Ex-Citi Banker Warns of Bond Vigilantes’ Lopsided ESG Tactics

Bond investors who push lopsided ESG agendas on impoverished nations risk harming some of the world’s most vulnerable populations, according to the head of impact at climate finance advisory firm Pollination Group.

Zoe Whitton, who was a head of environmental, social and governance research at Citigroup Inc. after stints at Credit Suisse Group AG and Bank of America Corp., says the economic crisis in Sri Lanka is a case in point, as some creditors try to tie its debt restructuring to climate goals. Applying such corporate engagement tactics to struggling sovereign nations could be inappropriate for a number of ...