Corporate Knights

JULY 14, 2022

EE: The debate about divestment versus engagement in fossil fuels is probably more heated now than ever. MH: Choosing among responsible investment tools – positive and negative screening, divestment and engagement – is complicated. Both divestment and shareholder action have a role. What are your thoughts on that?

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GreenBiz

FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Sustainable investments should grow as divestment from carbon-intensive industries intensifies. As a result, we can expect to see personal, political and business incentives tilt in favor of more action to combat climate change. Faster private- and public-sector innovation to get emissions down should follow.

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Greenwashing Climate Change Divestment Net Zero 395

3BL Media

DECEMBER 20, 2023

The award, which recognizes high-impact research in sustainable finance, was presented to Stefano Giglio (Yale School of Management), Theresa Kuchler (NYU Stern), Johannes Stroebel (NYU Stern), and Xuran Zeng (NYU Stern).

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Divestment Academics Analytics Development 162

Chris Hall

OCTOBER 5, 2022

Role of active stewardship across environmental and social themes emphasised at ESG Risk & Investment Asia 2022. . An investor’s decision to divest “doesn’t mean an end to all ESG-focused engagement with that company”, according to Eric Nietsch, Head of Sustainable Investing for Asia at Manulife Investment Management. .

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Corporate Knights

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Last month, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) released its 2022 Report on Sustainable Investing , highlighting its commitment to be net-zero by 2050 and its engagement strategy to pressure companies to manage climate risks.

Net Zero 363

Net Zero Sustainable Investment Zero Carbon Greenwashing 363

ESG Today

AUGUST 18, 2024

This week in ESG news: Microsoft launches new multi-framework ESG reporting solution; Goldman Sachs exits Climate Action 100+ as political pressure builds; World Bank issues bond with interest linked to reforestation-based carbon removals; GM signs its largest-yet renewable energy deal; Texas expands its divestment list of financial companies “boycotting” (..)

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Divestment Banking Sustainable Investment Decarbonize 123

Corporate Knights

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Larry Fink, the CEO of the largest investment firm in the world, wrote in his 2022 letter to CEOs: “It’s been two years since I wrote that climate risk is investment risk. Sustainable investments have now reached $4 trillion. Cement carbon laggards Companies in the cement industry that were divested by NBIM.

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Net Zero Negative Screening Divestment Manufacturing 360

Environmental Finance

OCTOBER 7, 2022

The treasurer of Louisiana has pledged to divest from all investments made by the state in BlackRock funds in a further escalation of the sustainable investing political backlash in the US.

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Divestment Net Zero Sustainable Investment 45

Chris Hall

MARCH 21, 2025

Sustainable investment opportunities and risks are slowly beginning to emerge as Europe outlines its plans to rearm. But some called for a more fundamental reboot of investment in European innovation especially in clean technologies to pursue trajectories that are compatible with its climate transition targets.

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Green Bonds Net Zero Paris Agreement Sustainable Investment 80

ESG Today

AUGUST 28, 2022

See below for the highlights of the past week, and get all your ESG news at ESG Today: Sustainability Goals, Initiatives and Achievements. Florida Bans ESG Investing in $228 Billion State Pension Funds. Texas Places BlackRock, Credit Suisse & UBS on Divestment List for “Boycotting” Fossil Fuel Companies in Anti-ESG Backlash.

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Supply Chains Supply Chain Net Zero Divestment 137

ESG Today

MARCH 24, 2024

Million to Turn Landfill Waste into Renewable Biofuels ESG Investing Texas Pulls $8.5 Billion From BlackRock Over ESG Investing BlackRock Calls Texas Decision to Divest $8.5 Renewables Developer Avantus Renovare Raising $7.5

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Supply Chains Supply Chain Green Bonds Decarbonize 109

ESG Today

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

The report also found that investors have been active in pursuing their sustainable investment agendas, with over half saying they have turned to incentives such as incorporating progress on meeting ESG targets into executive pay, 50% reporting having submitted ESG-related shareholder resolutions, and 42% saying that they have divested their stakes (..)

