December 2025 Newsletter
News & Commentaries by Ron Robins
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New December Podcast:
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When socially responsible investing backfires. “A new study finds that investors may unintentionally give polluting companies a reason to delay going green.”
[COMMENTARY] The study presents a fascinating argument. It states that socially responsible investors who invest in ‘polluting’ companies, hoping to encourage these companies to change their ways, may actually inhibit them from doing so!
When socially responsible investing backfires, by Sandra Knispel, December 10, 2025, University of Rochester, USA.
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Market-Implied ESG Score: An Alternative Scoring Method. “A recent paper proposes a novel approach to derive sustainability scores from fund holdings data.”
[COMMENTARY] This article reveals what fund data can tell us about a company’s ESG performance.
Market-Implied ESG Score: An Alternative Scoring Method, by Quantifying ESG, November 29, 2025.
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From passive to active approach in ESG. “The shift from passive to active approaches in ESG investing is gaining momentum, driven by institutional investors’ growing awareness of ESG issues and increasing scrutiny from customers and regulators, rising reputational and greenwashing risks.”
[COMMENTARY] While markets rise, it’s easy to be a passive investor. However, when markets become turbulent, active portfolio management might sometimes be preferred, as indicated in this article.
From passive to active approach in ESG, by Laura Vitagliano, December 8, 2025, BNP Paribas, Global.
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Ascending from the plateau? What our global asset owner survey says about sustainable investment.”Reports of the decline of sustainable investment are greatly exaggerated. Despite shifting political views on the climate transition and a deregulatory push in Europe and the US, our latest annual survey (by FTSE Russell) finds continuing and consistent adoption of sustainable investment by asset owners around the world.”
[COMMENTARY] This and many other reputable surveys continue to show that sustainability and ESG factors matter to companies everywhere! Why, because they make operational and financial sense.
Ascending from the plateau? What our global asset owner survey says about sustainable investment, by Lee Clements, December 9, 2025, FTSE Russell, UK.
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FCA (UK) Releases New Proposed Rules to Regulate ESG Ratings Providers. “The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s conduct regulator for financial services firms and financial markets, announced the publication of new proposed transparency, governance and conflict of interest management requirements for ESG ratings providers.”
[COMMENTARY] Many other jurisdictions may follow the UK lead, though it’s unlikely the US will. Personally, I’m dubious about the value of such legislation as it might put a straitjacket on what exactly is analyzed, with non-consensus opinions being ‘outlawed’.
FCA (UK) Releases New Proposed Rules to Regulate ESG Ratings Providers, by Mark Segal, December 2, 2025, ESG Today, USA.
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The SEC Bows Out as Referee Between Shareholders and Companies. “The decision leaves both proponents and companies rudderless, in that companies will become more vulnerable to litigation if they exclude proposals, while at the same time proponents will have to sue to force their concerns onto annual meeting agendas.”
[COMMENTARY] It looks like more work for lawyers and fewer proxy resolutions. Particularly, for those investors proposing ESG and sustainability resolutions.
The SEC Bows Out as Referee Between Shareholders and Companies, by NLPC Staff, December 1, 2025, National Legal and Policy Center, USA.
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Featured Book
Note: Ron Robins is an Amazon Associate. He thus earns fees from qualifying book or merchandise purchases referred from this website.
Mind Your Money: A practical guide to sustainable investments. “This book is for everyone looking to change their private finances. ‘Mind your money’ provides ideas, real-world options, and solutions that you can implement in your investment portfolio today. It covers everything from why sustainable investing is so powerful, to what it is, and practical tips to get started right away. With the help of this book, you can mind your money and invest it where your heart is.”
For more information visit Mind Your Money: A practical guide to sustainable investments, on Amazon . By
© 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul
