Former GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodríguez to Chair new forest finance facility launched by Everland

HALO Facility launched to address one of the most significant barriers facing community-led forest conservation projects: access to early-stage and continuity capital

New York, 5 June 2026 – On World Environment Day, conservation organization Everland announced the launch of the HALO (Holistic Alignment for Lasting Outcomes) Facility: a new financing initiative designed to provide community-led forest conservation projects with the early-stage and continuity capital needed to establish strong foundations and advance toward investment readiness.

Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, former CEO and Chair of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and former Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, will serve as HALO’s inaugural Chair. A recognized global authority on conservation finance, Rodríguez will oversee the Facility’s fundraising, governance, and strategic development.

HALO emerged from the Indigenous Amazon Outcome Bond initiative, which aims to mobilize institutional capital for community-led forest conservation projects under Equitable Earth: a next-generation carbon standard designed specifically to meet the priorities of Indigenous and traditional forest communities, and the integrity requirements of carbon credit buyers.

23 projects representing almost 90,000 community members across 17 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru have stepped forward to participate. But many months of engagement with communities and investors revealed a consistent challenge: while institutional capital is increasingly interested in projects like these, many projects need money to complete fundamental development activities before they become ready for institutional investment.

HALO was created to address this gap.

As HALO raises capital, it will provide catalytic and bridge financing to high-potential projects, so they have the resources to establish the foundations upon which durable conservation depends. It is these foundations that mitigate risk and can unlock access to larger financing for projects and long-term revenue for communities.

“Durable conservation is most likely to be achieved when communities are at the center,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez,“ and REDD+ projects have proven to be one of the most effective ways to channel private finance to forest communities and biodiversity protection. Yet too often, promising projects fail because they lack access to the right capital at the right time. HALO was created to overcome this challenge, and I’m proud to serve as its Chair. Our aim is to help create the conditions for communities to build sovereign wealth while safeguarding millions of hectares of threatened rainforest.”

HALO is currently seeking philanthropic, public-sector, and private-sector partners to support its initial capitalization and help bring high-potential Indigenous-and-traditional-community-led conservation projects to investment readiness.

Puyr Tembé, community leader from the Tembé people and former Indigenous Secretary of the State of Pará, added: “Across the Amazon, Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities remain on the frontlines of forest protection, confronting daily invasions, deforestation, illegal mining, and other pressures that threaten our lives, our territories, and our ways of being. We are not merely witnesses to the climate crisis, we are part of the solutions the world is searching for. The challenge is not a lack of knowledge, wisdom, or capacity within our territories. The challenge is that those who profit from the destruction of the forest continue to have greater access to financial resources than those who dedicate their lives to protecting it. That is why we advocate for direct funding to Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, without barriers that prevent resources from reaching those who are safeguarding the forest on the ground. When Indigenous territories are strengthened, the forest remains standing, biodiversity is protected, and climate stability benefits not only the Amazon, but all of humanity. Reforesting minds and investing in Indigenous Peoples means investing in real solutions for the future of our planet.”

Shaalin Tandon Launches Worthless Superpowers: The Fallacy of Moksh at Mumbai’s Title Waves

Mumbai, June 05: Author and corporate leader Shaalin Tandon launched his debut book, Worthless Superpowers: The Fallacy of Moksh, published by Verses Kindler Publications, at Title Waves, Bandra West, on Friday, 5th June 2026. The event brought together readers, professionals, thought leaders, and literary enthusiasts for an afternoon of engaging conversations around storytelling, reflection, and the creative process.

For someone whose career has largely revolved around leading complex projects, building institutions, and navigating diverse perspectives, writing a book may seem like an unexpected turn. Yet, for Tandon, Worthless Superpowers represents a deeply personal creative journey shaped by years of observation, introspection, and curiosity about the human experience.

The book emerged from a period of reflection during the pandemic, when Tandon found himself engaging more deeply with questions around purpose, identity, and the choices that shape our lives. Rather than approaching these themes through a conventional lens, he turned to storytelling as a way to explore them in a relatable and engaging manner.

Speaking at the launch, Tandon shared the inspiration behind the book and what he hopes readers will take away from it.”Worthless Superpowers invites readers into a world where questions matter as much as answers. If the book sparks reflection, conversation, or a fresh perspective, I would consider that its greatest success,” said Shaalin Tandon.

The book explores thought-provoking ideas through a fictional narrative, encouraging readers to engage with perspectives and experiences that resonate in different ways with different readers.

The event featured a lively discussion on the creative journey behind the book, followed by an interactive audience session and book signing. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the author and learn more about the experiences that inspired his transition from corporate leadership to authorship.

