Responsible Investing/ESG
Creating a sustainable fixed-income portfolio isn’t just about avoiding harm–it’s about doing good. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals provide a road map for selecting companies that offer products and services that help the environment and create a more equitable, just world.
Many equity investors want to help create social benefits while generating strong returns. Deploying a clear investment process that draws on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrates ESG factors in research can help investors achieve these twin goals.
From rising sea levels to catastrophic weather events, investors can’t afford to ignore the risks of climate change. Since many companies would be vulnerable if current climate forecasts materialize, asset managers may want to consider climate change in their equity research process and engage management teams on the subject.
No one organization is responsible for the advancement of women, and that means every organization is. Women’s empowerment starts with education. It continues with the ability to earn an equitable living, especially in fields where women are underrepresented, and crests with women playing leadership roles at work or owning their own businesses.
In our new survey, DC plan participants voice their interest in aligning their retirement investments with their ethics. But the Department of Labor has apparently put up some roadblocks that cause DC plan sponsors to hesitate.
Boston Medical Center is redefining the role healthcare providers play in improving the health and welfare of the city’s residents. Now impact investors can have a hand in fostering better outcomes, too.
Investing in companies that have favorable ratings on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues has become increasingly popular. But investors might do better targeting companies with poor ESG ratings and a clear commitment to mend their ways.
European companies often see engaged equity investors as the enemy. But there’s a new breed of activist investors who aren’t aggressive and share the same long-term interests as management. Let’s work together toward the best outcome for all stakeholders.
US stocks have boomed for nine years, supported by one of the longest economic expansions in the postwar period. Can this growth be sustained? Much depends on how the challenges of environmental and social sustainability are addressed.
Tackling global poverty requires more than just charity. Investors can contribute to the effort—and find good sources of return potential—by focusing on companies that behave ethically or provide solutions to key poverty-related challenges.
Looking for a powerful way to help slow global warming? The Climate Change Initiative projects $130 billion in green-bond issuance in 2017. That’s great news, because scientists are calling on issuers and investors to help effect change.
What impact will the US withdrawal from the Paris climate accord have on environmentally focused investing? We think not much. The momentum behind green innovation looks all but unstoppable, galvanized by powerful economics.
Responsible investing means different things to different people. There are pros and cons to each method of incorporating environmental, social and governance factors into investment portfolios.