Investment consultants
Investment consultants cover a wide spectrum of professionals from which we distinguish between:
- Financial advisors - who advise on cash and mutual fund investments to individual (retail) investors
- Wealth managers - who advise on and manage the discretionary portfolios of ‘high-net worth’ investors
- Institutional pension fund consultants – who help institutional asset owners to develop and implement policies and management practices
Over the last twenty years, a number of these consultants have built successful businesses as specialists in SRI investment. Equally importantly, ‘mainstream’ advisors have built SRI advisory capacity into their broad-based platforms. Both groups have proven themselves to be important conduits for demand. Indeed many have increased demand and crystallised latent demand through their advice to asset owners about SRI and its implications. (In particular, they have played an important role in replacing myths and misconceptions about SRI with robust analysis of its performance.)
Investment consultants typically adjust their core services in the following ways to cater for clients’ (asset owners’) sustainability preferences as follows:
- Policy/strategy support – (for institutional investors) by helping trustees develop ‘Statements of Investment Principles’ that incorporate sustainability and responsibility objectives alongside their financial objectives. Recently this has included developing policies and practices to ensure PRI-compliance
- Specialist evaluation of asset managers’ SRI capabilities
- For retail investors – leading to the selection of funds that best suit investors’ financial needs and environmental and social priorities
- For institutional investors – detailed evaluation and benchmarking of SRI asset managers’ capabilities, their deployment of various SRI strategies and (recently) their PRI compliance. (This is, of course, set alongside (or integrated with) an evaluation of the managers’ investment capabilities)
- Monitor asset manager performance and reporting – including investment performance, SRI engagement activity and integrated analysis reporting
- Proactive research – to illustrate the investment relevance of sustainability factors some consultants have conducted research projects on specific issues with a view to making asset allocation or manager recommendations on the back of this research
Two reports have recently been published that review the SRI capabilities of investment consultants:
Individuals 50 of 6,021 results
Organisations 50 of 8,124 results
Buzzes 50 of 13,210 results
Fatalism & Frustration
Fatalism & Frustration
(https://srebbechi.substack.com/p/frustration-and-fatalism-a-few-thoughts?r=4atnb2)
The sharp rise in global aridity in recent decades tends to get ignored in the US but climate-driven migration will bring that problem to our doorstep.
There’s palpable sense of frustration and fatalism running through US politics at present. Why? How does the Well-Being of Young Adults Compare to Their Parents’? Not great.
The DOE’s LNG export report has good news and bad news. Good news is the US has enough gas supply to meet both domestic & exports under all scenarios. The bad news is greater exports mean higher domestic gas prices and less energy security as the US is effectively keeping LNG prices down for China even as the Chinese work to strand those US LNG export assets. The remaining concerns feel moot in the current political environment but rising exports will also mean significant increases in GHG emissions as well as negative environmental and community impacts.
However, there is still some good news on low-carbon alternatives developing to limit the need for natural gas – nuclear and geothermal. On nuclear, at present, the question is who is going to win? SMRs or traditional nuclear? The answer is probably both but one will hit scale faster and I expect it will be traditional nuclear. A great flag from Andy Lubershane.
As for geothermal, a relatively short note from the IEA on geothermal as a reminder that, despite the relatively nascent state of development, the US is a market leader of sorts and if you want to review the space then this is a helpful spin by Canary Media through the key players while the DOE's Geothermal Power Commercial Liftoff paper from earlier this year if you want to dive deeper.
Take a few minutes to scroll through the graphics on sea level rise on the US Atlantic Coast: The Drowning South. Melting ice, sinking land, and warming oceans are all contributing to overall sea-level rise but it’s the uneven impacts driven by nonintuitive factors that are surprising and leading to many more (50-170) high-tide flood days from Galveston to Boston in the 2050s.
For those of you drifting off into the holidays, some light reading about doomsday… The Hideaway.
Webinar: Trump's Impact on Black, Small, Minority and Women-owned Businesses
Webinar: Trump's Impact on Black, Small, Minority and Women-owned Businesses
As we approach a critical juncture in American politics and economics, it’s imperative to confront the stark realities of what another Trump term could mean for our communities and businesses. This event will dive deep into a comprehensive forecast of the potential impact of his policies and governance, drawing from his previous term's track record and emerging trends:
A Threat to Democracy: constitutional and institutional integrity.
Humanitarian Crisis: reflecting the disastrous scale of mismanagement witnessed during COVID-19, where 1 million Americans died.
Economic Devastation for Black-Owned Businesses: During his previous term, Black businesses fell by 41%. We detail another potential decline.
