How well a company is performing on ESG aspects is becoming more important for investors, consumers, employees and business partners and, therefore, management. In a recent poll, we found that a majority of people found the multiple ESG frameworks and evolving ESG regulations among the biggest challenges when it comes to producing ESG reports.

A Guide to Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions for Financial Professionals

Sustainability Matters “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” — The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That’s not a question often asked of investors, but as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s one worth considering. A lot of work is needed to achieve racial justice in this country. What has been built up for…

Sustainability Matters Adding sustainable funds will take some time, but could improve retirement readiness for many participants. The U.S. Department of Labor has just made it easier for American workers to invest in sustainable funds in their 401(k) plans. The new rule, finalized in November, makes clear that those who run 401(k) plans can consider environmental, social, and corporate governance…

End of Week Notes They are UN-PRI signatories, too More absurdity coming out of Florida this week, as the state’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced the state treasury will pull about $1.43 billion in long-term fixed-income securities and $600 million in overnight cash investments managed by BlackRock because of the firm’s commitment to sustainable investing. It’s all part of Republican…

Sustainability Matters Considering ESG factors is consistent with fiduciary duty The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finalized a rule last week that will remove barriers, real and perceived, to ESG investing in retirement plans governed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Called “Prudence and Loyalty In Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights,” the new rule replaces…

End of Week Notes Why the anti-ESG campaign won’t work The massive Red Wave that threatened to swamp Democrats in the midterm elections turned out to be a trickle made possible by gerrymandering. If I may put my political science cap on for a moment, it never stood to reason that this would be a typical midterm because we are not living…

End of Week Notes And a must-read on how CRT is morphing into anti-ESG/”woke” capitalism To say this year has been a challenging one for sustainable funds may be an understatement. The growth of sustainable funds’ assets in the U.S. over the past several years occurred in a generally bullish environment in which most sustainable funds outperformed. But this year, both…

Sustainability Matters Here are some water stocks and water funds to consider The case for investing in water is driven by the challenge of providing enough freshwater to meet growing demand against the backdrop of climate change. Global population growth along with improving living standards in developing countries are increasing demand for clean drinking water and for the use of water…

Sustainability Matters Hint: It’s not end investors, asset managers, or corporations. A New York Times article this week shed some light on who is behind the anti-ESG campaign coming from the political right in the United States. Prominent Republican politicians like former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas have spoken out against…