December 2021
14Dec

US. Support builds for reversing Trump’s limits on ESG investing

A Department of Labor rule that would make it easier for retirement plan sponsors to account for social and environmental risks is garnering support from environmentalists and the financial services industry. The agency announced plans in October to roll back two rules adopted by the Trump administration that placed additional scrutiny on “sustainable investments.” The Trump-era rules did so by making it more complicated for 401(k) and pension plan managers to consider climate change and related issues when investing on...

December 14, 2021
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09Dec

Will everything be responsible investing?

Impact investing, responsible investing, environmental, social and governance investing – these are all different branches coming from the same tree and have been rising in popularity. As interest in climate-related issues has been growing for some time, more and more investors have been looking towards making their money work for the greater good. The consumer-facing campaign Make My Money Matter has played a key role in encouraging people to explore where their pensions are invested, as well as how they could...

December 9, 2021
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Boston to Divest From Fossil Fuels, Tobacco, Private Prisons
07Dec

US. Boston to Divest From Fossil Fuels, Tobacco, Private Prisons

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has signed into law an ordinance to divest the city from the fossil fuel, tobacco, and private prison industries by the end of 2025. The ordinance prohibits using public funds to invest in the stocks, securities, or other obligations of any company that derives more than 15% of its revenue from those industries. Under the new law, fossil fuel investments are defined as investments in any company that derives more than 15% of its revenue from...

December 7, 2021
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Sustainable finance roundtable: EIOPA announces its sustainable finance activities for the coming three years
07Dec

Sustainable finance roundtable: EIOPA announces its sustainable finance activities for the coming three years

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions (EIOPA) is organising today its 5th Sustainable Finance Roundtable which gathers representatives from supervisors, industry, consumer organisations, and academia to discuss society's resilience to sustainability risks, the role of insurers and pensions and EIOPA's work in this area. On this occasion, EIOPA announced its three year plan which will help to integrate sustainable finance across all areas of its own work. From 2022-2024, EIOPA defined its key areas of activity: Integration of sustainability risks in...

December 7, 2021
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06Dec

Australia’s $3.3 trillion pension pot reaps dividends with ESG

Responsible investing is paying dividends for Australia's A$3.4 trillion (S$3.3 trillion) pension pot. Funds seen as sustainable leaders controlled 42 per cent of the assets in the nation's default savings plans last year, up from 28 per cent in 2019, according to the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA). The 13 leading funds - which integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, are transparent and demonstrate a commitment to good governance and accountability - also outperformed rivals over three, five and...

December 6, 2021
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03Dec

Socially responsible investing

By Charles Stanley Direct The human impact on the environment means changes to the way society and industry operates are necessary, while societal problems such as poverty and inequality need to be tackled. Choosing investments that take account of these issues is what we call “investing with conscience”, or socially responsible investing. Get the book here 838 views

December 3, 2021
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03Dec

UK. Trustees warn lack of member appetite for ESG investing is hindering progress

More than half (53 per cent) of professional defined benefit (DB) pension trustees have cited the lack of member appetite for environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing as a factor hindering the growth of sustainable investing. The study, conducted by Charles Stanley Fiduciary Management, found that 35 per cent felt a lack of understanding about the options available as a hindrance, while the suspicion that ESG investing was just a fad, fears that it could harm returns, and underwhelming investment...

December 3, 2021
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November 2021
29Nov

US. SEC guidance opens the door for more ESG proxy proposal

More shareholder proposals with a focus on environmental and social issues are likely to make it onto company proxy statements in 2022, thanks to new Securities and Exchange Commission guidance, sources said. In a legal bulletin published Nov. 3, the SEC's division of corporation finance rescinded its last three legal bulletins — promulgated under the Trump administration — related to Exchange Act Rule 14a-8, that concern shareholder proposals. The latest bulletin also outlined changes in the division's views on what...

November 29, 2021
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29Nov

Chinese government push for better maternity leave met with shrugs or concerns it will promote discrimination against women

A dozen regional governments in China have lengthened maternity leave allowances in the past month to incentivise families to have more children amid concerns of an impending demographic crisis. However, many people questioned whether the policies would make any difference in China’s collapsing birth rate and pointed out that it could increase discrimination against women in the workforce. Some rule changes allow women to more than double their maternity leave, while others are making policies that increase maternity perks as families...

November 29, 2021
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29Nov

New EU rules pose problems for institutions

European asset owners and money managers expect to be challenged when it comes to aligning their investment strategies with the new European Union sustainable finance rules that go into effect in 2022 as regulatory requirements appear inconsistent. That's because investors and fund managers are still having to source the data to determine the environmental impact of their portfolio companies so they can disclose the degree to which their holdings — and therefore their portfolios — contribute to a carbon-intense economy. They...

November 29, 2021
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