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 case study outlines how Calvert has endeavored to translate the SDGs meaningfully into the investor context using the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) materiality matrix as a tool to identify SDGs that are likely to be financially material.
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.
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…
The rise of passive funds is an outstanding phenomenon of this decade, giving rise to all manner of alarming predictions about the future of active funds. So far, the debate surrounding passives has been confined to academia, newsrooms and the blogosphere. To restore the balance, this report (a collaboration between DWS…
Until now the transition to a sustainable and “green” economy has been a loose concept rather than a defined, investable, industrial system. Analysis by FTSE Russell finds a large investment opportunity, which is diversified across company size, geography and sector and has delivered outperformance of the global equity…
According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), impact investing is investments made into companies, organisations and funds with the intention to generate measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial return. Among the most dominant parts of the impact investing space is microfinance, which…
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…
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.
In our role as a global financial services company, we dedicate our people, resources and ideas to investor success and economic progress. Our impact also extends beyond the business of investing. By committing to social and environmental stewardship, human rights and responsible conduct, we hope to strengthen our communities…
This research report is the result of a partnership between the World Bank Group and Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) of Japan. A growing body of research shows that ESG factors are material credit risk for fixed income investors. The evidence suggests that incorporating ESG into fixed income investing should be…
There is clear evidence that engagement by investors with companies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues can create shareholder value. But, despite the growth in engagement activity by investors, exactly how ESG engagement creates value is poorly understood. The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)…
Integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into analysis of listed equity investments is the most widespread responsible investment practice in the market today. Several drivers, including capital flowing into funds that integrate ESG factors and the growing awareness of academic research supporting the…
This paper begins by presenting the GIIN’s vision for the future of investing writ large. The next section details a vision for impact investing towards which all impact investing stakeholders must work to encourage wider, systemic change. The report then assesses progress in the development of the impact investing industry…
This quarterly report by Schroders considers a number of important ESG-related investment themes - from fossil fuel investing, to investor action on gun control, to ESG best practice.
Automatic enrolment has been a runaway success, bringing millions of people on board in saving for their retirement. The next stage in this rolling programme of reform will necessarily involve keeping those savers enrolled as minimum contributions rise. But reformers must take care not to lose sight of the crucial importance…
Based on interviews with 22 leading asset owners, this report explores the current best practices landscape, identifies barriers, and presents a framework of ten building blocks for other asset owners introducing and developing climate strategies.
