News & Commentaries
Time for a Global Financial Makeover.
"In the past three years, the world has made some progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, but the fundamental issue of financing the SDGs remains unresolved. And, with the financial sector strongly oriented toward short-termism, the necessary investments may never materialize." [COMMENTARY]The UN is sounding an alarm that if short-termism in…
Methods for Selecting Ethical Investments: Some Sociological Explanations, a research paper.
"Nowadays the need for an ethical and socially responsible approach to finance appears increasingly evident, yet the sphere of ethical finance does not have the success that one could imagine." [COMMENTARY]This research delves into the subject that many of us in the ethical investment sphere have long been curious about: despite the large proportion of…
Weekend read. Capitalism coming of age: using the SDGs to bridge business strategy and social responsibility, by RobecoSam.
"Our analyses of corporate philanthropy and citizenship practices shows that companies already recognize the need to address SDGs and are using their CSR programs to apply, advance and report efforts. However, stronger metrics are still needed, especially for companies and stakeholders to fully maximize impact." [COMMENTARY]A superb, insightful analysis and survey of the rise of…
Impact assessment model finds ESG funds ‘low on sustainability.′
"Investment funds aren′t what they say they are when it comes to sustainability or environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, according to the company behind a new impact measurement model." [COMMENTARY]There are many views on determining sustainability. Here is one perspective that many ESG-ethical fund managers might want to review.Impact assessment model finds ESG funds…
First-Quarter Volatility Doesn’t Slow [US] Sustainable Funds.
"Driven by the strong performance of the group′s core U.S. equity funds, one third of sustainable funds finished in the top quartile of their Morningstar Categories and 55% finished in the top half. Among sustainable funds in the large-blend Morningstar Category, 20 out of 37 finished in the top quartile, 28 beat the S&P 500,…
UK business leads in boards with climate change policies.
"In North America, the US had the lowest proportion using and preparing to use carbon pricing, 15 and 9 per cent respectively, and, at 66 per cent, the lowest percentage of companies with board oversight… The research, into 1,681 companies in 14 countries and eleven sectors, was conducted by the London-based Carbon Disclosure Project, or…
