“According to IEEFA, green bonds represented only 3% of the global bond market in 2024, with annual issuance crossing USD 577 billion. Yet, regulatory hurdles restrain their growth.” [COMMENTARY] It seems the forces arrayed to restrict green bond issuance are still present in many parts of the world. Green Bonds Crucial for Climate Finance but…

“1) 75% of 401(k) participants express interest in sustainable investing, but only 36% are aware of relevant plan options. 2) Conflicting corporate perceptions and regulatory ambiguity are limiting adoption despite renewed fund performance. 3) The Department of Labor’s evolving fiduciary guidelines may increase litigation risk, affecting ESG integration in retirement plans.” [COMMENTARY] Investors everywhere are…

“Is it possible for investors to earn more money by emphasising environmental, social, and governance investing in their portfolios? It appears that reports of a slowdown in ESG initiatives may be wide of the mark.” [COMMENTARY] As I’ve said many times, the death of ESG is wildly overstated. Note that the younger the investor, the…

“Companies like Caterpillar (bulldozers) and Amazon AWS (surveillance) face lawsuits, shareholder activism, and ethical scrutiny over alleged war crime ties.” [COMMENTARY] As yet, companies whose products or services are participating in the conflict have not seen significant hits to their stock prices. Will this change? The Cost of Conflict: Assessing Financial and Reputational Risks for…

“Firms with lower ESG risk demonstrate greater financial resilience, particularly during periods of heightened market uncertainty.” [COMMENTARY] This study is the latest in several such studies to show that in down markets, companies with low ESG risk can outperform their stock market peers. In Periods Including Market Stress, ESG Provides Protection, Sustainalytics Study Shows, by…

“The war in Ukraine has turned long-held assumptions about ethical investing on their heads.” [COMMENTARY] Yes, some or even many ethical and sustainable investors are investing in companies with defence-related products and services. If your country and livelihood are being threatened, what would you do? How ESG Funds Learned to Love Weapons, by Antje Schiffler,…

“The Humankind 100 companies are ranked based on Humankind Value, a proprietary metric that provides an estimate of the overall dollar amount a company creates for investors, consumers, employees, and society at large, and are therefore among the most ethical companies in the United States, according to our research.” [COMMENTARY] The Humankind rankings have a…

“Not everyone agrees about the usefulness of ESG information, but that doesn’t mean it should disappear.” [COMMENTARY] ‘Buyer Beware’ is an old adage that is true about interpreting ESG data. For instance, I regard ESG data that incorporates the percentage of a company’s revenues that can be considered ‘green’ as more influential on my buy/sell/hold…

“A new survey shared exclusively with Inc. shows that despite political hostility to environmental and other corporate social responsibility policies, businesses are still developing and investing in them.” [COMMENTARY] I’ve said many times that companies will continue with their ESG, CSR, and sustainability activities because it makes operational and financial sense for them to do…

“Charlie French, co-founder of Etcho, said: ‘Stop talking to clients about ESG; it is something that has been politicised. We need to connect to them on their personal values.’” [COMMENTARY] In this quote, Mr. French is spot-on. With this approach, clients will still be steered to top ESG companies. Clients will find that their high…

“Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) hasn’t lost traction after exploding in popularity after the 2020 pandemic. Corporations are playing a bigger role in the issuance of ESG or “green” bonds, paving the way for opportunities in funds like the Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF (VCEB).” [COMMENTARY] This article is a good overview of the state of the…

“The European Union’s push to monetize ecosystem preservation through tradable ‘nature credits’ is emerging as one of the most promising frontiers in green investing.” [COMMENTARY] A new market for investing in ‘nature credits’ — approved and sponsored by the EU — could come about by 2027. This article is a useful introduction for interested investors.…

“Since the US reversed its climate policy, many question the future of sustainable investments. The UBS Chief Investment Office highlights three megatrends supporting continued investment in sustainable strategies.” [COMMENTARY] Surveys show most companies will continue with many sustainability and ESG policies because such policies will improve operational efficiency and profitability. Oddly, many politicians view these…

“8 takeaways from a panel about materiality. Financial relevance matters for values-based and conventional investors, too.” [COMMENTARY] The more that ESG factors positively affect the operational and financial performance of companies, the more that ESG will regain acceptance even among its most ardent critics. ESG factors are often closely and positively tied to materiality issues.…

“The framework aims to align portfolios with decarbonisation, identifying investment strategies that focus on limiting global warming to 2°C while also delivering financial returns.” [COMMENTARY] This might be a useful framework for some ethical and sustainable investors. GIIN launches climate solutions investing framework, by Krystle Higgins, June 27, 2025, Imp[act Investor, UK.  

“The May 28, 2025 letter said that the DOL will engage in a new rulemaking, which will appear on the DOL’s Spring Regulatory Agenda. No other details were provided. It remains to be seen whether the DOL will revert back to some variation of the ESG-skeptical/pecuniary-factors analysis that the Trump administration adopted in 2020 (or…

“Companies are quietly recognizing a fundamental truth: business decisions and social considerations are no longer separable. From healthcare pricing to content moderation, from supply chain ethics to AI development, social dimensions are embedded in core operational choices. Rather than treating these as peripheral concerns, forward-thinking companies are investing significant resources to develop sophisticated frameworks for…

“Clean energy is poised to pull in double the financing as oil, gas and coal, but a new report shows that big banks, especially Canadian and U.S. entities, are still betting big on fossil fuels.” [COMMENTARY] Banks are not driven by ethics. They are driven by profits — and political acceptability. Banks reverse course and…

“The public’s stake in protection against war is conspicuously absent from guidance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) parameters that have emerged in the capital market over the past two decades. Case in point: None of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, agreed in January 2016, addresses the right to secure borders or deterrence to…

“But while the majority of companies are tweaking their ESG policies, only 6% report making significant changes. Instead, most are implementing minor (45%) or moderate (29%) adjustments, according to the report.” [COMMENTARY] The reality is that companies are retaining most ESG initiatives. They know that many ESG factors improve operational performance and profitability! Exclusive: It’s…