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It’s been two years since the first asset managers released their pledges around meeting net zero. In the months that followed, it seemed like the news agenda was flooded with investment management companies rushing to make commitments in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. But how are the pledges translating two years on? … Read more
Touchstone Investments has launched a Climate Transition ETF allowing investors exposure to companies poised to prosper from the fight against the climate crisis. The actively-managed ETF will typically hold around 40-60 stocks that fall into three categories: solution providers, transition leaders and adaptation opportunities. These are companies whose growth will benefit from regulations, innovations, services, … Read more
ClientEarth, a UK-headquartered environmental law charity, and the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change, an organisation designed to raise awareness among Asia’s financial institutions about climate change, have published a guide to help tackle greenwashing. Greenwashing and how to avoid it: an introductory guide for Asia’s finance industry provides practical information to combat greenwashing including … Read more
In this series for ESG Clarity Asia, Morningstar dives into ESG funds available in Asia, analysing their investments, performance and ESG credentials. For this latest article, Morningstar’s Ronald van Genderen takes a look at the Schroders Global Sustainability Growth fund. The fund’s ESG approach is more qualitative than quantitative (relying on data or ESG ratings). Central to it is its so-called … Read more
You cannot reduce the cost of capital and improve investor returns, London Business School finance professor Alex Edmans has said. Speaking in an episode of the ESG Out Loud podcast, Edmans said despite “basic finance theory” suggesting that if you are having positive impact by reducing a company’s cost of capital, you must be reducing … Read more
The European Parliament has incorporated the financial sector in a proposed new EU due diligence law, but campaigners say they are disappointed with the watering down of the rules into a “light touch” regime. On Tuesday (25 April) the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee adopted its position on the EU’s corporate accountability legislation, urging businesses … Read more
Algebris Investments, the global asset manager specialising in the financial sector, has appointed Antonio Volpin as senior investment director to help drive its sustainable equity strategy. Volpin will work closely with the investment manager’s sustainable world team in Milan to support the development of Algebris’ global thematic equity strategy, which focuses on the scarcity of … Read more
Some 30 years ago, when the socially and environmentally responsible investing field was starting, the approach was focused on the company’s external impact or impact on the greater good or society. A frequently-used approach was screening out industries harmful to the environment or people (toxic chemicals), examining corporate governance practices, and examining how companies lobbied … Read more
As 2023’s AGM season rolls around, at least 542 shareholder resolutions have been filed so far on ESG issues. As You Sow, Ceres and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are the non-profits leading the charge, according to data compiled by Proxy Preview. ESG Clarity looks at how shareholders are learning from past mistakes and … Read more
Impax Asset Management, the specialist asset manager investing in the transition to a more sustainable global economy, has appointed Yasumitsu (Yasu) Iwasa as head of Japan. Iwasa’s role at Impax is split across executive duties as country head and as a product specialist within Impax’s distribution team. His appointment follows the announcement in March that … Read more