Unchecked Greed and Corruption: track record of unethical behavior and self-enrichment.
Dangerous Global Agenda: may ignite a major international conflict.
This is an updated version of the webinar we presented on December 26, 2016:
"Under any conceivable scenario, the current situation is very bad, and I mean toxic, for democratic institutions in general and for people of color specifically. Bottom line: our Fully Adjusted Return Forecast indicates that, over time, things will get much, much worse....." See: Trumpism” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trumpism-william-michael-cunningham-am-mba/
The 2025 webinar will present a detailed, frank and honest assessment of current and future conditions. Confidential forecast. Access limited. COST: $100 - $250. December 30th at 3pm EST. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trumps-impact-on-black-small-minority-and-women-owned-businesses-tickets-1095746520339?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Trump’s New Economic Policies Could Have A Detrimental Impact On Black Businesses
Trump’s New Economic Policies Could Have A Detrimental Impact On Black Businesses
A sizeable 24% of Black-owned businesses operate in sectors dependent on imports affected by tariffs. Due to the projected tariffs the Donald Trump administration proposes, the annual revenue loss for those businesses could range from $1.8 billion to $3.6 billion. For more: https://www.blackenterprise.com/trumps-new-economic-policies-could-have-a-detrimental-impact-on-black-businesses-yet-some-opportunities-may-exist/
Carbon Tracker: LNG: Investors' "Liquefied Natural Gold" or "Liquefied Natural Gruel"? (Wbr | 15 Jan)
Carbon Tracker: LNG: Investors' "Liquefied Natural Gold" or "Liquefied Natural Gruel"? (Wbr | 15 Jan)
(https://carbontracker.cmail19.com/t/y-e-cgldx-hltdhitldy-o/)
Weds 15th Jan 2025
15:00 UK | 16:00 CET
10:00 NY | 07:00 San Fran
"An increase of nearly 50% in global LNG export capacity is on the horizon, led by the US & Qatar, but the prices that many suppliers need to recover their investments may not entice developing economies to switch to natural gas at scale: something has to give." IEA WEO 2024
Osmosis: Non-Disclosure+ Campaign
Osmosis: Non-Disclosure+ Campaign
"We are calling on companies to disclose their environmental data"
"Our Non-Disclosure+ Campaign seeks to make significant strides in tackling non-disclosure of environmental indicators in some of the world’s largest corporations. With the combined weight of our collective assets behind it and the size of the target companies, we believe this campaign can create positive impact for sustainability at a market-level."
Osmosis: The Economics of Resource Efficiency
Osmosis: The Economics of Resource Efficiency
The Environment is not just a carbon issue.
"Reducing carbon emissions remains at the forefront of corporate environmental agendas. But carbon emissions should not be the sole indicator of environmental efficiency. Our research demonstrates that a comprehensive approach to addressing the corporate environmental balance sheet – which considers carbon, water and waste – will leave investors less exposed to a broader range of both current and future externality risks."
UKSIF: "Here’s What UKSIF is Up To in 2025"
UKSIF: "Here’s What UKSIF is Up To in 2025"
Here is our current events* list to look forward to in 2025:
- Ownership Day (registrations are live) on the 6th March 2025
- Spring Conference on the 7th of May in Edinburgh
- Alternative Investment Week 17th June
- Summer Drinks 18th June
* UKSIF events are exclusively for UKSIF members
MSCI: Sustainability and Climate Trends to Watch 2025
MSCI: Sustainability and Climate Trends to Watch 2025
Introducing MSCI’s Sustainability and Climate Trends to Watch 2025
In a world that feels ever more uncertain, investors everywhere are looking for information that can give them an edge. Study after study shows that sustainability data can help identify more competitive, more profitable, less risky companies with higher long-term returns and a lower cost of capital.
The latter half of this decade will bring profound shifts, driven by geopolitics, disruptive technology breakthroughs and environmental challenges. Investors will need to contend with the sweeping effects of the energy transition on users and suppliers of energy, the escalating impact of climate-related events and new risks associated with the widespread adoption of AI across every sector of the economy.
Such unprecedented change brings unprecedented opportunity. The energy system transformation presents one of the most significant investment prospects of our time, with strong returns anticipated by many investors in low-carbon energy, green transportation and energy-storage solutions, especially in private markets
ISF: Are investors liking corporate Canada’s ESG tweets?
ISF: Are investors liking corporate Canada’s ESG tweets?
