The Sustainable Development Investments Asset Owner Platform (SDI AOP) has launched SDI Outcomes, a dataset designed to help asset owners measure the real-world outcomes of their sustainable investments. The dataset, which covers the outputs of more than 1,600 listed companies globally, quantifies the products and services which sit underneath existing revenue alignment data, ensuring increased standardisation to allow asset owners and managers to more effectively track portfolio outcomes and align with sustainability goals, including net zero targets and UN Sustainable Development Goal objectives. “The SDI Outcomes product was developed to meet client demand for this type of granular outputs data to help fight greenwashing concerns,” said James Leaton, SDI AOP’s Research Director. “Clients find it difficult to compare the data companies provide relating to outcomes as various methodologies are used. The SDI Outcomes approach takes care of the adjustments and validation for clients to produce consistent numbers.” The tool’s approach aligns with globally recognised standards and builds on existing lifecycle analysis and academic research. SDI AOP is led by asset owners including superannuation fund AustralianSuper and Dutch pensions firms APG and PGGM.

French asset manager Mirova’s Research Centre and Sweep, an online platform for managing carbon and ESG data, have teamed up to drive the development of an index for measuring companies’ contributions to global carbon neutrality. The organisations have issued an expression of interest for others to collaborate on the creation of a Corporate Climate Contribution Index (CCCI), which will close on 4 April. The CCCI’s methodology is intended to be presented at November’s COP30 in Brazil. Mirova said that companies play a crucial role in the fight against climate change, as they influence not only their own emissions but also those within their value chains. “The index will represent a significant advancement in our approach to shareholder engagement by enabling us to engage in dialogue on the key action levers based on a transparent methodology,” said Manuel Coeslier, Co-Head of Mirova Research Centre. “This index can also serve as a compass for investment strategies to enhance their performance — and potentially their climate impact.” Renaud Bettin, Vice President of Climate Action at Sweep, added that by putting forward a positive narrative, based on science and applicable to all sectors, “this index will make it possible to highlight the societal role of businesses, and restore the reputation of corporate social responsibility which has been so maligned in recent times”. 

Data and information giant Bloomberg has collaborated with benchmark provider General Index to bolster its voluntary carbon market (VCM) coverage, offering Bloomberg Terminal users access to more than 200 voluntary carbon price indexes. The expanded dataset includes transparent carbon credit ‘price baskets’ offering pricing insights. The assessment range features 69 spot prices and 133 spread and rolling average price indexes, providing greater granularity on some of the most liquid markets and geographies for VCMs. “Increased volatility due to macro and geopolitical events will continue to drive investor demand for commodities price transparency and market intelligence particularly focused on evolving markets like voluntary carbon,” said Emilie Gallagher, Global Head of Commodities, FX and Macroeconomics at Bloomberg. “Bloomberg has been covering carbon markets for over a decade and we’re very pleased to continue our strategic collaboration with General Index to provide Bloomberg Terminal customers with access to VCM information.” In January, Bloomberg purchased VCM data and analytics firm Viridios AI from its parent company, increasing the carbon markets data and analytics available to Bloomberg customers. Separately, an Octopus Investments survey of 300 senior decision-makers at UK businesses with more than 250 employees found that only 42% correctly defined what carbon credits are. The report stated that 92% of leaders are optimistic about achieving their net zero targets, with carbon credits needing to offset 10% of emissions on average. “The VCM remains nascent, and many decision-makers lack awareness of the role carbon credits play in truly achieving net zero goals. This 92% optimism may signal overconfidence given the market’s complexity,” the report said.