"More sophisticated pieces of analysis carried out by academics have shown very small positive correlations between female board members and financial success. But this is an average – in some companies the relationship was neutral and in some it was negative. And proving causation is far harder." [COMMENTARY] Ethical investors are convinced that having women…

"China, Russia and Turkey are among 49 countries that are ’non-investable’, according to an analysis of their potential for long-term sustainable development by Candriam. Of the 35 advanced economies analysed – based on the definition used by the International Monetary Fund – only Greece came out as non-investable. Out of the 88 emerging economies, 48…

"To accurately gauge the latest attitudes, we surveyed more than 22,000 people from 30 countries who invest. We asked them about their knowledge, views and actions when it comes to sustainable investing." [COMMENTARY] Schroders survey of global sustainable investing provides some useful insights for all investors, particularly supportive for ethical investors. However, the self-reporting of…

"Chinese companies that disclose their environmental, social and governance measures are outperforming on the stock market, data show." [COMMENTARY] There’s been little evidence to date of Chinese corporate ESG stock performance. This new data is probably the first to indicate that possibility. Companies ESG outperformance and correlated stock outperformance appear to be a worldwide phenomenon.…

"Twelve large investment consultants have joined forces to increase pressure on pension funds that are not taking environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into account when making investment decisions. The group of consultants, which includes the big three of Willis Towers Watson, Mercer and Aon Hewitt, advise on close to £1.6tn of pension and insurance…

"Though DIY sustainable-ethical investing requires some work it can pay handsomely. The process is engaging and fun too. But the skills to do it effectively can be more quickly acquired with coaching from those experienced in this work." [COMMENTARY] I wrote this article — and offerwebinars andtutorials on this subject too — for individual investors…

"More than a quarter of North American institutions use environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in their investment portfolios, and approximately 60% of institutions that have not yet incorporated ESG into their portfolios say they are open to doing so in the future." [COMMENTARY] Their study provides some further insights into the spread and utilization…

"Responsible Investment Week is dedicated to education and awareness about responsible investment (RI). The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is coordinating a week of events across Canada to promote learning about environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues that affect investments." [COMMENTARY] All Canadian investors are encouraged to attend and participate in RIA’s Responsible Investment Week!…

"This resource is a concise guide for retail, non-accredited investors exploring investment options such as mutual funds, ETFs, and direct ownership of stocks, as well as information on seeking professional investment help." [COMMENTARY] A basic guide for novice sustainability focused investors. It’s a useful adjunct to myTutorial: Creating A Profitable Personal Values-Based Portfolio.US SIF Foundation…

"A coalition of institutional investors managing more than $1tn in assets is demanding that 60 of the world′s largest banks take action to protect the world from the threat of catastrophic damage due to climate change." [COMMENTARY] This was bound to happen — and good that it has. Financial institutions and companies not reporting or…

"Reputation Institute has released the main findings of its 201 7 Global CSR RepTrak® 100 report, including the list of the companies considered as the most responsible worldwide. The report is based on over 170,000 ratings from interviews with the public in the 15 largest economies (United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Russia, Brazil, Mexico,…

"For food companies, water management is a business imperative like never before. And as risks of water scarcity and pollution steadily increase, corporate leaders must evaluate the most effective ways to water-proof their business." [COMMENTARY] Ceres has created an impressive scorecard on how food companies, in particular, use and manage their water resources.Feeding ourselves thirsty,…

"More than two-thirds of institutional investors are planning to increase investments related to tackling climate change, according to a new survey that suggests ’green finance’ is moving from the margins to the mainstream of global markets…. in a study commissioned by HSBC, will add weight to calls from Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of…

"Ethical fund managers don′t have to be envious of the market-beating returns of so-called sin stocks. They should be able to match them without dabbling in vice, according to a study in the Fall edition of the Journal of Portfolio Management. The study debunks the popular theory that shares in the alcohol, tobacco, gaming, and…

"The impact of climate change could hit global profits just as hard as the financial crisis and Schroders have launched a new tool to help investors work out which companies will suffer most." [COMMENTARY] This is an important article to read for all ethical investors. Such research will likely become ever more important to investors…

"80% [of investors] are interested in sustainable investments that can be customized to meet their interests and goals." [COMMENTARY] Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Sustainable Investing has published the results of its second investors’ survey. Unsurprisingly, the results show a growing interest in sustainable investing– especially by millennials. (Again, for individual investors interested in a do-it-yourself…

"These environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings ’do not tell the whole story’ and each set can provide very different conclusions for the same companies, the investment manager [Kames] argued." [COMMENTARY] I think most investors are aware of the above. That’s why some might want to add a do-it-yourself approach and hence my new and…

Introductory DIY Ethical-Sustainable Investing Webinars. The next webinars are Saturday, September 30, 4 pm EST and Tuesday, October 10, 7 pm EST. All are welcome.Pension funds need to look beyond ESG fund ratings, by James Phillips, August 31, 2017, Professional Pensions, UK.

"Asset managers and major brokerages think there′s big money to be made shilling these funds to advisors, with the likes of BlackRock, Bank of America and UBS highlighting the growing acceptance and mainstream popularity of SRI and ’impact investing’ strategies. But many advisors don′t seem to be biting. A survey of advisors from the Financial…

"A growing movement of investors representing more than $5.2tn in assets under management have signed a pledge to divest some portion of their fossil fuel holdings. But where to invest this capital? The Clean200 list ranks the largest publicly listed companies by their total clean energy revenues, with environmental, social, and governance screens to help…