(https://smith.queensu.ca/centres/isf/pdfs/projects/white-paper-ESG-tweets.pdf)
ISF: Are investors liking corporate Canada’s ESG tweets?
New research published by the Institute for Sustainable Finance finds that there is a mismatch between Canadian companies’ positive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) messaging on social media, their actual environmental performance, and their cost of capital.
The study is summarized in an ISF white paper by Dhruv Baswal, a PhD candidate at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, and his supervisor Dr. Sean Cleary, a professor of finance at Smith, titled “Are investors liking corporate Canada’s ESG tweets? An analysis of Environmental, Social and Governance messaging on social media and cost of capital.”
Download the white paper here.
MSCI: First Ever Public Price Forecast for Airline's Carbon Credits (Podcast)
MSCI: First Ever Public Price Forecast for Airline's Carbon Credits (Podcast)
"We put out the world’s first public price forecast for CORSIA!* In it we analyzed the potential demand, supply and prices for credits under CORSIA, and how much the scheme could cost the airline industry in terms of higher ticket prices or lower profits. In this episode we explore the reports findings from one of its main authors. Enjoy!
*Based on review of publicly available carbon credit research and ratings providers, as of Nov. 1, 2024."
MSCI: Understanding Carbon Markets - An MSCI Guide
MSCI: Understanding Carbon Markets - An MSCI Guide
"Voluntary purchases of carbon credits can play an essential role in helping companies and investors reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with climate commitments and serve as a key mechanism for funding the transition to a cleaner, more resilient economy globally.
Our guide examines the essentials of carbon markets – how they work, their governance and the latest developments – to help capital-markets participants navigate this critical aspect of climate-finance.
The guide offers insight to help you:
- Navigate the global landscape for emissions trading
- Understand the ecosystem for carbon credits and the voluntary market
- Assess the fundamentals of carbon-credit quality
-Identify carbon credits that can advance your strategy"
PWC: State of Climate Tech 2024
PWC: State of Climate Tech 2024
(https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/esg/climate-tech-investment-adaptation-ai.html)
Three years after climate tech investing’s peak, investors and start-ups are finding it ever tougher to make deals. In the 12 months through September 2024, capital flows and transaction volume continued to trend downwards, dropping below levels recorded in 2019, before the market had taken off.
Yet the past year also brought opportunities for savvy investors. Climate tech investment held up strongly in the United States, buoyed by the Inflation Reduction Act and other policy measures. Start-ups operating in the energy sector increased their share of climate tech funding.
And AI-centred climate ventures raised US$1 billion more in the first three quarters of 2024 than they did in all of 2023, as investors recognised AI’s power to drive productivity and efficiency improvements of all kinds. Technology for climate adaptation and resilience stood out as a theme, featuring in more than one-quarter (28%) of climate tech deals.
New analysis also highlights the role that big companies are playing as climate tech investors. Their venture capital funds and other investment units have participated in about a quarter of climate tech deals for several years running.
What’s more, bigger firms tend to get involved in mid-stage and late-stage deals, a key to helping climate ventures reach scale. In sectors in which climate tech start-ups attract relatively little funding—industrials, food and agriculture, and the built environment—large, established companies could help drive the innovation that’s needed to reach global emissions targets.
Sightline Climate: Climate Capital Stack and Funds report
Sightline Climate: Climate Capital Stack and Funds report
(https://www.sightlineclimate.com/request-report?report-id=2024_capital_stack&ref=ctvc.co)
"In this report we follow this transformation to show you how capital is flowing into climate solutions – who’s raising funds, where capital is concentrated, and what it means for players across the climate tech ecosystem.
We’ll do this by tracing:
• The state of climate funds – the capital raised to invest in climate tech. We’ll look at fundraising trends to better understand sentiment and momentum around climate tech. We’ll break it down further to get a sense of where investor interest lies – is it in moonshots, or in plain-old solar?
• Dry Powder – the undeployed capital looking for the right opportunity. We’ll explore how much capital is ready-to-go, and whether that capital is for early or late-stage climate solutions.
• The Climate Capital Stack – those who have raised the funds and want to put it to work. We’ll outline the types of capital available, at what stage, and from whom – the layers of the Stack. We’ll profile the players, the products they offer, and what gets them jazzed about a deal."
Nordsip: Article 9 fund review
Nordsip: Article 9 fund review
(https://nordsip.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Q3-Article-9-Performance-Report-1.pdf)
"In this edition of NordSIP’s Article 9 Fund Review, we dive into the key trends shaping sustainable investments during the third quarter of 2024."
InfluenceMap: EU Funds: Has Regulation Impacted Climate Performance?
