burdened by pollution benefit from a tr ...

Hotel companies, developers and operators are implimenting short- and long-term sustainability solutions and practices while increasing profitability.  Long-term sustainability decisions are being made to combat climate change that lead to a significant cost saving over the longer term.  Hotels designed in accordance w ...

Nestle, Tchibo and other global firms explicitly support a German law requiring environmental and social safeguards along the entire supply chain.  Despite a broad alliance of more than 100 companies, civil society organizations and unions as well as the support of the German Labor and Development ministries, the Feder ...

The EC's proposal to boost the EU’s 2030 emissions reduction target from 40% to "at least 55%" will be fought by industries and governments.  Brussels is proposing a major overhaul of EU climate policy that will reform rules for the forestry and agriculture sectors and expand the Emissions Trading System to also cover ...