外媒：对冲基金游说英国政府豁免新气候监管要求

Core Viewpoint - The hedge fund industry is actively lobbying the UK government to exclude itself from upcoming climate regulation, following similar movements in the EU [1][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Concerns - The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) opposes the UK government's proposed requirement for companies to submit climate transition plans, arguing that such regulations would force short-term focused funds to align their investment strategies with long-term carbon emission scenarios, which is impractical and unreasonable [3]. - AIMA's global market head, Adam Jacobs-Dean, stated that creating a climate transition plan extending to 2050 may not be meaningful for funds with shorter investment horizons, especially those primarily engaged in interest rate trading and other financial instruments with low ties to the real economy [3][4]. - The UK government's push for climate regulation is driven by a 2024 court ruling that deemed existing climate policies insufficient to meet net-zero targets, prompting the government to seek compliance solutions [3][4]. Group 2: Implementation and Industry Response - The proposed regulations will apply to all UK-regulated fund managers, banks, insurance companies, and pension funds, including subsidiaries of foreign companies, as well as companies listed on the FTSE 100 index [4]. - The Climate-related Investor Group, managing approximately $75 trillion in assets, has suggested a phased approach to implementation, prioritizing large enterprises while allowing flexibility for small and medium-sized enterprises [4]. - AIMA, managing $4 trillion in assets, emphasizes the need to identify "truly effective measures" rather than opposing the financial industry's participation in climate change initiatives [4][5]. Group 3: Legal and Operational Risks - The hedge fund industry acknowledges climate change as an investment risk but faces challenges in creating meaningful transition plans due to the lack of regulatory requirements in many countries where they invest [5]. - Concerns have been raised regarding the potential legal risks and increased costs for the financial industry if mandatory transition plans are enforced, particularly given the differences in investment horizons and the ambiguity of regulatory content [6]. - There is a fear that mandatory compliance could lead to a "check-the-box" approach, resulting in increased costs without generating effective decision-making information [6].