InfluenceMap: EU Funds: Has Regulation Impacted Climate Performance?
(https://influencemap.org/report/EU-Funds)
This report assesses the European climate-related and ESG fund market in the context of the incoming European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) fund naming guidelines and existing Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).
It finds that 60% of funds identified as using climate-related terms in their naming do not disclose under SFDR Article 9, the category designated for funds with a primary sustainability objective.
The research also finds that 33% of assessed climate-related and ESG equity funds have higher levels of fossil fuel investment than green investment, and that 89% of these funds have portfolios misaligned with the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies: Electricity, Green Hydrogen, and the Energy Transition
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies: Electricity, Green Hydrogen, and the Energy Transition
This paper explores the pivotal and connected roles that electric power and hydrogen can play in achieving the environmental, security and economic objectives of the energy transition, concentrating on green hydrogen (H2) produced from renewable wind and solar power.
It also draws on experience from the electricity sector for possible guidance on technological innovation, business models and governmental policy to support the development of green H2 and of the green products that derive from it, such as green steel.
The focus is on the European Union (EU), although we also refer to global targets and relevant experience in the UK, US and elsewhere.
WRI: Next-generation geothermal
WRI: Next-generation geothermal
▪ Geothermal energy provides clean electricity 24/7 and could play an important role in achieving a 100 percent clean grid that is cost-effective and reliable.
▪ Next-generation geothermal technologies, which are in various stages of development, hold potential for widespread deployment across the United States and globally if cost reduction trends continue.
▪ Whereas conventional geothermal facilities drill to reach natural underground hot water reservoirs to generate energy, next-generation geothermal technologies drill into hot rocks without sufficient naturally occurring fluid or permeability.
▪ Some of these next-generation geothermal technologies use advanced drilling techniques borrowed from the oil and gas industry, but with key differences that lower the environmental risk profile.
▪ To commercialize next-generation geothermal, it will be necessary to further develop new technologies and techniques, proactively address potential environmental risks, and overcome key barriers such as high up-front financing needs and a lengthy permitting process.
Sustainable Fitch: Assessing Climate Transition Plans in Hard-to-Abate Sectors
Sustainable Fitch: Assessing Climate Transition Plans in Hard-to-Abate Sectors
Transition Plans as a Gateway to Transition Finance Transition finance is essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors. It has emerged as a key area for regulators, investors and entities aiming to channel funds to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors on a large scale.
Transition finance hinges on the disclosure and evaluation of companies’ climate-related targets and transition plans. Regulatory developments, such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) principles, are likely to mandate transition plan disclosures soon in various jurisdictions.
Guidance on transition plans is expanding, with frameworks like the Transition Planning Taskforce being integrated into ISSB standards. Investors and financial institutions are also demanding robust transition plans, linking investment and lending decisions to these plans and their progress.
Morningstar | Sustainalytics: Six Sustainable Investing Trends To Watch in 2025
Morningstar | Sustainalytics: Six Sustainable Investing Trends To Watch in 2025
(https://connect.sustainalytics.com/six-sustainable-investing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-report)
This report covers six themes that will be top of mind for sustainability-aware investors for 2025, identifying touchpoints that investors will need to learn to navigate in the new year. The themes identified include: ESG regulations, transition investing, sustainable bonds, ESG funds, biodiversity and artificial intelligence.
Readers of this report will learn about how:
- 2025 will be a testing year for ESG regulations in Europe, while the US faces a reversal of ESG policies.
- Investors are set to take a more hands-on approach to the low-carbon transition by focusing on tangible actions.
- Lower interest rates will bolster issuance in the sustainable bond market.
- The ESG fund landscape will undergo significant transformation.
- Biodiversity solutions can be scaled using innovative financial mechanisms.
- Rapid AI adoption increases environmental and social risks.
Download the report to learn more.
WEF: Net-Zero Industry Tracker 2024
WEF: Net-Zero Industry Tracker 2024
(https://www.weforum.org/publications/net-zero-industry-tracker-2024/)
WEF: Net-Zero Industry Tracker 2024
The third edition of the Net-Zero Industry Tracker provides a detailed analysis of the progress hard-to-abate industrial and transport sectors are making worldwide in their efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The eight sectors covered in the report account for approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are considered sectors in which reducing emissions can be challenging. Moreover, they play a fundamental role in driving global economic activity and connectivity.
As a result, finding solutions to reducing these industries' emissions is critical to achieving global net-zero goals, while ensuring economic prosperity. The tracker provides both quantitative and qualitative scorecards for the sectors to continuously track their progress towards, and readiness for, net-zero targets.
