Author: Gareth Stokes
Gareth Stokes is an award-winning financial journalist with more than two decades’ experience writing in the financial advice, insurance and investment disciplines.
Just energy transition: using investment banks’ financing ‘levers’ to maximise climate impact
Active stewardship and green or sustainability-linked bonds and loans are among the mechanisms that large financial institutions are deploying to help [...]
Mixed expectations: COP27 cements demand for climate-related investment opportunities
The slow pace of global climate change action has left many commentators – and especially those in the asset management community – grumbling about wh [...]
Investment transformation: Merger creates ZAR1trn South Africa-based asset manager
The finalisation of a deal between Sanlam Group and Absa Group Limited has created one of South Africa’s largest black-owned asset managers, with more [...]
Droughts, floods and pandemic illustrate the protection dividend from parametric insurance solutions
Drought in the Horn of Africa during 2021 and 2022 and severe flooding in South Africa (in April 2022) and Nigeria (in October 2022) illustrate the im [...]
Engaging high gear: Promising signs that COP27 is tilting energy transition from ‘talk’ towards ‘action’
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), held from 6-18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, has ended, with somewhat less fanfa [...]
Reflections on COP27: furthering Africa’s sustainable energy transition, or a financial lifeline for dirty coal?
Nobody can accuse The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa of sending mixed messages when it comes to tackling climate change. A quick visit to [...]
Yet another acronym for the CRI, CSR and ESG cults as CRISA 2.0 prepares for launch
Asset managers, asset owners and organisations in the investment value chain have far more to worry about than the broad environmental, social and gov [...]
Environmental and social risks weigh on insurer sustainability
The fact that environmental and social loss events often fall within the universe of practically uninsurable ‘systemic risks’ means that these constru [...]
Seeking inclusive and sustainable insurance growth, across Africa
There is an undeniable alignment between the financial protection role played by financial institutions and the overarching goal of inclusive and sust [...]
Compliance is non-negotiable for insurer sustainability
Insurers plying their business in South Africa are learning the hard way that non-compliance with the country’s financial services regulations constit [...]