ESG and Ethical Investing - Articles & White Papers
Articles and white papers on ESG and socially responsible investing. The most popular ESG research in this section provides practical advice for tangible implementation of ESG policy, for instance, exploring a framework to integrate ESG factors into portfolio construction, and how to integrate ESG into private equity. ESG surveys have been well received, and the list below includes... a survey of European ESG funds as well as a report which examines how institutional investors incorporate ESG considerations when investing in alternatives. A commonly debated issue is the question of how ESG impacts investment returns. Can socially responsible investing deliver competitive performance, or does it hurt investment outcomes? This topic is well covered in this area of our library. Other research in this section includes papers on corporate governance policy, shareholder activism and the rise of activist funds. With environmental risks and climate change an increasing concern for investors, there are a growing number of papers on fossil fuel divestment. Furthermore, increasing attention is being given to how funds can actually use their investments to make a positive change for good, and papers on impact investing have proved popular, particularly in relation to endowments. This section also includes papers on faith-based investing such as Islamic finance.
This is the second year that DWS has sponsored this report by CREATE-Research. Amongst other insights, this year’s survey confirms the on-going movement of passive investment into the mainstream with 66% of survey respondents considering passive index investing as a mature part of their portfolio.
A number of market inefficiencies make sustainable investing attractive for active managers, whose goal is to outperform broader indices. We address five of these inefficiencies and explain how investors may be able to take advantage of them.
ESG issues are becoming a key part of the global investment industry, yet implementation comes with serious issues to consider. In our latest paper on ESG investing, we help investors tackle these issues. We introduce an important goals-based framework for ESG investing and offer considerations for evaluating ESG managers…
ESG issues are becoming a key part of the global investment industry, yet implementation comes with serious issues to consider. In our latest paper on ESG investing, we help investors tackle these issues. We introduce an important goals-based framework for ESG investing and offer considerations for evaluating ESG managers…
Building on our studies showing a strong relationship between the environmental, social and governance performance of companies and their credit spreads, we have partnered with researcher Beyond Ratings to determine whether similar connections exist in the sovereign credit market.
Gold is rare; as with other precious metals, a lot of ore is mined and processed to produce small amounts of pure metal. Consequently, gold production uses a lot of energy. On a per volume basis, therefore, it has a relatively high GHG intensity. However, our findings indicate that total GHG emissions from newly-mined gold…
Can you do well by doing good? Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has undeniably begun its ascent to the mainstream. This trend not only suggests investors are more readily prepared to pursue a responsible agenda, but also that they believe it doesn’t have to come at the expense of returns. In fact, there…
The lack of correlation across various ESG rating agencies is often cited as one of the causes of data inconsistency. There is criticism that different ESG rating agencies often have quite different ESG ratings for the same company. The process tends to be opaque with little understanding of how ratings are deduced. However…
This 42-page paper by Candriam examines the key role the transportation and energy sectors play in the sustainable energy transition. It asks the question: can automobiles change the world?
This report assesses the standard of ESG reporting by ASX200 companies for the 2018 reporting period. It is the 12th annual review of ESG reporting by ACSI.
The S&P ESG Indices align investment objectives with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values. The indices, which include the S&P 500 ESG Index can serve as benchmarks as well as the basis for index-linked investment products. The S&P ESG Indices’ broad market exposure and industry diversification…
Assessing ESG risks within real asset investments is far from straightforward. Mark Versey and Stanley Kwong use five case studies to illustrate the balance of ESG risk factors that affects investment decision-making, beyond simply trying to be ‘green’.
Nearly $31 trillion in assets under management were invested in funds that consider ESG issues in their investing process as of January 2018, a 34% increase from two years previously. Transparency is key to understanding what this expansion means.
The investment case for advancing gender equality in corporations is strong and clear. Women make up 50% of the global working-age population and have educational attainment that is close to comparable with men’s globally. However, figures show that women have significantly lower labor participation rates than men globally…
This report aims to provide recommendations for China’s future, mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure framework, prepared by its financial regulators. These recommendations, supported by discussions with Chinese and international stakeholders, intend to inform the China Securities Regulatory…
The amount of ESG information disclosed by corporations is on the rise. However, investors still often lack a full understanding of potential financially relevant ESG risks. How can they gain a better sense of where their investments are most vulnerable to ESG-related disasters?
Many equity investors want to help create social benefits while generating strong returns. Achieving these twin goals requires a coherent investment approach. In this paper, we outline a process designed to effectively integrate environmental, social and governance factors in a sustainable equity strategy. Using stock…
This paper by BNP Paribas AM examines where major markets such as China and India stand in their evolution. It also explores the scope for electric vehicles to develop in other global emerging markets.