Furthermore, it identifies priority areas and key barriers for the industries to encourage targeted actions to facilitate progress towards emission reduction.
State of Transition in Sovereigns 2024: Tracking national climate action for investors
State of Transition in Sovereigns 2024: Tracking national climate action for investors
Key findings from assessment of 70 countries
Emissions Pathways
• Forty of the 70 countries assessed have reduced their emissions over the past five years and almost all have established medium-term targets.
• Not a single country has a historical emissions trend or 2030 target that aligns with its national 1.5oC benchmark. Only a few are aligned with their ‘1.5oC fair share’ (an allocation based on equity principles) in their emissions trends or 2030 targets.
Climate Policies
• Forty out of the 70 countries have established a legal framework for national climate policy through a climate framework law.
• Countries perform poorly on commitments to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and production, making finance flows inconsistent with a 1.5ºC future.
Climate Finance
• Most of the developed countries (81%) assessed fail to contribute or commit to their proportional share of the US$100 billion international climate finance goal.
• Only one-third of the developing countries assessed have been transparent about the costs of their mitigation and adaptation measures. This may constrain public and private finance flows towards these objectives.
Robeco: The role of government bond investors in funding the SDGs
Robeco: The role of government bond investors in funding the SDGs
Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into government bond portfolios is a relatively new frontier for investors. Robeco uses its proprietary Country SDG Framework to assess countries on their policies to achieve the SDGs, their need for capital to finance sustainable development, and their adherence to key sustainability principles.
In an update to a research paper first published in February 2023, our quant, fixed income and SDG experts show how such a framework can be practically applied in developed and emerging government bond portfolios. The new and updated parts are:
Summary
- A new section on the relationship between CDS spreads and SDG scores
- A focus on the four most important government bond benchmark indices
- Analysis of historical returns, showing that performances are not significantly affected
Sustainable Fitch: Sustainable Finance Outlook 2025
Sustainable Fitch: Sustainable Finance Outlook 2025
(https://www.sustainablefitch.com/sovereigns/sustainable-finance-outlook-2025-12-12-2024)
The sustainable finance market is maturing and broadening, a trend Sustainable Fitch identified for 2024, and this continues to underpin most of the key themes for 2025. There are more signs that investors and issuers want tom see an increase in labels, use of proceeds (UoPs) categories and sectors.
Approaching milestones towards net zero, notably the need for emissions to peak in 2025, can create fresh impetus for a widening of activities to be included under sustainable finance frameworks.
Key Themes for Sustainable Finance in 2025
- Labelled Debt Use of Proceeds Continue to Slowly Diversify
- Climate Adaptation Comes into Sharper Focus
- Reconsideration of Enabling and Transition Technologies as NetZero Targets Loom
- Transition Plans Guidance Expands, Can Help Boost Transition Finance
- New Regulations Slow, Boost in Implementation
The themes we identify for the year ahead are not an exhaustive list, but rather, a selection of what we expect to be most pertinent for stakeholders –from investors and corporates to policymakers – within sustainable finance.
WHEB: It is always darkest before dawn
WHEB: It is always darkest before dawn
WHEB: It is always darkest before dawn
Impact investment has been a difficult place to invest in the past few years and what an extraordinary period this has been.
Performance against a magnificent-seven dominated benchmark has been challenging and sentiment (and valuations) in the impact space have rarely been as depressed as now. However we believe the opportunities in the impact space have never been greater.
Read the full article to understand the story.
The value of units in FP WHEB Sustainability Impact Fund, WHEB Sustainable Impact Fund or WHEB Environmental Impact Fund may increase or decrease and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance does not predict future returns. Your capital is at risk.
Robeco: SI Dilemma: Active versus passive SI?
Robeco: SI Dilemma: Active versus passive SI?
(https://www.robeco.com/en-int/insights/2024/12/si-dilemma-active-versus-passive-si?cmp=na_3_418)
Choosing between an active or passive strategy has long been a core strategic investment choice, but for sustainable investors there are additional considerations beyond the usual factors, such as fees, complexity, and the consistency of returns. A particular concern is whether a passive approach can deliver comparable values or impact alignment to an active approach.
Summary
- Passive offers a cheaper approach but can miss ESG considerations
- Active strategies may be able to adapt quicker to changing standards
- Enhanced indexing strategies can combine the best of both worlds
Impax: Impact Report 2024
Impax: Impact Report 2024
(https://impaxam.com/insights-and-news/blog/impact-report-2024/)
"This year we celebrate a decade of measuring and reporting the impact of our investments beyond financial returns.
