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From navigating climate overshoot to accelerating corporate sustainability action and assessing the evolving risks of AI, this update explores how governments, businesses and investors are responding to increasingly complex environmental and technological challenges.

Despite renewed inflationary pressures, rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty, global equity markets remained resilient throughout Q3. Strong economic data, earnings growth and continued investment in AI supported returns, while government bonds came under pressure as investors reassessed the outlook for interest rates. Our latest commentary explores the key themes shaping markets during the quarter, alongside two significant sustainability developments.

Poor air quality is no longer just a public health concern. For long-term investors, it is becoming a material issue linked to productivity, regulation and portfolio resilience.

Artificial intelligence, plastic pollution, and climate-driven food insecurity highlight the importance of looking beyond headlines to understand the systems shaping long-term sustainability outcomes. This update explores AI's environmental impact, stalled progress towards a global plastics treaty, and the growing threat extreme weather poses to food security worldwide.