Tandon’s professional career spans leadership roles across corporate strategy, infrastructure development, diplomacy, and international affairs. An engineering graduate with advanced business management education from INSEAD, he has been associated with several landmark initiatives throughout his career.

Reflecting on the influence of his professional journey on his writing, Tandon noted that while people come from diverse backgrounds, they are often united by common questions around ambition, relationships, identity, and purpose. These observations, gathered over years of working across sectors and geographies, helped shape the perspectives reflected in the book.

With Worthless Superpowers: The Fallacy of Moksh, Tandon begins a new chapter as an author, inviting readers to embark on a compelling literary journey that encourages introspection while leaving room for personal interpretation.

The book is now available across leading online and offline platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, Crossword, Starmark, Landmark, Kinokuniya, and other major bookstores nationwide.

Textile Commissioner Vrunda Desai Launched Mumbai’s Mega Post-Consumer Textile Waste Collection & Upcycling Initiative with ReFiber & OterRi

Mumbai, June 05: On the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, ReFiber, powered by OterRi, took a significant step towards building a sustainable future by launching Mumbai’s Mega Post–Consumer Textile Waste Collection & Upcycling Initiative. The landmark initiative aims to create a robust circular textile ecosystem by collecting, recovering and upcycling post–consumer textile waste while generating meaningful environmental and social impact.

As part of the initiative, ReFiber will conduct a city-wide textile collection drive from June 5–12, inviting citizens, institutions and communities across Mumbai to donate used garments through its collection centres and digital platform.

The unveiling of the ReFiber Upcycled Products Marketplace showcasing handcrafted products created by women artisans associated with Tisser. The platform is designed to convert textile waste into products of value while enabling sustainable livelihoods and empowering self-help groups across the country.

The event also featured insightful discussions on technology-driven solutions for textile waste management, accelerating circularity in India’s textile sector and building partnerships for a zero-waste future.

On the occasion, Ms. Vrunda Desai, Textile Commissioner, Maharashtra Government, said, “India has made significant progress in textile recycling and circularity, but there is still immense potential to recover and repurpose post–consumer textile waste from our households. Initiatives like ReFiber’s collection and upcycling drive demonstrate how collaboration between government, industry and citizens can transform textile waste into a valuable resource while creating sustainable livelihoods. Through greater awareness, innovation and participation, we can accelerate the transition towards a more circular and sustainable textile ecosystem.” 

Dr. Megha Phansalkar, Founder, Tisser, said, “At Tisser, we believe that waste is simply a resource waiting to be reimagined. Through textile upcycling, we are transforming discarded fabrics into products of value while creating livelihood opportunities and empowering women. Initiatives like ReFiber make it easier for citizens to participate in the circular economy and contribute meaningfully towards reducing textile waste. Building a sustainable future requires collective action, and every garment diverted from landfill is a step towards a more responsible and circular world.” 

Mr. Manoj Wanvari, COO, ReFiber and OterRi, said, “The launch of ReFiber marks the beginning of a collective movement towards a more circular and responsible textile ecosystem. Through our technology platform, collection network and partnerships across the value chain, we aim to make textile waste recovery simple, accessible and impactful for every citizen. What is often perceived as waste is, in reality, a valuable resource that can be recovered, upcycled and brought back into the economy. With ReFiber, we are enabling consumers to play an active role in reducing textile waste while supporting sustainable livelihoods and accelerating circularity in the textile sector.” 

Sanjay Kataria, President, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), said, “This initiative is not just about collecting used garments, it is about creating a movement that transforms waste into opportunity. By bringing together industry, government, civil society and citizens, we are taking a meaningful step towards building a circular textile ecosystem that reduces landfill waste, conserves resources and empowers women through upcycling. At CMAI, we believe sustainability and growth must go hand in hand, and we are proud to support an initiative that creates both environmental and social impact.” 

The event also brought together a distinguished group of leaders and experts from across government, industry, sustainability and development sectors, including Guest of Honour; Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai; Santosh Kataria, Chairman, Sustainability Committee, CMAI; Dr. Pankaj Kumar, National Project Coordinator, UNIDO; Dr. Megha Phansalkar, Founder, Tisser; Lion Manoj Babur, District Governor, Lions International; Surya Valluri, Chief Sustainability Officer, Grasim Industries (Aditya Birla Group); Naveen Sainani, Honorary General Secretary and Chairman – ESG, CMAI; Devanshu Ralhan, Executive Director, Grant Thornton Bharat; Saurabh Dey, Principal, Intellecap; Ayushi Pande, Founder, Ethiek & Laundromania; Neha Gupta, Founder – IFBEC;  Jignesh P. Jain , CEO/ Founder – Myth.ai;  Dr. Suranjana Gangopadhyay, Chairperson – ICC, VJTI; and Prasanna H.R., E-Waste, Sustainability Consultant; who shared insights on advancing circularity, innovation and sustainable growth in India’s textile ecosystem.