Investing in the opportunities arising from the transition to a more sustainable economy is attractive to asset owners with narrowly defined fiduciary duties, but it also appeals to those asset owners who are seeking to achieve positive, measurable non-financial impact outcomes through their investments."
NB Impax Climate Report here
FSI MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute: How are children’s rights evolving for investors?
FSI MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute: How are children’s rights evolving for investors?
FSI MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute: How are children’s rights evolving for investors?
To date, the common understanding of children’s rights focused mostly on child labour through investment screening.
In this video, First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute introduces the evolving concept of children’s rights and their relevance to business and investors.
Carbon Tracker: Petrochemical Imbalance - Can chemicals prop up oil demand?
Carbon Tracker: Petrochemical Imbalance - Can chemicals prop up oil demand?
(https://carbontracker.createsend1.com/t/y-l-cmhka-hltdhitldy-y/)
"In his analysis, Saidrasul Ashrafkhanov, an associate analyst in our Oil, Gas & Mining team, investigates the assumptions supporting the oil & gas industry's sales pitch to investors regarding their pivot to Petrochems to offset the imminent decline in transport fuel demand.
Despite opaque data, by digging through industry reports & market forecasts, he has teased out four key assumptions that support the pivot & assesses the variety of strategies deployed by the industry to execute the move.
This note is intended for equity and fixed income analysts on both the buy and sell sides, as well as engagement teams and credit analysts at lenders and insurers. It provides a list of critical questions to ask corporates regarding the assumptions behind their petrochemical strategy, which will aid in the investment modelling stage."
Robeco: Denmark is the new world leader in sustainability performance
Robeco: Denmark is the new world leader in sustainability performance
Denmark tops Robeco’s latest country ranking thanks to consistent environmental performance. Hungary’s declining ESG scores creates a cautionary tale for rising populist movements. Analysis finds educational investments are not enough to stave off country ‘brain drain.’ Indonesia wants to join the OECD, but is it ready?
Summary
- Consistency is key in Denmark’s rise in the ranks
- The US improves but gains most likely short-lived
- Hungary shows populism can be toxic for investments and growth
Newton IM: The uranium rush - Should investors be ‘digging’ uranium?
Newton IM: The uranium rush - Should investors be ‘digging’ uranium?
(https://www.newtonim.com/uk-institutional/insights/audios/the-uranium-rush/)
Dustin Garrow, managing principal at Nuclear Fuel Associates, joins Double Take to discuss the complexities of the uranium market, mining into geopolitical influences, supply dynamics and the prospects for nuclear energy.
Fidelity International: A practitioner's guide to investing in the energy transition
Fidelity International: A practitioner's guide to investing in the energy transition
"Constructing a carbon neutral economy - quickly - can seem so complex that it raises the question: where do you even start? Investors face the same conundrum. This guide offers some clarity. Specifically, it looks at what the transition means in practical terms as an investment theme. Fidelity’s portfolio managers and analysts are always looking across regions and asset classes for ways to realise the potential of this historic change. Here, we gather some of their best ideas*."
*See link below to access the range of FI articles on this topic
Insight Investment: Thoughts on 2025
Insight Investment: Thoughts on 2025
See link below to download report - RI section from pg 14 onwards
Aviva Investors: Decarbonising transport
Aviva Investors: Decarbonising transport
Read this article to understand:
- How holistic stewardship can help bring down the barriers to the climate transition
- The five key challenges to decarbonising surface transport
- The cross-industry solutions that can unlock the sector’s transformation
Stewart Investors: Thinking circular: Circular economy best practice in the industrial goods sector
Stewart Investors: Thinking circular: Circular economy best practice in the industrial goods sector
(https://www.stewartinvestors.com/uk/en/institutional/insights/thinking-circular.html)
Our current economic system is linear. We take materials from the Earth, use them to make products, and eventually throw them away as waste. In contrast, a circular economy seeks to keep resources in use for as long as possible and extract the maximum value from them. It is a regenerative approach which minimises waste, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources.
The following principles underpin the circular economy:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Design for durability, reuse, remanufacture and recycle
- Regenerate natural systems
For many products, the solution starts with design. By redesigning products, we can reduce the resources used during the manufacturing process, extend their lifespan, and enable them to be recycled at their end of life.
Berenberg: What comes after the ESG hype?
Berenberg: What comes after the ESG hype?
