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The quarterly regulation update outlines the key developments in sustainability regulation globally.

The primary focus is on sustainability policy milestones as well as consultations that will result in rules shaping the investment industry in the future.

Key takeaways.

• China exceeded its 2030 solar and wind power targets six years early, and is now home to more than 40% of all global renewables capacity
• From May 2024–May 2025, China’s emissions fell even as electricity generation rose – a potential turning point in global efforts to tackle climate change
• China’s dominance in clean technology and energy metals gives it geopolitical leverage and an economic edge – the country’s clean technology exports are set to exceed USD 340 billion by 2035
• Investors will discover opportunities in electricity grid infrastructure upgrades, clean technology innovations, and national efforts to secure energy metals supply chains.

Parameters

• Published: 19 Feb 2026 
• ESG Data Centre: Sustainability Downloads archive https://www.nestle.com/sustainability/performance-reporting/downloads-archive

Non-financial statement 2025 here

Focal points

• Approved SBTi targets: reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 (location-based) emissions by 56% by 2030 and reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030 (vs 2018 base year).
• The 2025 living wage assessment confirmed that, as of year-end, all regular employees are paid above living wage thresholds.
• 2025 gross Scope 1 emissions decreased 27% and location-based Scope 2 emissions decreased 35% vs 2024; total Scope 1+2 (location-based) emissions decreased 34%.

Parameters

• Data to: 31 Dec 2025 (reporting year 2025; year-end figures shown in the statement)
• Published: 11 Feb 2026 (dated independent limited assurance report within the Annual Report section)
• Materiality Matrix: Prioritisation of material matters (materiality matrix) is shown on Annual Report page 214.
• ESG Data Centre: Additional corporate responsibility resources https://www.relx.com/additional-cr-resources

Focal points

• £21.9bn of sustainable finance in 2025.
• Provided £17bn to first-time buyers in 2025, supporting 70,000 customers onto the property ladder.
• Benefits Calculator highlighted £93.3m of support payable to customers, and the Group paid £9.1bn in interest payments in 2025.

Parameters

• Data to: 31 Dec 2025 (2025 financial year: 1 January to 31 December 2025)
• Published: 13 Feb 2026 
• Materiality Matrix: None found in the report 
• ESG Data Centre: Sustainability report and downloads https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/sustainability/sustainability-report.html

Focal points

• Ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, including targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030 (vs 2020 baseline).
• Received an EcoVadis Platinum rating in 2025 (reconfirmed January 2026) and was included in the 2025 CDP A List for climate.
• In 2025, 84% of total waste was diverted from disposal through recycling.

Parameters

• Data to: 31 Dec 2025 (for the year ended 31 December 2025)
• Published: 11 Feb 2026 (approved for publication by the Board of Directors, as stated in the report)
• Materiality Matrix: None found (double materiality assessment results are described in General information, pp. 5-6; no matrix shown).
• ESG Data Centre: Responsibility pages https://group.schindler.com/en/responsibility.html

Focal points

• Overall greenhouse gas intensity ratio decreased by 11% year on year across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
• Expanded food waste tracking to over 10,000 sites and donated 3.1 million meals to local communities.
• As at 30 September 2025, issued $2.3bn of sustainable bonds, with proceeds fully allocated across eligible sustainable projects.

Parameters

• Data to: 30 Sep 2025 (as at 30 September 2025)
• Published: 27 Jan 2026 (dated contact/details page within the report)
• Materiality Matrix: None found (materiality assessment topics and actions are described on p. 6).
• ESG Data Centre: Sustainability Performance & Reports page https://www.compass-group.com/en/sustainability/performance-and-reports

"In this paper, we summarise our sector experts’ analysis of the emerging issues, risks and opportunities that are affecting the Financials sector and related sub-industries in the transition to a more sustainable economy.

We explore three key themes driving sustainability-related opportunities and risks for the sector over the next one to two years:

• Artificial intelligence’s double-edged role in financial services, enabling efficiency and increasing uncertainty over viability of business models
• The rising severity and incidence of extreme weather events and the challenge of correctly pricing these risks to financial institutions
• Ongoing and accelerating efforts to deregulate the banking sector which are unlocking a broader range of investment opportunities"

The start of 2026 marks a significant pivot in US federal nutrition policy. By placing ‘real food’ at the centre of new dietary guidelines, the US government is signalling a clear intent to shift the national diet away from energy-dense products and towards whole, nutrient-dense alternatives to ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which account for 53% of calories consumed by US adults.

For investors, the ramifications of this policy shift are far‑reaching, with the government effectively seeking to direct both consumer behaviour and billions of dollars in institutional food purchasing.

As public institutions and consumers adjust to these new standards, we believe that companies with established capabilities in ‘real food’ supply chains and reformulation technologies stand to benefit disproportionately from the transition.

"Artificial intelligence (AI) is unleashing powerful disruptive forces across the global economy. While its applications could unlock transformational efficiency gains and innovation, it also threatens to rapidly erode historic competitive advantages.

Nearly three-quarters of S&P 500 companies now flag at least one material risk related to AI in their public disclosures – up from just 12% in 2023. Yet how many are well prepared to manage them?

In their rush to adopt AI, companies must not overlook the risks arising from product liabilities, algorithmic biases and cybersecurity breaches, whether they be through their own development or adoption of AI or via the indirect disruption that AI will have on their business model.

It is our conviction that sound governance of AI risk leads to more effective decision-making that reduces risks and improves trust among stakeholders. In doing so, it should help enhance shareholder value from adoption of AI. Based on engagements with our investee companies in 2025, we share what we believe to be good practice."

Key takeaways

• Sustainable investing is shifting from politics to economics. As policy support weakens, the transition is increasingly driven by cost competitiveness, scalability, and operational advantages rather than regulation or ideology
• Modular technologies are accelerating system-wide change. From solar and batteries to alternative proteins, modular design is lowering costs, enabling rapid scale-up, and challenging incumbent technologies across energy and food systems
• AI is acting as a catalyst across sustainability transitions. Artificial intelligence is improving efficiency and predictability in agriculture, materials, energy grids, healthcare, and R&D, reinforcing long-term structural shifts
• Electrification and innovation are reshaping economic resilience. Predictable renewable power, land-efficient production, and preventive healthcare models are redefining competitiveness, resource use, and long-term growth prospects.

Focal points

• Federated Hermes argues investor stewardship in 2026 will increasingly focus on systemic economic risks and opportunities—especially for universal owners prioritising absolute (not just relative) returns.
• Three dominant trends are highlighted: artificial intelligence, the climate transition and geopolitics, with stewardship needing to adapt to each.
• The piece suggests stewardship should extend beyond corporate engagement to include participation in policy and market best-practice shaping, to support sustainable, profitable growth.
• It frames geopolitical engagement as focused on company resilience and risk mitigation rather than influencing political outcomes.

Contents
… includes …

• A systemic shift in a changing world?
• Geopolitics (company resilience and operational risk)
• Artificial intelligence (systemic opportunities/risks)
• Climate transition (system-wide transformation and policy)

Focal points

• The report is a bi-annual commentary on Global Emerging Markets (GEMs) ESG materiality, designed to demonstrate voting and engagement activity with portfolio companies and SDG-aligned impacts.
• It highlights a focus on integrating sustainability into fundamental analysis, including maintaining a low-carbon footprint and prioritising climate engagement with higher-risk holdings.
• A featured case study applies climate-adjusted valuation to TSMC, pricing in risks such as electricity, raw materials, water costs and carbon regulation to test valuation resilience.
• It also summarises reflections from COP30 in Belém, including investor appetite for ‘bankable’ transition projects and a focus on emerging markets and nature.

Contents
… includes …

• Portfolio snapshot (the last 12 months in numbers)
• Engagement objectives/issues and progress updates
• GEMs Equity at COP30
• Case study: TSMC – climate financial risk in semiconductors
• GEMs Equity summary and next steps

Focal points

• The article argues climate pressure, resource inefficiency and demographic shifts are threatening food security and profitability—while catalysing investment opportunities in precision agriculture.
• Precision agriculture is framed as delivering sustainability gains by optimising inputs and automating operations, with scope to improve yields and reduce fertiliser/pesticide losses to the environment.
• Columbia Threadneedle estimates adoption could unlock significant incremental agricultural equipment revenue by 2035, with precision solutions often earning higher margins than conventional equipment.
• Regional adoption dynamics are emphasised: North America and Western Europe are expected to drive most growth, with Brazil highlighted as connectivity improves.

Contents

… includes …

• At a glance
• The root problems threatening global agriculture
• Tech solutions are sowing the seeds of change
• Sprouting opportunities: adoption is primed to accelerate
• Reaping returns: our analysis of the investment and sustainability impacts

Focal points

• Allspring flags three investor trends for 2026: accelerating data-centre and AI infrastructure buildout, a natural-gas rebound as a transition fuel, and an intensifying race for rare earth materials.
• Surging AI workloads are presented as driving major capital flows into utilities, semiconductors and power generation, while raising questions about grid constraints, emissions and permitting bottlenecks.
• The report argues tighter LNG supply chains and widening regional gas-price spreads may support transition-aligned gas assets and infrastructure, even as energy-security priorities rise.
• Critical minerals competition is framed as redirecting capital toward mining and supply-chain resilience, with geopolitics elevating supply-risk premiums.

Contents
… includes …

• Themes we’re watching in 2026
• 01: Data center and AI infrastructure escalates
• 02: Natural gas makes a comeback
• 03: The race for rare earth materials intensifies