As Mumbai embarks on this city-wide movement, the initiative serves as a powerful example of how collaboration between government, industry, development organizations and citizens can drive meaningful environmental and social change. By transforming discarded textiles into opportunities for circularity, innovation and livelihood creation, ReFiber and its partners are laying the foundation for a more sustainable future where waste is not discarded, but reimagined as a valuable resource.

RBI Holds Rates Steady, Unveils Measures to Boost Dollar Inflows and Support Bond Markets

By:- Mr. Vikas Garg, Head – Fixed Income, Invesco Mutual Fund.

Unlike many other Asian central banks, the MPC has maintained its pragmatic approach of using policy rates for inflation management while relying on other measures for currency support. The policy rate and neutral stance have been maintained despite elevated global uncertainty and energy prices.

Nonetheless, the 50-bps increase in FY27 inflation projections to 5.1% and core inflation to 4.7% highlights forward-looking risks stemming from the prolonged West Asia conflict and monsoon-related uncertainties. The FY27 growth projection has also been moderated to 6.6%.

The reaffirmation of the RBI’s commitment to providing sufficient liquidity is a welcome relief. However, what clearly stole the show was the series of measures announced to boost dollar inflows, including an expanded FAR security universe, a fully hedged facility for ECBs, and 3–5 year FCNR(B) deposits.

Separately, the government has relaxed taxation rules for FPIs investing in G-Secs, which could also enhance the likelihood of their inclusion in the Bloomberg Global Bond Index.

Overall, while the overhang of potential policy rate hikes remains in forthcoming policies, immediate concerns have been adequately addressed and are likely to trigger a market rally across the yield curve.

RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25 percent: Policy Pause Signals Stability for Growth and MSME Credit Confidence Amid Inflation and Global Uncertainty

By Lakshmi Venkataraman Venkatesan, Founding and Managing Trustee, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust.

“The RBI’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% reflects a calibrated and balanced approach amid resilient growth and continued inflation risks from crude oil prices, food inflation, rupee movement, supply chain disruptions, and global uncertainty. For micro and small entrepreneurs, a pause provides much-needed predictability. Stable borrowing costs help entrepreneurs plan cash flows, manage inventory, honour repayment commitments, price their products more confidently and take informed decisions on expansion, hiring, and technology investments. When lending conditions remain predictable, MSMEs are better placed to manage long-term contracts, avoid sudden debt-service pressure and plan working capital requirements with greater confidence. Given the MSME sector’s contribution to manufacturing, exports and GDP, predictable credit conditions are critical to sustaining enterprise confidence and growth. This pause should be used to strengthen credit transmission, last-mile access, working capital support, repayment flexibility, and mentoring-led guidance. India’s growth story will be stronger when micro-entrepreneurs are not only included in formal credit systems but actively supported to grow within them.”

RBI Holds Rates Steady, Unveils Measures to Strengthen Capital Flows and External Stability

By:-Mr. Anil Bamboli, Head, Fixed Income of HDFC Asset Management Company Limited (HDFC AMC).

“The Monetary Policy kept the policy repo rate unchanged and maintained a neutral stance. It also revised its FY27 projections, lowering the growth outlook while increasing the inflation estimate.

In view of prevailing elevated global uncertainty, we believe, policy reflects a prudent, calibrated and constructive approach. Going into the policy, external sector and INR challenges were more imperative to address. RBI announced a comprehensive set of forex and capital flow measures aimed at bolstering the balance of payments and mitigating volatility. Initiatives such as expanding the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) for G-secs, restoring export realisation timelines, easing FPI limits, relaxing equity investments for non-resident individuals, incentivizing ECB inflows through concessional forex swaps, and supporting FCNR(B) deposits by covering hedging cost – are geared towards attracting stable foreign capital and should aid in reinforcing external stability. This was also complimented by government removing tax on FPI interest and capital gain on sovereign bonds. 

We believe that these measures should address multiple concerns in one go – improve capital flows, stabilise currency, shore up forex reserves, improve system liquidity, moderate credit to deposit ratio for banks, and result in money market and corporate bond yields drifting lower. In view of the above, Indian fixed income outlook appears favourably placed from a medium to long term perspective. “