Investment management firm Fidelity International announced today the expansion of its sustainability team with two new senior hires, including Phil Cliff, joining from M&G Investments, and Aaron Hay, from Federated Hermes, as Directors, Sustainable Investing. The announcement marks the latest in a series of senior sustainability-focused appointments for the firm, including the recent appointment of Jenn-Hui Tan as its first…
Research on Modern Slavery Reveals Investors’ “Defensiveness”
Global North remains ahead on collaborative efforts, but African investors prioritise social risks in investment approaches. New research and guidance for the financial sector on tackling modern slavery puts Global South investors and people with lived experience of slavery in the conversation for the first time. The research is based on in-depth interviews with 40 investors from Africa, South-East Asia…
Apple, Nike, Launch Initiative to Accelerate Adoption of Clean Energy in Supply Chains
A coalition of large U.S. companies announced the launch of the Clean Energy Procurement Academy, a new initiative aimed at addressing supply chain emissions by equipping companies with skills and knowledge required to explore and adopt clean energy. The project was initiated by Apple and Nike through the non-profit Clean Energy Buyers Institute (CEBI), and joined by companies including Amazon,…
SEC Chair: Investors Want Supply Chain Emissions Reporting to Manage Transition Risk
Investors are backing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposal for Scope 3 value chain emissions reporting from companies, saying that it provides them with key information to assess company risk, according to SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s comments in a forum discussion at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The comments suggest that Scope 3 emissions reporting will likely remain…
Dismay Follows UK Rowback on Corporate Governance
Proposed reporting rules shelved and UK listing barriers lowered as government scrambles to attract businesses. The scrapping of a bill that would have strengthened corporate governance reporting requirements for UK companies has investors and policy experts questioning what this means for broader reform ambitions. The plans were originally set out in July, proposing that businesses with a turnover of…
Coca-Cola Launches 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles in Canada
The Coca-Cola Company announced today the launch of 100% recycled plastic bottles in Canada, with all 500 ml sparkling beverages bottles – including flagship brands Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta – in the country using 100% recycled plastic, excluding caps and labels, by early 2024. According to the company, the move will save 7.6 million pounds of new plastic in 2024,…
Unfinished Business
Climate risks remain a priority as nature issues rise up the agenda for investors and corporates at a recent Hong Kong roundtable held by S&P Global Sustainable1 and ESG Investor. Corporates and investors across Asia Pacific are well aware of the growing need to push beyond the current “nascent stage” of understanding the nature risks in their businesses and portfolios….
S&P Global Adds Physical Risk Assessment to Climate Credit Analytics Solution
Financial and industry data, research and news provider S&P Global Market Intelligence and management consulting firm Oliver Wyman today announced the addition of climate-related physical risk to theClimate Credit Analytics solution, aimed at enabling clients to understand and manage companies’ and portfolios’ physical and financial exposure to climate change. S&P Global and Oliver Wyman launched Climate Credit Analytics in June…
Take Five: Breaking Point
A selection of this week’s major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces. Across the sustainable investment landscape, resources, patience and credibility are all being stretched. Lesson learned? – Asset managers are hiring ESG and sustainability staff, you won’t be surprised to learn, and they’re almost certainly not alone. According to Russell Investments’ ninth annual ESG Manager Survey, 75%…
Harnessing the Power of Stars
Douglas Jayatilaka, Associate at Powell Gilbert, considers the role of intellectual property in the development of nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is the reaction that powers the stars. It promises a superior alternative to nuclear fission, the process harnessed by nuclear power plants today. Fusion works by combining the nuclei of hydrogen isotopes (usually deuterium and tritium, which are readily available)…