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Greenwashing Divestment Sustainable Investment Climate Change 125

Chris Hall

MAY 22, 2024

This backsliding has increased polarisation between investors, with some choosing to divest and others – in recognition of their responsibility as universal owners – doubling down on engagement with the sector. It’s also a sellable GHG product for oil and gas firms.

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Divestment Paris Agreement Stranded Assets Net Zero 89

Chris Hall

JUNE 27, 2024

Asset managers also argue that divestment does not work, and that they lose influence when they exit fossil fuel companies. Asset managers should divest from fossil fuel companies that are proving resistant to influence and concentrate their finite engagement resources on those which can plausibly be influenced,” the paper noted.

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Divestment Net Zero Global Economy Sustainable Investment 72

Chris Hall

OCTOBER 31, 2022

Immediately divesting from companies with a poor ESG-related track record isn’t always the answer to ensuring a just transition. This panel will look at how active engagement can contribute to transition efforts globally, and, in instances where it fails, how divestment should be a last resort.

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3BL Media

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

Financial organisations thus have a major role to play in the decarbonisation of the global economy, yet it is estimated that since the Paris Agreement in 2015, the 60 largest banks have instead invested $5.5 Clearly much more needs to be done to pivot towards more sustainable investment and lending practices.

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ESG Today

OCTOBER 9, 2024

This represents a significant number of funds that may need to consider either divesting from the stocks or rebranding. Our research shows that more than 1,600 funds are exposed to at least one stock potentially in breach of activity-based exclusion rules.

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ESG Today

JANUARY 23, 2023

Additionally, the report found that the “sea change in attitudes towards ESG and sustainable investment approaches” has extended to real assets, with 93% of investors considering ESG factors in real asset investment decisions, including 17% who consider the matters as “critical and deciding” factors.

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Chris Hall

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Across the sustainable investment landscape, resources, patience and credibility are all being stretched. – Asset managers are hiring ESG and sustainability staff, you won’t be surprised to learn, and they’re almost certainly not alone. A selection of this week’s major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces. 

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Chris Hall

APRIL 1, 2022

The fund was previously under pressure to divest from carbon-intensive oil and gas companies but, like other asset owners, CalSTRS is choosing to engage, with divestment serving as a last resort. . If engagement and voting fails to promote positive change amongst investee companies, NBIM has demonstrated its willingness to divest.

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Divestment Net Zero Climate Change Sustainable Investment 52

Chris Hall

OCTOBER 13, 2023

Pension fund makes case for divestment, against backdrop of increasingly positive climate policy across major markets. In response, PME has divested from fossil fuel investments and redirected the funds towards the energy transition by focusing on solar and wind projects.

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Chris Hall

MAY 17, 2023

Louise Wihlborn, Sustainable Investment Analyst at Aviva Investors, told ESG Investor that this year the firm will continue to increase the stringency of its escalation action, particularly with poorer performers. “We believe robust, persistent engagement can be a powerful agent for change.” Wihlborn said.

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Divestment Net Zero Sustainable Investment 52

Chris Hall

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Canadian pension fund to eschew “blanket divestment”, emphasising role as “active investor and influencer”. Blanket divestment is not the best way to maximise returns without undue risk of loss. And it isn’t the way that we as active investors have maximised our returns over time.”.

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Chris Hall

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

Investor appetite for sustainable investment continues to increase, but demand is outstripping supply, with nearly nine in ten (88%) of institutional investors calling for more product innovation from asset managers. Investors must decide on how well-aligned funds are to climate action and sustainable outcomes, he said.

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Net Zero Divestment Greenwashing Sustainable Investment 52

Chris Hall

OCTOBER 5, 2022

The framework will form part of the UK’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDRs), the UK’s equivalent of Europe’s Sustainable Financ e Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Sadan also advised that in order to affect change on firms’ ESG practices, investors need to engage over the long term rather than divest investment.

