- The Dutch fund, PFZW, is investing €30m in a loan issued by H2 Green Steel for the construction of the first large-scale hydrogen steel factory.

H2 Green Steel is driving one of the largest climate impact initiatives globally. The company was founded in 2020 with the purpose to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries, starting by producing steel with up to 95 per cent lower CO2 emissions than steel made with coke-fired blast furnaces. The construction of the flagship green steel plant in Boden, Northern Sweden with integrated green hydrogen and green iron production, is well under way.

- Sweden’s Skandia has invested SEK 900m in a bond to fight hunger and poverty issued by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The investment means that Skandia, together with other investors, has bought a seven-year sustainable bond for a total of SEK 1bn to support sustainable growth and inclusive development in rural areas in developing countries. The investments in the bonds will support the transformation of food systems to make them more equitable and sustainable. It includes helping small-scale farmers adapt to climate change, diversify their food production and improve their access to markets and technology.

- Dutch Minister for Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions, Carola Schouten, has announced the launch of the Pension Fund Dispute Authority (GIP) in the Netherlands, which has been in effect from 1 January 2024.

The new organisation takes its own position alongside the Financial Services Complaints Tribunal (Kifid), which will handle pension complaints against pension insurers and premium pension institutions (PPIs). Commenting, Schouten said: “More than six million Dutch people build up a pension with a pension fund. Nearly four million people also enjoy a pension. A difference of opinion may sometimes arise between a participant and a pension fund. That is why the Future of Pensions Act introduced specialised extrajudicial independent dispute resolution. This makes submitting a pension dispute easily accessible for the participant, so that they can quickly obtain clarity.”

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