Vague wording and jargon remain among the biggest barriers to investing in sustainable funds, despite increased appetite for sustainability among advisers and retail investors. A survey conducted by the Investment Association and The Wisdom Council found that 52% of retail investors are aware of the FCA’s new SDR labelling regime, with 94% saying they find the labels to be helpful….

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) must be “open to change” and accept the cultural shift in stewardship efforts in its consultation of a revision of the code, according to a panel at the at the Investment Association (IA)’s Stewardship & Corporate Governance forum last week. Moderated by Andrew Ninian, director of stewardship risk and tax at the IA, the panel…

Mirova seeks to support SDGs with investments in Global South agriculture and agroforestry underway. Mirova’s Sustainable Land Fund 2 (MSLF2) is on track to hit its €350 million (US$363.4 million) fundraising target two years ahead of schedule, with institutional investor interest a key driver. The French asset manager’s blended finance fund focused on sustainable land use in the Global South reached €100…

The conversation around ESG investing has undoubtedly become more polarised lately. Once uncontroversial and seen as a force for good, it is sometimes now the subject of scepticism and political controversy on the one hand and concerns over greenwashing on the other. Some asset managers – especially US-based – have also left the important industry-wide climate alliances, due to perceived…

Young people in the UK have said financial firms have an important role to play in driving progressive societal change but must do so in an authentic way with words that are followed up with action, according to MRM’s inaugural Young Money Report. The report – Guidance not Gratification: Why financial services needs to reclaim its finfluence, surveyed 1,000 UK-based…

Campaign group accuses big name providers of “lethargy” on climate and nature action.  An assessment of large UK pension providers has found that existing stewardship efforts are falling short of driving positive climate- and nature-related performance across their portfolios.   UK-based campaign group Make My Money Matter (MMMM) has published a report analysing the country’s 12 largest pension providers on…

Campaign group accuses big name providers of “lethargy” on climate and nature action.  An assessment of large UK pension providers has found that existing stewardship efforts are falling short of driving positive climate- and nature-related performance across their portfolios.   UK-based campaign group Make My Money Matter (MMMM) has published a report analysing the country’s 12 largest pension providers on…