Policy Hub
Our resources provide practical recommendations and guidance on key responsible investment themes.
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Report15 May 2025
Insurance in Transition: Decoding the Omnibus Agenda’s Ripple Effect
The insurance sector plays a key role in Europe’s sustainable transition due to its role as a major investor and risk manager. However, new research commissioned by ShareAction warns that proposed changes in the EU's Omnibus I package could weaken key sustainability rules, seriously undermining insurers' ability to support climate goals and protect financial stability. The research shows that up to 85% of European insurers currently covered by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) may be excluded from reporting obligations under changes being discussed between EU policymakers. This would drastically reduce the insurance sector's transparency and accountability and access to data needed to manage sustainability-related risks. Combined with a narrower EU Taxonomy scope and weakened transition plan requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), these proposals could delay climate action and amplify financial risks. Other regulations, such as Solvency II and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), also risk being weakened under the Omnibus proposal.
Briefing23 April 2025
Clearer Accounting for Clean Air
Meaningful progress to improve air quality requires coordinated action across all sectors, particularly from high-polluting industries. Transparent corporate disclosures are needed to hold companies to account for the air pollution they cause, and to support them to align their activities with national health objectives. This policy briefing sets out recommendations to the UK Government to integrate air pollution metrics into corporate reporting frameworks, mandate disclosure of PM2.5 emissions across key sectors, and set sector-specific emissions-reduction targets.
Joint Statement10 March 2025
Joint statement reacting to EU Omnibus proposal
ShareAction signed a joint statement with over 360 organisations from more than 50 countries, opposing the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal published on 26 February. The proposal threatens to dismantle critical sustainability laws, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and EU Taxonomy. These laws are essential for holding companies accountable for human rights abuses, environmental harm, and ensuring transparent sustainability reporting. The Omnibus proposal weakens corporate accountability, reduces access to justice for victims, and removes key sustainability obligations for businesses. If passed, it will undermine the EU’s Green Deal and its ambition to lead on climate action and human rights protections. We call on the European Parliament and Council to reject this damaging proposal and ensure that corporate sustainability laws remain strong and effective.
Consultation Responses25 February 2025
ShareAction response to HM Treasury’s captive insurance consultation
ShareAction’s view is that deregulation of captive insurance is ill-advised as this could undermine the UK’s efforts to combat climate change as well as the broader stability of our financial system. ShareAction therefore considers that firms and activities relating to fossil fuels should be excluded from any planned relaxation of the rules.
Consultation Responses20 February 2025
ShareAction response FRC Stewardship Code
ShareAction’s response to the UK Stewardship Code review, which calls on the FRC to maintain the link between stewardship and environmental and social factors by retaining the existing definition of stewardship
Joint Statement12 February 2025
Joint letter to Commissioner Albuquerque over the European Commissions' 2025 work plan
Following the release of the European Commission’s 2025 work plan, ShareAction and 21 organisations and experts sent a letter to Commissioner for Financial Services Maria Luís Albuquerque, urging immediate action to raise capital requirements for fossil fuel assets. In a report published on 7 November 2024, and endorsed by the 27 national insurance supervisors, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) confirmed that stocks and bonds linked to unsustainable activities—particularly fossil fuels—pose higher financial risks. EIOPA recommended that the Commission act to address these risks and safeguard financial stability. Yet, the Commission’s work plan fails to include any initiative on this issue, despite its critical role in protecting both the financial system and public trust in insurers to manage future risks.
Joint Statement16 December 2024
ERIN letter to Maria Luis Albuquerque
Together with 15 civil society organisations from the European Responsible Investment Network (ERIN) network, we have sent a letter to the new Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investment Union, Maria Luís de Albuquerque, urging bold action on sustainable finance in the EU over the next five years and sharing our priorities for the new mandate.
Joint Statement12 December 2024
Smart implementation of EU sustainability reporting standards: make complying with rules easy
ShareAction, alongside over 90 organisations representing civil society, businesses, banks, and investors, calls on EU leaders to focus on smart and easy implementation of sustainability reporting standards. In response to EU Commission President von der Leyen’s recent Omnibus proposal, the joint statement expresses concern over the misrepresentation of EU sustainability reporting as a threat to competitiveness. It emphasises that reliable sustainability reporting is key to scaling up sustainable finance, managing risks, and driving long-term growth, while also offering practical solutions to address overcompliance challenges.
Consultation Responses18 October 2024
ShareAction’s response to the FCA’s consultation on the new Public Offers and Admission to Trading Regulations regime.
ShareAction’s response to the FCA’s consultation on the new Public Offers and Admission to Trading Regulations regime. Our response focused on the need to increase corporate disclosures during sustainable bond issuance, and pressed the FCA to introduce minimum standards around mainstream bond issuance.
Briefing09 September 2024
Policy briefing: Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
The Government's 'biodiversity net gain' (BNG) legislation requires developers to improve the natural habitat of land they're building on by at least 10%. This means that any new development, such as a building or road, should ultimately leave nature in a better state than it was before. However, for this scheme to truly succeed, the Government must make certain improvements. Our new briefing calls on policymakers to refine and enhance the existing BNG scheme. It details the key improvements needed to ensure the scheme is ambitious enough to address the urgency of the biodiversity crisis and start addressing biodiversity loss in the UK.
