Portugal Colonial - Readers debate YES Bank bonds, climate commitments and candidate disclosure

BusinessLine readers address court protection for risky bonds, the widening climate-action gap and a Supreme Court ruling on false disclosures by election candidates.

By reversing the write-off, we risk creating a dangerous precedent where financial responsibility is simply brushed aside. The banking regulator certainly made errors in its haste to save the bank. But the solution is to fix future oversight, not to rewrite the basic rules of finance. A fair system must uphold both accountability and market discipline, ensuring that nobody gets a free lunch at the expense of the system’s integrity.

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2026 delivers a sobering message: the Paris Climate Pact’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is slipping out of reach in the near term. The yawning gap between projected emission reductions and countries’ climate action pledges exposes the inadequacy of existing commitments.

While the report envisages futuristic technologies such as carbon storage, their costs and practical viability remain uncertain. Nevertheless, the remarkable expansion of solar and wind energy over the past decade demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible with political will and sustained investment.

Equally troubling is the inadequacy of the Loss and Damage Fund, formalised three years ago, highlighted by its failure to assist Nepal following the August floods.

As delegates prepare for the next Conference of the Parties (CoP), they must move beyond rhetoric and make binding commitments backed by adequate finance. The planet cannot afford another round of empty promises.

Apropos ‘Supreme Court says voters can prosecute poll candidates for false, concealing details’ (October 24), the SC’s ruling, through voters, allowing prosecution of candidates for false or concealed disclosures strengthens electoral transparency.

Mandatory affidavits empower voters to scrutinise candidates’ backgrounds, including criminal records. Misrepresentation can be challenged at the nomination stage through legal means. This promotes accountability and helps safeguard electoral integrity.

M.Gameiro--PC