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Divestment Greenwashing Sustainable Investment Green Investing 52

Chris Hall

MAY 31, 2024

Head of Sustainability at CDPQ Bertrand Millot highlights the pension fund’s focus on decarbonising the real economy, as well as comprehensively divesting from the oil industry. This achievement was one of several high points in the pension fund’s 2023 sustainable investing (SI) report , published in April.

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Chris Hall

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

In particular, many states have enacted laws or other policies requiring state entities to integrate sustainability factors into their investment policies, processes and decisions. For instance, Illinois enacted the Illinois Sustainable Investing Act in 2019. Legislators in New Jersey have introduced a similar bill.

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Divestment Paris Agreement Sustainable Investment Climate Change 52

Chris Hall

MAY 24, 2024

David Byrns, Portfolio Manager at American Century, explains why transition investing is fundamental to achieving net zero. While global sustainable investments reached US$30.3 It has proved the high-level economic logic that more sustainable businesses are more valuable,” explained Byrns.

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Net Zero Sustainable Investment Value Creation Divestment 80

Chris Hall

JUNE 13, 2024

With competition around sustainable investing heating up globally, the UK government to ensure the country remains attractive – particularly at a time when green pledges have been rolled back by the incumbent administration, driving potential scores of investors away.

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Net Zero Divestment Supply Chains Supply Chain 89

Chris Hall

OCTOBER 10, 2024

However, CDPQ was identified as a climate leader following its decision to divest firms involved in oil production and refining and coal mining in 2022. ‘Green’ assets now make up 12.5% Asset owners – including signatories of the NZAOA – are increasingly exploring sustainable investment opportunities in private markets.

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Net Zero Sustainable Investment Divestment Global Economy 64

Chris Hall

JULY 21, 2023

Article 9 funds are considered the most sustainable, requiring portfolios with 100 per cent sustainable investments. The advantages of Article 9 funds lie in their ability to provide clear signals to investors regarding their commitment to sustainability.

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Sustainable Investment Greenwashing Climate Change Paris Agreement 52

Chris Hall

APRIL 25, 2022

Alignment is not just about divestment, said Bolli, but about a “collaborative mindset” that uses engagement to steer investee companies on the right path. . Only if engagement and voting don’t work would there be a need to divest, given the risk of stranded assets on the balance sheet, she noted. . Collaborative mindset .

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Net Zero Divestment Paris Agreement Stranded Assets 52

Chris Hall

OCTOBER 10, 2022

Research predicts new demands on asset managers, as clients’ sustainable investment priorities mature. Institutional and intermediary clients’ sustainable investment demands are growing increasingly sophisticated, requiring managers to reappraise their skills and budget levels.

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Sustainable Investment Stranded Assets Negative Screening Divestment 52

Chris Hall

APRIL 29, 2022

All were quick to acknowledge the progress made since the last time such sustainable investment get-togethers were done face to face. To divest from carbon-intensive firms without understanding their future plans, she warned, risked a “paper decarbonisation”, rather than real reductions in carbon emissions.

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Net Zero Divestment Sustainable Investment Banking 52

Chris Hall

DECEMBER 13, 2022

Climate change is the leading issue being addressed by US asset owners that incorporate ESG factors into their investment decisions, according to the US SIF Foundation’s latest biennial Report on US Sustainable Investing Trends. Managers also reported applying fossil fuel divestment screens across US$1.2

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Climate Change Net Zero Negative Screening Sustainable Investment 52

Richard Matthews

FEBRUARY 7, 2022

Sustainable and Responsible Impact Investing in the US. SRI and Impact Investing to Combat Climate Change. International Impact Investing Challenge. Eleven Resources for Responsible Investing Including Divestment from Fossil Fuels. The Value of Investing in Climate Mitigation (WEF Summaries).

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Impact Investing Climate Change Divestment Sustainable Investment 64

Chris Hall

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

In May , Phoenix Group became the CA100+’s new Shell co-lead, following the Church of England stepping back from engagement after five years and divesting from the oil and gas giant the following month.

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Net Zero Climate Change Paris Agreement Sustainable Investment 59