(https://www.berenberg.de/en/news/esg/what-comes-after-the-esg-hype/)
"The ESG party is over. The ESG bubble has burst. ESG is dead." Headlines proclaiming the demise of ESG investing are as varied as the metaphors used to describe its alleged collapse. But do these sweeping statements reflect the whole truth? Or is the rationale for incorporating ESG factors into investment decisions compelling enough to withstand current and future headwinds?
Ethical Screening: Nature Finance (blog)
Ethical Screening: Nature Finance (blog)
(https://www.ethicalscreening.co.uk/news/blogpost/nature-finance)
Green bonds have been of the scene for a while now, but their wilder, more natural cousins are approaching from stage left. These instruments, which may be dubbed as nature bonds, biodiversity, bonds, or environmental bonds, among other titles, are being designed to bridge the gap between the natural world and the world of finance.
As evidenced by it being one of the main focus points at this year’s COP 16 (a.k.a. the biodiversity COP), the global interest in leveraging private finance to fund the protection of restoration of nature is growing. Unlike global treasures like the Amazon rainforest, which continue to do the exact opposite, thanks to us.
ARE: Autos, Buildings, Renewables: Finding China’s Green Steel Buyers
ARE: Autos, Buildings, Renewables: Finding China’s Green Steel Buyers
(https://asiareengage.com/finding-chinas-green-steel-buyers/)
This report identifies the key industries that can drive the adoption of green steel to help China meet its carbon neutrality goals. China’s steel industry, the world’s largest, emits 17% of the country’s greenhouse gases. Despite producing 1.02 billion tonnes of crude steel in 2023, green steel supply remains close to zero.
This report highlights the automotive, property construction, and renewable energy sectors as pivotal early adopters, capable of generating demand for up to 10 million tonnes of green steel annually by 2030. It outlines actionable strategies for these industries to reduce emissions, stimulate investment in clean production technologies, and overcome adoption barriers.
UBS AM: Not all net zero pathways are created equal
UBS AM: Not all net zero pathways are created equal
Improving real estate’s sustainability profile is pivotal to addressing climate change, as the sector contributes some 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But improving this sustainability profile isn’t just a ‘save the world’ exercise. For building owners and associated stakeholders it is also vital to establish the necessary long-term action plans towards net zero to protect income streams and value and manage costs.
The current trend is towards publishing net zero pathways
Investors are demanding more precise disclosures to compare different investment products, not only in terms of returns or risks, but also progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Net zero pathways represent a product’s timeline of the ‘path to net zero’ based on the underlying real estate asset’s operating emissions. Therefore, such pathways are helpful tools for comparing investment products’ climate ambitions and progress over time. Additionally, net zero pathways help make the long-term decarbonization trajectory tangible, enabling real estate managers to review the impact of their planned decarbonization measures regularly.
While real estate managers in most countries have yet to publish net zero pathways for real estate investment products, large institutional real estate managers in Switzerland are already disclosing their pathways. Moreover, we expect this to prevail across other markets in the near term. As is so often the case, disclosure and transparency are the first necessary steps before we can assess actual progress and performance.
Jobs 50 of 230 results
JobPosts: 2 @ PRI - Head, Sustainability Initiatives / Head, MENA RI Ecosystems (London | Dubai)
JobPosts: 2 @ PRI - Head, Sustainability Initiatives / Head, MENA RI Ecosystems (London | Dubai)
Head of Middle East & Northern Africa, Responsible Investment Ecosystems Close 25 Jan
Head, Sustainability Initiatives Close 5 Jan
JobPost: PRI - People Partner (Projects & Initiatives) & People Partner (Engagement) (London | Closing: 8:00pm, 5th Jan 2025 GMT)
JobPost: PRI - People Partner (Projects & Initiatives) & People Partner (Engagement) (London | Closing: 8:00pm, 5th Jan 2025 GMT)
(https://app.beapplied.com/apply/3azmgajtbe)
JobPost: PRI - People Partner (Projects & Initiatives) & People Partner (Engagement) (London | Closing: 8:00pm, 5th Jan 2025 GMT)
People & Culture Team
Employment Type Full time Please note, where PRI has an office there is an expectation to work a minimum of 2 days per week
