Stewardship Insights: Developing an escalation approach

In this new series, ESG Clarity takes a deep dive into an investment firm’s stewardship activities, discovering their key focuses and processes, and what’s in their engagement toolkit. Here, Andrew Mason, head of active ownership at abrdn, shares how the team will be engaging on biodiversity and climate, and how they will closely track progress. … Read more

S&P Dow Jones launches two SDG-linked indexes

S&P Dow Jones has added to its range of sustainability-focused indexes with the launch of two more linked to the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). The S&P 500 SDG Index and the S&P Global LargeMidCap SDG Index provide diverse exposures to companies that are collectively more aligned with the United Nations’ 17 SDGs. They use … Read more

Forced labour found in nearly half fashion companies’ supply chains

Allegations of forced labour were found in the supply chains of 46% of companies benchmarked by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre project KnowTheChain. According to KnowTheChain Apparel & Footwear Benchmark for 2022/3, which looked at 65 of the world’s largest apparel and footwear companies, the average score for protecting workers in the supply chain against … Read more

Toolkit launched to help farmers’ navigation of nature markets

The Green Finance Institute (GFI) has published a toolkit designed to equip the UK farming community with an understanding of nature markets to help them assess whether they could provide a suitable new income stream for their business. Commissioned by DEFRA, the Farming Toolkit for Assessing Opportunities in Nature Markets is a free, independent resource … Read more

Asset managers backsliding on ESG commitments in key shareholder votes

Support among asset managers for resolutions aimed at addressing environmental and social issues has crashed to a level not seen before in ShareAction’s fifth annual Voting Matters report, with only 3% of assessed resolutions passed in 2023. Of the environmental resolutions assessed, just 3% were passed last year compared to 32% in 2021, with asset … Read more

‘Natural capital’ strategies now offered by over 50 asset managers

Over 50 asset managers now offer strategies categorised as ‘natural capital’, encompassing investments across agriculture, timberland, and ‘natural climate solutions’, according to a report by Bfinance. The strategies have developed in a response to growing desire as searches for ‘natural capital’ manager surpassed searches for real estate managers for Bfinance for the first year. The … Read more

Natixis affiliate appoints sustainability lead

Flexstone Partners, an affiliated investment manager of Natixis Investment Managers managing more than $10bn in assets, has appointed Samira Boussem as managing director and head of sustainability. Based in France, Boussem is tasked with leading Flexstone’s sustainability strategy and responsible investment approach, which will be implemented across the firm’s various bespoke investment solutions offered to … Read more

Green Dream with Allspring’s Pacquement: Headwinds and tailwinds for fixed income in 2024

In this Green Dream video interview, Henrietta Pacquement, head of the global fixed income team and head of sustainability at Allspring Global Investments, answers questions on criteria for impact bonds and challenges and opportunities for fixed income in the year ahead. Watch the full video interview above and read the transcript below. NK: Hello, I’m Natalie Kenway. Welcome … Read more

Passives to be ‘significantly underrepresented’ in SDR labels

Less than half of the sustainable passive funds domiciled in the UK are likely to opt for a Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) product label this year, according to research by Morningstar. In its research paper UK SDR Through the Looking Glass, Morningstar identified 410 UK-domiciled funds that have sustainability-themed names – including the words climate, … Read more