Nuclear power’s rehabilitation as “green” or at least ESG‑compatible energy is one of the most striking U‑turns it's been witnessed in three decades of watching the sustainability field evolve. For most of that period, nuclear was the elephant excluded from the ESG room: low‑carbon but politically toxic, bracketed with asbestos and tobacco in many investor exclusion lists. Today, however, in boardrooms and sovereign wealth funds from Toronto to Tokyo, nuclear is being re‑exam

1. Macro Snapshot: Growth Powerhouse with ESG Headwinds Indicator Value (2024 est.) Population ~29 million GDP (nominal) ~$83 billion GDP per capita (nominal) ~$2,860 GDP growth ~6.6% Public debt-to-GDP ~56% Electrification rate ~75% Renewable electricity share ~35% GHG emissions per capita ~0.7 tCO₂e *Côte d’Ivoire is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest-growing economies , driven by agriculture, infrastructure, and services . However, its economic model—centered on cocoa and

The recent capturing of Venezuela’s president live on air  and the subsequent collapse of state governance have sent shockwaves through global markets, triggering a dramatic plunge in Venezuela’s Political Exposure Risk (PER) score . For investors, multinational corporations, and ESG-rated entities with links to the country, this marks a pivotal moment where political instability becomes the defining ESG variable . Using the PER framework  developed by ISESG (Institute for Su

In the labyrinthine halls of Brussels, where policy often moves slower than traffic on the Paris ring road, a quiet but telling retreat unfolded this week. The European Union, long a global pacesetter on environmental regulation, has formally withdrawn its proposed restrictions on carbon fibre usage in automobiles , a move that had been under discussion since early 2025. The decision—finalised on December 28th after months of backroom negotiations, lobbying, and industrial pu

At the heart of Paris’s Boulevard Haussmann, where century-old department stores once symbolised the elegance of French retail, a quiet rebellion has erupted. And it wasn’t against a new tax, politician, or digital disruptor—it was against a rack of $5 dresses. When Chinese ultra-fast fashion giant Shein  opened a pop-up store in Galeries Lafayette this autumn, it was met with more than just queues of eager shoppers. Activists stormed the entrance, protestors camped outside w

As the global business landscape undergoes tectonic shifts under the pressures of climate change, energy security, and geopolitical realignment, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is no longer a soft metric—it is a strategic imperative. For companies operating in or investing across ASEAN markets, aligning with ESG expectations is not just about good optics. It’s about survival, competitiveness, and long-term value creation. Amid this transformation, a new tool is em

There is a particular kind of morning in Brussels, often damp and gray, when the corridors of the Berlaymont seem to hum with a nervous energy. On such a morning this December, the European Commission announced a move that, for all its bureaucratic phrasing, felt like a tectonic shift: the proposal to withdraw its blanket ban on the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles after 2035. “We will allow, under certain conditions, the continued sale of new cars with engines pos

In the global boardrooms of 2025, the old certainties about corporate tax, governance, and strategy are evaporating. “The only constant is change,” quips the CFO of a European energy major, sifting through the latest missive from the OECD. And nowhere does this maxim ring truer than at the intersection of BEPS 2.0—tax reform’s new flagship—and the fast-evolving world of ESG, energy transition, security, and geopolitics. For companies wrestling with this knot of challenges, go

Mongolia , a vast and sparsely populated country nestled between Russia and China, is emerging as a frontier ESG story —a nation balancing resource extraction, climate fragility, and green ambition . As a major exporter of coal, copper, and rare earths, it faces mounting pressure to align its development model with global sustainability norms , while also contending with some of the world’s most severe climate challenges . “We are committed to becoming a nature-positive econo

Introduction: The Age of Strategic ESG In an era defined by polycrisis—simultaneous geopolitical shocks, climate emergencies, and economic realignments—the ESG framework is undergoing a profound transformation. Once criticized as a vague corporate virtue signal centered on Environmental , Social , and Governance  factors, the concept of ESG is being recast. The new ESG— Energy, Security, and Geostrategy —reflects a world where boardroom decisions are now inseparable from geop

1. The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) As Japan's premier institution, UTokyo is the leader in sustainability science and ESG-related policy research. Key Strengths:  It hosts the Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI) , which focuses heavily on sustainability and global commons. The university has launched the "UTokyo Compass," a strategic framework explicitly aligning university operations and research with Green Transformation (GX). ESG Focus:  Heavy emphasis on climate model

In the rapidly evolving world of climate finance, carbon credits have emerged as the universal currency of decarbonization . They represent verified emission reductions or removals that can be traded to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — enabling countries, corporations, and individuals to meet their climate targets. But while the concept of a carbon credit is simple, the ecosystem governing its creation and trade is anything but. As Editor-in-Chief at the Institute for

1. Introduction: From Periphery to Core Barely a decade ago, the notion of carbon credits in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region was dismissed as peripheral — a boutique policy import from Europe, serving more as a diplomatic gesture than a serious economic instrument. Today, carbon trading is becoming an integral part of the region’s industrial strategy, energy transition, and investment discourse. As an economist influenced by the Chicago School tradition, I

1. Origins and Context of Carbon Credit Trading 1.1 From Environmental Regulation to Market Solutions The idea of assigning a price to carbon emissions emerged from two crucial policy developments in the late 20th century: The 1997 Kyoto Protocol : This international treaty institutionalized the concept of cap-and-trade  mechanisms, introducing three “flexible mechanisms”: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Joint Implementation (JI) International Emission Trading (IET) These

Curaçao, a semi-autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands , is executing a historic pivot from oil refining to ocean-based sustainability . As climate pressures mount and global ESG norms tighten, the island is positioning itself as a Caribbean testbed for energy transition, marine innovation, and sustainable tourism . “We are shifting from hydrocarbons to hydrogen, from extraction to regeneration,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Economic Development

Palau , a Pacific archipelago of just over 500 islands and fewer than 20,000 people, is globally recognized as a pioneer in marine conservation and climate diplomacy . As one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change and ocean degradation , Palau has embraced ESG as a sovereign survival strategy —linking blue economy governance, sustainable tourism, and green finance  into a cohesive national vision. “We are custodians of vast ocean spaces,” said President Sura

Saint Lucia, a volcanic island jewel in the Eastern Caribbean, is increasingly becoming a regional model for ESG-aligned resilience . With mounting climate pressures , a tourism-driven economy , and limited fiscal space, it has embraced a whole-of-society approach to climate adaptation , green energy, and sustainable finance. “We are climate vulnerable but climate ambitious,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Sustainable Development. “We’re embedding ESG into every se

Antigua and Barbuda is one of the world’s smallest sovereign states —yet it punches above its weight on climate diplomacy, resilience innovation, and blue-green finance . As a frontline Small Island Developing State (SIDS) , it faces extreme climate risks , but is also building a model ESG pathway for island sustainability . “We are not the problem—but we intend to be part of the solution,” said Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, co-chair of the Commission of Small Islan

As of late 2025, Argentina’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) trajectory under the new government is being shaped by a mix of economic pragmatism and political recalibration. Below is a summary of key developments and trends across ESG dimensions: 1. Environmental (E) Policy recalibration: The administration, while prioritizing economic stabilization, has partially deprioritized state-funded environmental programs. However, private-sector interest in sustainable en

Wedged between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova  is one of Europe’s poorest and most geopolitically exposed nations —but also one of its most determined reformers . Since 2022, the country has accelerated its EU accession efforts , passed ambitious energy diversification laws , and launched its first green finance frameworks . Facing climate shocks, energy insecurity, and migration pressures , Moldova is increasingly positioning itself as a test case for ESG-aligned economic tran