Since 2002
Postings and Commentaries by Ron Robins
Op-Ed: Europe’s New ESG Rules Create an Opportunity for US Investors.
Ethical Investing News/Commentaries
Why all funds becoming ESG may not be a good thing.
“The trouble is that as things stand, it is easy for managers to pay lip service to a sustainable investment approach in their marketing material and fund name, while in reality adopting a pretty light touch in that regard – a practice known as greenwashing.” [COMMENTARY] The warnings about greenwashing are valid. However, it appears…
Is harmonization of reporting standards possible or even desirable?
“If harmonization means consensus on a single standard, then the answer is most likely no. Why? Let’s consider four major components of the context in which this ecosystem operates.” [COMMENTARY] I agree with the writer. For instance, how can you quantify, as the writer says, “culture; values; processes; strategies; product responsibility; quality of management, among…
Why all funds becoming ESG may not be a good thing.
“The trouble is that as things stand, it is easy for managers to pay lip service to a sustainable investment approach in their marketing material and fund name, while in reality adopting a pretty light touch in that regard – a practice known as greenwashing.” [COMMENTARY] The warnings about greenwashing are valid. However, it appears…
Is harmonization of reporting standards possible or even desirable?
“If harmonization means consensus on a single standard, then the answer is most likely no. Why? Let’s consider four major components of the context in which this ecosystem operates.” [COMMENTARY] I agree with the writer. For instance, how can you quantify, as the writer says, “culture; values; processes; strategies; product responsibility; quality of management, among…
Sustainable agriculture is the next way ESG investors can fight climate change.
“7 ways for ESG investors to profit from sustainable agriculture.” [COMMENTARY] There are huge possibilities for sustainable practices and ESG among agricultural companies. This area is only now beginning to be addressed in the public markets.Sustainable agriculture is the next way ESG investors can fight climate change, by Debbie Carlson, March 24, 2021, MarketWatch, USA.
Sustainable agriculture is the next way ESG investors can fight climate change.
“7 ways for ESG investors to profit from sustainable agriculture.” [COMMENTARY] There are huge possibilities for sustainable practices and ESG among agricultural companies. This area is only now beginning to be addressed in the public markets.Sustainable agriculture is the next way ESG investors can fight climate change, by Debbie Carlson, March 24, 2021, MarketWatch, USA.
CFA Institute Launches Global Certificate in ESG Investing.
“The CFA Institute has announced that it will market a certificate in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, created by the CFA Society of the United Kingdom, in financial hubs across the globe.” [COMMENTARY] They’ve been a long time in getting around to this! It’s a great step forward though for the financial profession.CFA Institute…
CFA Institute Launches Global Certificate in ESG Investing.
“The CFA Institute has announced that it will market a certificate in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, created by the CFA Society of the United Kingdom, in financial hubs across the globe.” [COMMENTARY] They’ve been a long time in getting around to this! It’s a great step forward though for the financial profession.CFA Institute…
Financial world greenwashing the public with deadly distraction in sustainable investing practices.
“The financial services industry is duping the American public with its pro-environment, sustainable investing practices. This multitrillion dollar arena of socially conscious investing is being presented as something it’s not. In essence, Wall Street is greenwashing the economic system and, in the process, creating a deadly distraction. I should know; I was at the heart…
Financial world greenwashing the public with deadly distraction in sustainable investing practices.
“The financial services industry is duping the American public with its pro-environment, sustainable investing practices. This multitrillion dollar arena of socially conscious investing is being presented as something it’s not. In essence, Wall Street is greenwashing the economic system and, in the process, creating a deadly distraction. I should know; I was at the heart…
Ratings Agencies Punish Companies That Try To Do Good.
“In their study, Lioui and his co-authors compared the data of several ratings agencies: Asset4 (Refinitiv), MSCI KLD, MSCI IVA, Bloomberg, Sustainalytics (Morningstar) and RobecoSam. Fitch, Moody’ MCO +0.2% and S&P also provide thousands of ESG data scores… How do the ratings agencies decide how good or bad a company is at ESG? Mostly their…
Ratings Agencies Punish Companies That Try To Do Good.
“In their study, Lioui and his co-authors compared the data of several ratings agencies: Asset4 (Refinitiv), MSCI KLD, MSCI IVA, Bloomberg, Sustainalytics (Morningstar) and RobecoSam. Fitch, Moody’ MCO +0.2% and S&P also provide thousands of ESG data scores… How do the ratings agencies decide how good or bad a company is at ESG? Mostly their…
Bank of England given new mandate to buy ‘green’ bonds.
“The Bank of England will change its approach to buying corporate bonds after the government said environmental and climate goals should now be explicitly considered part of monetary policy. In Wednesday’s Budget, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, said the BoE should support the government’s efforts to make the UK economy greener and achieve zero greenhouse gas…
Bank of England given new mandate to buy ‘green’ bonds.
“The Bank of England will change its approach to buying corporate bonds after the government said environmental and climate goals should now be explicitly considered part of monetary policy. In Wednesday’s Budget, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, said the BoE should support the government’s efforts to make the UK economy greener and achieve zero greenhouse gas…
Global Survey Finds Businesses Increasing ESG Commitments, Spending.
“ESG has become a hot topic in recent years, but despite increased investment, fewer than half of employees believe their own companies’ ESG performance is effective. The majority of respondents (81%) said their company has a formal ESG program in place. But there is not a high level of confidence that companies are effectively performing…
Global Survey Finds Businesses Increasing ESG Commitments, Spending.
“ESG has become a hot topic in recent years, but despite increased investment, fewer than half of employees believe their own companies’ ESG performance is effective. The majority of respondents (81%) said their company has a formal ESG program in place. But there is not a high level of confidence that companies are effectively performing…
ESG investment favours tax-avoiding tech companies.
“The huge rise in environmental, social and governance-based investing is funnelling money into companies that pay less tax and provide fewer jobs than many counterparts with lower ESG ratings, analysis shows.” [COMMENTARY] ironically, a high percentage of most ESG portfolios consist of companies who pay the least in taxes and are the most expert in…
ESG investment favours tax-avoiding tech companies.
“The huge rise in environmental, social and governance-based investing is funnelling money into companies that pay less tax and provide fewer jobs than many counterparts with lower ESG ratings, analysis shows.” [COMMENTARY] ironically, a high percentage of most ESG portfolios consist of companies who pay the least in taxes and are the most expert in…
Meta-study underlines ties between ESG and corporate success.
“Researchers from the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and Rockefeller Asset Management looked at 1,141 peer-reviewed papers and 27 meta-reviews — themselves based on roughly 1,400 studies — published between 2015 and 2020… The meta-study finds a positive link between ESG and financial performance in 58 percent of the corporate studies, with 13 percent…
