Sustainable & Responsible Investing News

By Robert Kropp. In the wake of reports detailing the oil giant’s duplicity on climate change, the Union of Concerned Scientists join legislators and others in urging a Department of Justice investigation.

  Wall Street is waking up to climate-conscious investing. Financial giants are acquiring investment boutiques and quickly building departments to address environmental opportunities and risks. The world’s largest asset managers are designing products that capture the full returns of the S&P500 and other indexes but with half of their greenhouse gas emissions, and adding green […]

Originally published on Ensia. Women are increasingly driving the global economy. According to a 2009 Harvard Business Review article, women controlled $20 trillion in consumer spending each year. Morgan Stanley reports that women control $11.2 trillion of the United States’ investable assets, too — assets held in one’s bank account, stocks, bonds and certificates of […]

By Robert Kropp. HSBC and Crdit Agricole finance environmentally destructive projects and rank at the bottom of major banks in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Second in a two-part series.

By Robert Kropp. Eight climate change mitigation or adaptation projectsthree in Africa, three in Asia-Pacific, and two in Latin Americamark the end of the Green Climate Fund’s two-year launch period and the beginning of providing financing to developing nations. First in a two-part series.

By Robert Kropp. A new study by Fair Finance Guide and BankTrack reveals that since 2009, investment in fossil fuels by 75 of the world’s largest financial institutions is more than nine times greater than investment in renewable energy.

David Sheasby, Head of Governance and Sustainability at Martin Currie Shares His Perspective   “Imagine the scenario. A large multinational with a secure market position, steady cash flows and a healthy balance sheet suddenly and unexpectedly gets news of a regulatory change that will have a significantly negative impact on its business. Almost overnight the […]

By Robert Kropp. A year after Boston Common Asset Management organized an investor initiative, major global banks continue to fail to account for greenhouse gas emissions in their lending and underwriting portfolios.

By Robert Kropp. A 2008 ERISA standard that has discouraged pension plan fiduciaries from considering environmental and social factors in investment strategy has finally been repealed.

By Robert Kropp. SocialFunds.com talks with Art Tabuenca, founder of Blue Marble Investments and EarthFolio, about the development of the first online investment platform specifically dedicated to sustainable investing.

SOURCE: Morgan Stanley DESCRIPTION: NEW YORK, October 26, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, a national bank subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, has been recognized with the highest rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for its excellent record in meeting the needs of the communities it serves.  […]

By Robert Kropp. Even before member companies of the Oil and Gas Climate initiative issued a statement supporting a climate deal in Paris in December, the Union of Concerned Scientists question the extent of the industry’s commitment.

By Robert Kropp. After two reports identify research into global warming by the oil giant as far back as the 1970s, two members of the House of Representatives call on the Justice Department to investigate the corporation for its campaign to deceive the American public about the risks of climate change.

The scientific imperative and growing belief among global leaders, investors, scientists, and large corporations that the use of fossil fuels must be sharply curtailed—if not phased out—for the sake of future generations is driving policy shifts, fuelling growing public divestment movements, and creating interest among institutions, pensions and foundations to eliminate fossil fuels from their […]

October 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Following another record-breaking season for climate-related shareholder resolutions and company engagements, the sustainability advocacy nonprofit group Ceres today released a report on the implementation of corporate commitments made to shareholders. The analysis found that shareholder resolutions and company dialogues helped spur over 100 corporate commitments in 2014 and 2015 […]

By Robert Kropp. A global perception of his moral authority may contribute momentum to a meaningful deal at December’s climate talks in Paris.

Sir, The debate in the Financial Times about climate change, triggered by Bank of England governor Mark Carney’s speech on the risks of climate change for financial stability, merits a broader perspective than just those investing in fossil fuels. The debate has indeed been going for years, but what is new and deserves a closer look in […]

$4.7 trillion: that’s the total of assets in the U.S. invested using ESG standards, an amount that grew eight times between 2012 and 2014. With this exponential growth has come a question about transparency. Financial Advisor reports on a recent study by US SIF, a nonprofit organization that represents U.S. organizations, institutions and individuals engaged […]

Piraeus Bank, following the recent RobecoSAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, became for the second consecutive year a constituent of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Emerging Markets. Piraeus Bank remains the only company based in Greece to be selected as an index component of the DJSI, an index that tracks the performance of the top 10% of […]

The debate in the investment sector between maximizing returns versus consideration of ethics has taken an historic turn—as in eliminating “versus” and inserting “and,” according to Global Capital. That’s the summary of a report by the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment, based on 50 interviews with investors, lawyers, and regulators. PRI, set up to promote […]

Bloomberg Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Data and Tools SOURCE: Bloomberg DESCRIPTION: Originally posted on Justmeans. Bloomberg offers a suite of ESG data, tools and research on the terminal. The newest addition is the Water Risk Valuation Tool – a practical, high-level demonstration tool that illustrates how water risk can be incorporated into company valuation […]

By Robert Kropp. More than 100 institutional investors call for passage in Congress of The Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act of 2015.

By Robert Kropp. A coalition of investors organized by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility writes to 32 energy companies, requesting that they support new regulations on methane emissions.

By Robert Kropp. In a three-part series and subsequent conference call, Sonia Kowal of Zevin Asset Management outlines for foundations and other investors the importance of aligning their strategies with their social missions.

By Robert Kropp. Hundreds of signatories call on the President to end the policy of leasing federal lands for fossil fuel exploration and extraction.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. today joined with partners from PK Housing, Midtown Detroit, Inc., Capital Impact Partners, Invest Detroit and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation in announcing the grand opening of the latest community development project in Detroit financed by the firm’s five-year, $100 million commitment to the city’s economic recovery. Rainer Court, at 711 West […]

Guest blog by Hazel Henderson, Ethical Markets Media SOURCE: Justmeans DESCRIPTION: The wild swings on Wall Street and other now interconnected bourses in today’s global casino have seen billions withdrawn by small investors.  Their instincts are correct.  Today’s markets are becoming too erratic and volatile for investors – driven by frantic speed trading and speculators.  […]

By Robert Kropp. Modeled on the MacBride Principles of Northern Ireland, the eight Holy Land Principles call on US companies doing business in Israel and Palestine to practice fair employment.

By Robert Kropp. Fifty prominent members of the Chamber of Commerce receive letters from investors, requesting that they address contradictions between their public positions on climate change and their funding of the Chamber’s opposition to the Clean Power Plan.

By Robert Kropp. The Foundation launches its Climate Solutions initiative with $50 million in grants, to help ensure that the US meets its responsibilities in addressing the crisis of climate change.