Derivatives Vigilantes Are Punishing the Badly Behaved Nations
Countries that score poorly on ESG criteria pay more to borrow. Time for central banks to step up.
Bad news for government debt offices.
Photographer: Jasper JuinenAsset managers are increasingly using their financial clout to persuade companies to be friendlier to the planet, wielding a combination of the stick of disinvestment and the carrot of engagement. But can the financial world do more to ensure countries and their central banks are also meeting their environmental, social and governance responsibilities?
Travel platform fromAtoB.com scrutinized the 2018 flight statistics for leaders of the Group of 20 nations to work out who emitted the most carbon dioxide. Of the 15 leaders examined, Japan’s Shinzo Abe was responsible for the most emissions, taking 38 flights covering 128,000 miles (207,000 kilometers) and emitting almost 14,500 tons of CO2 gases.