Since 2002
Postings and Commentaries
by Ron Robins
Podcast: August 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks
August 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Includes articles on the top clean-tech companies, AI infrastructure stocks, and ESG funds.…
There is no silver bullet for ESG standardisation.
“The ESG mobilisation of capital faces the Sisyphean challenges of political loggerheads and the slow crawl towards commercial-scale data.” [COMMENTARY]The…
How Does Incorporating ESG Relate to Fiduciary Duty?
“In ourannual survey of attitudes towards responsible investment, institutional investors cited fiduciary duty as the top reason for incorporating ESG…
The Evidence Mounts Against Active Share.
“Active share is a measure of how much a fund’s holdings deviate from its benchmark index, and funds with the…
Report: Meet the top 200 companies investing in a clean energy future.
“The Clean200TM is an educational tool intended to give individuals the ability to research companies that are effectively balancing people,…
We Need Universal ESG Accounting Standards.
“ESG accounting is a mess. Competing initiatives mean there’s no uniform set of standards for measuring a company’s progress on…
The problem with ESG scores.
“ESG ratings should place increased emphasis on CO2 intensity and emissions rather than the current focus on disclosing corporate policy…
The truth about dirty assets.
“The shift to the shadows is problematic for two main reasons. First, the claims being made by listed firms (and…
The risk of not talking to clients about ESG is losing them, RI expert says.
“I’ve worked with hundreds of advisors across Canada to help them get comfortable and proactive in the space and, from…
EU ‘green’ label for gas and nuclear sparks sustainable investing crisis.
“The fear 20 years ago that a green investment label could itself enable greenwashing is now playing out two decades…
Survey: Just 23% of Investors Align Most Investments to Their Values.
“The NerdWallet survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults — including 1,608 who currently have investments — conducted online by…
ESG Investing Needs More Rigorous Standards To Evaluate Corporate Conduct.
“The batteries in electric cars like the ones Tesla manufactures require cobalt, a mineral found in abundance in the Democratic…
U.S. markets regulator flags risks for ratings firms in ESG boom.
“The SEC’s 2021 report, which is based on exams of ratings firms, said that by adding ESG factors, ratings firms…
Green Stocks Have Lower Returns but Less Risk.
“Firms with high sustainable investing scores earn rising portfolio weights, leading to short-term capital gains for their stocks — realized…
What The Wall Street Journal Missed About Sustainable Investing.
“Sustainable investing is hardly a ‘craze,’ asThe Wall StreetJournalheadline called it. Crypto is a craze; SPACs are a craze; day-trading…
How does ESG impact the function of audit?
“Auditors need to stay abreast of the evolving issues and reporting requirements connected to ESG or they risk leaving themselves…
Wall Street blunts momentum of fossil fuel divestment.
“Both Citi and BlackRock see potential downsides to withdrawing their funds from fossil fuel companies. And it’s not all about…
Switch to ESG indices has not pleased all European investors.
“Not all professional fund buyers are happy with passive funds being repurposed as sustainable.” [COMMENTARY] When funds switch their goals,…
Study Shows Canadian Financial Advisors are Comfortable Engaging With Clients on ESG, but Subject Matter Knowledge Is Limited.
“Some advisors appear to be overestimating their knowledge. Advisors’ demonstrable knowledge was similar regardless of their self-assessed knowledge levels. Of…
The 100 most sustainable corporations of 2022.
“Corporate Knights’ 2022 ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations is based on a rigorous assessment of nearly 7,000…
The European Central Bank’s vision for green bond standards forgoes inclusivity.
“The European Central Bank has suggested that the proposed EU Green Bond Standard (EU GBS) become mandatory for all green…
