Post-COP26 Thoughts and Other Recent ESG Papers
What did we get out of COP26 after all the talking stopped...?
The COP26 conference overran, with a revised concluding statement which apparently compromised on coal emissions, but which otherwise seemed to suggest that the Paris Agreement 1.5° Celsius climate warming targets were still viable.
Several commentators outline their initial reaction to the COP26 conference, while other papers investigate wider aspects of ESG investing. Of particular note to investors may be RBC GAM's Responsible Investment Survey, the COP26 Net Zero Atlas from FTSE Russell and a paper about carbon pricing from Columbia Threadneedle.
Responsible Investment Survey: ESG in a pandemic world (RBC GAM, 2021)
RBC GAM’s fifth annual survey of global institutional investor attitudes towards responsible investment finds a significant cohort who place more emphasis of ESG considerations because of the pandemic. Almost all European investors use ESG in their investment approach, while just two thirds of U.S. Investors use ESG.
Climate Change and Geopolitics (Franklin Templeton Investments, 2021)
For compliance reasons, this paper is only accessible in the EMEA region
Franklin Templeton Investments looks at the intersection of climate change and geopolitics, using case studies to illustrate impacts already being experienced. They consider the future implications for investors.
Climate Investment: Positioning portfolios for a warmer world (Man Group, 2021)
Man Group’s paper offers insights into how the climate crisis has impacted financial markets, how they have reacted, while also examining the role that the financial services industry needs to play in achieving a carbon-neutral future.
Climate Change and Investing: Carbon pricing (Columbia Threadneedle, Nov 2021)
In this paper, Columbia Threadneedle investigates carbon pricing and its many impacts and influences on companies, markets, and the wider economy.
A Green Transition: Decarbonization in company valuations (UBS AM, Nov 2021)
UBS AM suggests that engagement with the largest polluters is going to be key to ensure sustainable investing is going to drive the transition to net zero.
Corporate Carbon Emissions: Institutional Influence (EDHEC-Risk Institute, 2021)
EDHEC-Risk Institute investigates the extent to which institutional investor ownership, and engagement, affected the corporate carbon emissions in 68 countries between 2007 and 2018.
Digital Assets: Laying ESG Foundations (Global Digital Finance, 2021)
This paper from Global Digital Finance investigates some of the nuances behind the stories about the consumption of energy used in mining Bitcoin. They explore how the digital asset industry can reduce its carbon footprint and suggest ways in which tokenisation might be used in sustainable finance.
COP26 Net Zero Atlas (FTSE Russell, Nov 2021)
FTSE Russell’s COP26 Net Zero Atlas investigates individual country climate targets and offers insights into mitigation strategies. They look at G20 country climate commitments for both 2030 and 2050.
Pathways: The path to net zero (Macquarie AM, 2021)
Macquarie’s first paper in a series of insights dives headlong into what the shift to net zero implies and the potential threats and opportunities it may offer investors.
Video: The verdict on the COP26 summit (Robeco, Nov 2021)
Robeco‘s thoughts in this video on how they thought COP26 went suggests there were some disappointments, but overall it was a positive climate change summit.
Podcast: COP26 – Key takeaways (PineBridge Investments, Nov 2021)
PineBridge Investments’ podcast on the outcome of COP26 suggests there is much work to be done, while highlighting the crucial role that emerging markets must play in order to reach net zero in 2050.
COP26 Takeaways (State Street, Nov 2021)
State Street offer five key takeaways from the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
COP26: Reflections, responsibility and legacy (Janus Henderson Investors, 2021)
For compliance reasons, this paper is only accessible in the United States and Canada
Janus Henderson’s Kelly Hagg, Global Head of Product Strategy and ESG, provides some colour on the outcome of the COP26 meeting and its potential implications for investors.