Location Hybrid · London, UK
Seniority Mid-level
Closing: 8:00pm, 5th Jan 2025 GMT
JobPost: PRI - Director, Asia Pacific Responsible Investment Ecosystems - Singapore
JobPost: PRI - Director, Asia Pacific Responsible Investment Ecosystems - Singapore
(https://app.beapplied.com/apply/db0tkqihsz)
JobPost: PRI - Director, Asia Pacific Responsible Investment Ecosystems - Singapore
Employment Type Full time
Please note, where PRI has an office there is an expectation to work a minimum of 2 days per week
Location Hybrid · Singapore YOU MUST BE A SINGAPORE NATIONAL TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE
Seniority Senior
Closing: 8:00pm, 5th Jan 2025 +08
JobPost: Aequo - Advisor, Shareholder Engagement (Montreal)
JobPost: Aequo - Advisor, Shareholder Engagement (Montreal)
(https://aequo.ca/en/job-offer-advisor-shareholder-engagement/)
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We’re excited to share that our team is growing! We’re looking for a talented colleague to join our dynamic group. Interested? Find all the details here 👇
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JobPost: Sustainalytics - Stewardship Manager, EMEA & APAC (Amsterdam | Close Unknown)
JobPost: Sustainalytics - Stewardship Manager, EMEA & APAC (Amsterdam | Close Unknown)
(https://careers.morningstar.com/sustainalytics/us/en/job/REQ-047996/Stewardship-Manager-EMEA-APAC)
JobPost: Sustainalytics - Stewardship Manager, EMEA & APAC (Amsterdam | Close Unknown)
JobPost: ISS - Climate & Sustainability Sales Executive (NYC | Close Unknown)
JobPost: ISS - Climate & Sustainability Sales Executive (NYC | Close Unknown)
JobPost: ISS - Climate & Sustainability Sales Executive (NYC | Close Unknown)
JobPost: MSCI - ESG & Climate Consultant (Paris | Close Unknown)
JobPost: MSCI - ESG & Climate Consultant (Paris | Close Unknown)
JobPost: MSCI - ESG & Climate Consultant (Paris | Close Unknown)
JobPost: JPMorganChase - Asset & Wealth Management, Climate Specialist, ESG Team, Associate (London | Close Unknown)
JobPost: JPMorganChase - Asset & Wealth Management, Climate Specialist, ESG Team, Associate (London | Close Unknown)
JobPost: JPMorganChase - Asset & Wealth Management, Climate Specialist, ESG Team, Associate (London | Close Unknown)
JobPost: RLAM - ESG and Sustainability Research Analyst (London | Closing date: 4th December 2024)
JobPost: RLAM - ESG and Sustainability Research Analyst (London | Closing date: 4th December 2024)
JobPost: RLAM - ESG and Sustainability Research Analyst (London | Closing date: 4th December 2024)
Job Title: ESG and Sustainability Research Analyst
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: London
Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based
Closing date: 4th December 2024
JobPost: Tesco: Head of Investor Relations - ESG (CloseDate: 07/11/2024)
JobPost: Tesco: Head of Investor Relations - ESG (CloseDate: 07/11/2024)
(https://www.tesco-careers.com/jobdetails/917223/)
"Our Investor Relations team manages the relationship and communications between Tesco and its shareholders and the wider investment community. It is a high-profile team that supports the CEO, CFO and Group Investor Relations Director to communicate the performance of the Tesco Group.
You will be primarily responsible for communicating our ESG objectives and progress, fielding questions from analysts and investors on a broad range of topics, as well as supporting senior management in their interactions with investors. The role will require you to build positive relationships with key colleagues, familiarise yourself with Tesco’s extensive ESG disclosure, and establish relationships with investors and analysts."
Please note this role is a fixed term contract for 12 months
Full details via the link below
JobPost: BlackRock: VP, Sustainability Platform Strategy & Implementation (London | Close Unknown)
JobPost: BlackRock: VP, Sustainability Platform Strategy & Implementation (London | Close Unknown)
JobPost: BlackRock: VP, Sustainability Platform Strategy & Implementation (London | Close Unknown)
JobPost: Jupiter Asset Management Ltd - ESG Analyst (12 month FTC)(London | CloseDate: Unknown)
JobPost: Jupiter Asset Management Ltd - ESG Analyst (12 month FTC)(London | CloseDate: Unknown)
(https://www.efinancialcareers.co.uk/jobs-UK-London-ESG_Analyst_12_month_FTC.id22026009)
JobPost: Jupiter Asset Management Ltd - ESG Analyst (12 month FTC)(London | CloseDate: Unknown)
JobPost: The Schmidt Family Foundation - Portfolio Manager, Impact Investing (San Francisco | CloseDate: 15th November)
JobPost: The Schmidt Family Foundation - Portfolio Manager, Impact Investing (San Francisco | CloseDate: 15th November)
(https://jobs.thegiin.org/job/6853/portfolio-manager,-impact-investing/)