sustainability Archives

BlackRock: Renewed commitment to investor stewardship role

Larry Fink, chairman and chief executive of BlackRock, has stated his commitment to the role of the global investment giant as a steward for the companies in which it invests in his annual letter to chief executives.

As a …

New York City takes strong action on climate change

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, has announced that the city has filed a lawsuit against the five largest investor-owned fossil fuel companies as measured by their contributions to global warming.

New York will be seeking damages from BP, …

US investors: Apple should consider effects of products on children

Activist institutional investors, the public pension fund CalSTRS and Jana Partners, have begun a campaign calling on the technology giant, Apple, to consider the evidence that children that are excessively using electronic devices, such as its I-phone, may be …

Global governance round up: South Korea’s president promises reform

In the opening remarks of his New Year press conference South Korea’s President, Moon Jae-in promised to push for corporate governance reform through the introduction of a stewardship code and improvements in shareholders’ voting rights.

He admitted that the …

Four large US asset managers back climate resolutions for the first time

Four of the top ten largest asset managers in the US voted in support of a climate change-related shareholder resolution for the first time ever during 2017 research by Fund Votes for the pressure group, Ceres has found.

The asset …

BHP set to pull out of World Coal Association over climate concerns

Global mining and oil company BHP said it intends to pull out of the World Coal Association (WCA) over its position on climate change. This follows the publication of a review of industry associations that have an active position on

Sustainability: Commitment from firms to climate-related financial disclosures welcomed

The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) has revealed it has public support from 237 companies with a combined market capitalisation of over $6.3 trillion, which includes 150 financial firms responsible for assets of over $81.7 trillion. The TCFD …

ShareAction: French banks lead on managing climate risks

French banks are taking the lead on managing climate-related risks according to research by responsible investment pressure group, ShareAction.

While French banks have shown leadership in green banking encouraged by legislation ShareAction said that few European banks have yet

Pan-European pension plan survey: ESG investing part of the mainstream

Pension plans across Europe believe environmental, social and governance (ESG) will become an increasingly important part of their investment strategies according to a recent survey by Create Research.

The research included a survey of 161 pension plans with total assets …

European Commission consults on ESG investing

The European Commission has launched a consultation to gain views on how asset managers and institutional investors could include environmental, social and governance factors when taking decisions.

The consultation follows up on one of the eight early recommendations delivered by …