Respondents to UK financial watchdog’s consultation say template must be made public to foster “greater accountability and transparency”.   Market participants have reaffirmed their desire for the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Vote Reporting Group vote reporting template to be made mandatory following a three-month consultation.  The consultation set out with the goal of building “industry consensus” on a voluntary vote…

US regulator urged to prioritise enforcement of new rule to prevent greenwashing. Investors’ attention will turn to the upcoming ESG disclosure rule after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted a new ‘Names Rule’ to improve accuracy and reliability of the naming of investment funds.  Speaking to ESG Investor, Steven Rothstein, Managing Director for the Sustainable Capital Markets Accelerator…

Review could permit greater interoperability with fund-labelling, disclosure regimes in other jurisdictions.  A wide-ranging review of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) has been welcomed for its recognition of the changing global landscape for sustainable investment, but risks near-term disruption for asset managers and their clients.  On 14 September, the European Commission published a long-anticipated consultation, which will close…

Believe it or not, the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. is extreme heat. While heatwaves don’t trigger the dramatic headlines that natural disasters generate, they should be on you radar screen—especially if you invest in utilities, infrastructure stocks, municipal bonds, or commodities. From 2004 through 2018, exposure to excessive heat contributed to 10,527 deaths, with the…

Investor network FAIRR releases a first-of-its-kind report on the agri-food sector’s commitment to regenerative agriculture practices.    There is a strong investment case for regenerative agriculture to build resilience to climate change, especially floods and droughts, through its cultivation of healthier soil, Alessia Lenders, Head of Impact at asset manager SLM Partners, told ESG Investor.   SLM Partners is among…

A selection of this week’s major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces. The ‘Big Apple’ saw the launch of a critical initiative for nature-led investment. Natural cycle – Centre stage at the start of New York Climate Week was given over to the unveiling of the final recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. This marks the…