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.
The number of investment strategies being developed with ESG and climate concerns factored into their strategies has grown exponentially over recent year. In this paper, DWS reviews the mounting evidence in favour of ESG investing and considers the drivers of low carbon methodologies and the benefits of titling portfolios to…
This paper will discuss how investing in social infrastructure in Europe can lead to positive impact-based outcomes for communities and the environment. We will define social infrastructure, define impact investing and explain our mission and approach to bringing these two areas together. We will identify key challenges and…
Calvert Research and Management views long-term ownership as encompassing the responsibility to participate in the governance of the firms that we hold in our portfolios. Engagement is a right and a responsibility of ownership.
In this study, QMA proposes a novel approach to ESG investing capable of generating comparable alpha to non-ESG portfolios and ranking companies on ESG even if they don’t report sufficient data.
In our new, 102-page, The Big Book of SI, we analyze the present status of sustainability investing and the big trends that are shaping its future. The book also zooms in on sustainability reporting and the link between ESG and performance.
In recent years, there has been a dramatic upsurge in the number of institutional clients who are exploring or implementing responsible investing (“RI”) initiatives. To stay current with the evolving landscape, investment consultant Aon launched a global responsible investment survey to capture current attitudes towards and…
This Annual Stewardship Report by State Street Global Advisors showcases some of the work the firm undertook in 2017. Now in its fourth year, its stewardship program allows the firm to proactively monitor and report the impacts it is having in improving ESG practices in its portfolio companies globally.
A flood of recent media coverage has highlighted how society’s addiction to plastics is pushing the environment to the limit. But behind the demonisation of plastic itself lies the need for a paradigm shift in the way we produce and consume goods – one in which we can participate as investors as well as consumers.
Using survey data from mainstream investment organizations, we provide insights into why and how investors use reported environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information. Relevance to investment performance is the most frequent motivation, followed by client demand, product strategy, and then, ethical considerations.…
Diversity was once seen mainly as a manifest realisation of the quest for social justice. Today, especially in a workplace setting, it is also widely recognised as a source of competitive advantage and as an issue that acknowledges the differences that might exist not just between demographics or groups but between…
Europe has long been a hub of sustainable finance. Now, a 2018 package of reforms proposed by the European Commission (EC) marks a new milestone for the industry. These legislative proposals could generate ample growth for investors and asset managers as the EC aims to realign interests across the investment lifecycle. ESG…
Climate change will affect both the value of assets and the capital return on assets over the long-term, which is why understanding its impacts is relevant to the fiduciary duty owed to savers and fund beneficiaries. This 29-page report by Robert Nash (commissioned by ClientEarth) provides a summary of currently available…
Jeremy Grantham, GMO co-founder, offers some important thoughts on climate change, agriculture, other problems, and the precarious situation humanity finds itself in.
Often overlooked in the divestment debate is the financial case for divestment. This paper (co-authored by Sightline Institute and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Anlaysis) makes the case for divestment as a proper financial response by investment trustees to current market conditions and to the outlook…
This report provides a helpful snapshot of the current state of ESG factors in credit risk analysis (CRA). It specifically considers what investors and CRAs are already doing in terms of thinking and activities, what they are aiming for and what their expectations are.
This 41-page report by the Brookings Institution This paper has been tagged with: 'infrastructure ESG, infrastructure investing, climate funds, low carbon infrastructure'. It is entitled, 'Blended Climate Funds to Finance Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure (Brookings Institution, 2018)' and has been saved under '…
This is GIIN's 8th Annual Impact Investor Survey. It provides a detailed look at a diverse, dynamic, and growing impact investing market. This year, 229 organizations that collectively manage USD 228 billion in impact investing assets have been involved.
Passive investing and sustainability integration are fundamentally irreconcilable investment philosophies, say David Blitz, PhD, Head of Quantitative Research, and Wilma de Groot, PhD, Head of Core Quant Equities at Robeco Asset Management.
This report is a collaborative effort between John Chiang (California State Treasurer) and the Milken Institute. It examines the U.S. green bond market and provides some actionable strategies and solutions to support its growth.
