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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 Matias Möttölä takes a look at the BlackRock Global Funds-ESG Multi-Asset Fund. After being repurposed into an ESG fund in 2019, BlackRock’s ESG Multi-Asset has seen strong asset growth. At $7.2bn of assets … Read more

The traditional distinction between human needs and nature is a false dichotomy and has hampered effective action to protect the natural world. Humans have been reshaping and managing nature for thousands of years, establishing a deep interdependence between economic activity and natural systems. There now needs to be a recognition of this inseparable link between … Read more

The $70trn-backed Fairr investor network is once again targeting engagement at fast food companies, asking them to disclose a set of information related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The engagement will target 12 US fast food restaurant companies, many with a global reach, including McDonalds, Yum! Brands (owners of KFC and Pizza Hut) and Restaurant Brands … Read more

Federated Hermes has hired Andy Turnbull as a senior investment manager for the firm’s UK Nature Impact investment strategy, which will launch later this year. Federated Hermes said the blended finance strategy will seek to generate “attractive” returns by investing in “nature-positive” businesses across land, coasts, rivers, and sea in the UK. The strategy has … Read more

For investors, it is becoming increasingly important to consider how biodiversity might impact long-term portfolio sustainability – namely in the form of business and market disruptions, potentially lower returns, and reputational and regulatory risks. Prioritising biodiversity-friendly investments could possibly be key to managing these risks and contributing to positive social and environmental outcomes. In many … Read more

Biodiversity markets are about to be implemented on a large scale but will require strong regulation and a fundamental shift in the economy to avoid “legitimising damage”, according to panellists at the Beyond Growth 2023 conference last week. In the session ‘Repairing and restoring Nature in a beyond growth perspective: is putting a price on … Read more

Almost two-thirds (60%) of UK companies are set to miss an upcoming Scope 3 emissions reporting deadline, according to a survey, putting them at risk of fines and losing customers.  Scope 3 emissions are those not produced by a company itself, or the result of its activities, but by companies it’s indirectly responsible for, up … Read more

Guidance for private equity has launched to drive the sector towards net-zero investing. The Net Zero Investment Framework Component for the Private Equity Industry, has been designed by the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), sustainability non-profit Ceres and consultancy Anthesis. The private equity guidance establishes a consistent approach to measuring progress towards net … Read more

22 May 2022 Following the dismissal of a claim by ClientEarth against Shell’s directors for failing to manage risks posed by climate change, the NGO has asked the judge to reconsider. In a statement, ClientEarth said: “We’ve now been granted a hearing, at which we’ll ask the Court to reconsider the decision to dismiss our … Read more

Voluntary carbon markets have been a hot topic over the past year since announcements at COP27, and integrity in the area is starting to become more of a focus. Here VCMI executive director Mark Kenber updates ESG Clarity on progress in the market, why investors should look out for the Global Stocktake, and what he … Read more