Responsible Investor

RI Briefing, February 8: New UK social impact bond in pipeline

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

RI People & Appointments, February 6: UN PRI seeking Director of Global Development

ESG movers and shakers

Australian super funds advised to see ESG as a competitive advantage

New guidance from financial services body Finsia

RI People & Appointments, January 30: New chairman at Finnish pension giant

RI’s regular round-up of responsible people moves

RI Briefing, January 25: Royal Bank of Canada in social and environmental initiative

RI’s regular review of responsible investing developments

US fund manager offers free RI training to asset owners

RI Academy programme proposed to hundreds of pension funds and their trustees.

RI Briefing, January 4: €5bn charity sector fund signs up to Stewardship Code

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

Clean Investor, December 20: Clean Development Mechanism under review

RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news

Responsible Funds, Dec. 16: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI’s regular look at responsible funds news

Sweden’s AP2 responds to NGO’s “land grab” comments

Comments made in Parliament by non-governmental organisation

RI funds grow more quickly and outperform average mainstream funds in Australasia: RIAA report

Broad ESG market doubles in a year.

FREE New Zealand Super Fund rejects media criticism of Grasberg mine investments

Investor says engagement is working at world’s largest gold mine

Clean Investor, November 29: NYSE and Bloomberg team up on clean energy indices

RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news

RI People & Appointments, Nov. 21: top asset management exec joins BSkyB board

RI’s regular round-up of people news

Responsible Funds, November 18: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI fund launches, closes and asset data.

RI People & Appointments, Nov. 14: former SAM research head sets up new firm

RI’s regular round-up of people moves

RI Governance & Engagement, November 10: NBIM takes on Goldman over mortgage securities

RI’s regular review of governance news

Australian super funds to price carbon in portfolios as legislation passes

Investors welcome passage of landmark clean energy legislation

RI Briefing Nov. 2: Threadneedle announces controversial weapons investment policy

RI’s regular round of responsible investing news

Clean Investor, November 1: Climate Advocacy Fund targets ANZ on emissions

RI’s regular look at clean investment

RI Governance & Engagement, Oct. 27: Australia pilots Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

RI’s regular round-up of governance news

RI Briefing, October 26: Trucost launches sustainability app

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

RI People & Apppointments, Oct. 24: International Integrated Reporting Committee names CEO

RI’s regular round-up of people news

Hermes EOS the latest investor body to line up against News Corp.

Pressure intensifies on embattled media giant

UK voting advisor Manifest teams up with Australia’s SIRIS

Melbourne branch office for corporate governance firm

RI People & Appointments, Oct. 10: Tributes to Australian RI pioneer Erik Mather

RI’s regular round-up of people moves in the responsible investment field.

£100bn UK pension fund group opposes Murdochs at News Corp AGM

Decision follows engagement with company

Australian super funds urged to vote against News Corp directors

ACSI recommendations follow phone hacking scandal

Development finance institutions launch emerging markets corporate governance framework

$852bn investor group in governance initiative

Clean Investor, September 13: Danish pension funds back Africa green energy fund

RI’s regular Tuesday round-up of clean investment news

RI People & Appointments, August 29: Canadian fund giant BCIMC seeks Shareholder Engagement Manager

RI’s regular round-up of people news

New Zealand Green Party continues attacks on ethical policy of NZ$19.2bn sovereign Super Fund

Fund accused of potential breach of government cluster bomb treaty commitment.

RI Governance & Engagement, August 18: ABP hits snag in Countrywide legal action

RI’s regular review of governance and engagement news

RI Briefing, August 17: Japan’s SRI market now worth €7.8bn - SIF-Japan

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investment news

RI People & Appointments, August 15: Generation’s Blood to advise new sustainability partnership

RI’s regular Monday round-up of people and appointments news

FREE NZ Super Fund facing questions over stake in tobacco-linked Chinese conglomerate

Holding revealed by Finance Minister contravenes tobacco investment policy

RI Governance & Engagement, August 11: Australian super funds release new governance guidelines

RI’s regular review of governance developments

FREE Australian investor groups launch ESG reporting guide for companies

Super funds and wealth managers give investor perspective on ESG

The ‘surprise package’ within Australia’s Clean Energy Future bill

The new climate change legislation is much more than just a carbon pricing scheme.

RI People & Appointments, June 20: Exchange exec named head of investments at NZ Super

RI’s regular Monday review of people news

UK reporting watchdog forced Rio Tinto to publish ESG financial risks

Investigation followed complaint from investor.

Australian Future Fund divests from defence companies

Exclusions amid treaty ratification and increased ESG focus

Dutch pension giants voted against BP safety chief

Influential asset owners refused to back Sir William Castell

Australia’s first climate change resolution gets 8.5% backing

Super funds step up to challenge Woodside Petroleum on carbon price assumptions

RI Governance & Engagement, April 8: Pennsylvania amends proxy guidelines to boost diversity

RI’s regular review of governance and engagement news

RI Governance & Engagement, March 25: BP to meet with SRI investors

RI’s regular review of governance and engagement news

RI Briefing, March 23: Global sustainable finance organisations hold strategic meeting

RI’s regular round-up of sustainable finance news.

Mercer ramps up responsible investment push with senior ESG hires

Investment consultant hires UN PRI’s Pollice and HESTA’s Fuller

RI Briefing, March 16: Oekom Research’s report on Corporate Responsibility

RI’s regular round-up of sustainable finance news.

RI Briefing, March 9: GovernanceMetrics report on women on listed company boards

RI’s regular round-up of sustainable finance news.

Australia legislates to give shareholders more say on pay

Shareholders get opportunity to remove directors over remuneration

Norwegian Global Fund excludes Malaysian logging firm

Giant fund now excludes a total of 51 companies

RI Briefing, February 16: Eurosif on ESG challenges of infrastructure

Giant NZ Super fund hires first manager in novel $300-500m farm investment programme

Fund moves into what it says is an ‘under-developed’ asset class.

$14 trillion investor coalitions join for major survey on institutional response to climate change

IIGCC, INCR and IGCC to quiz 250+ asset owners and managers on climate response.

Aussie Green Party backs $15 trillion Cancun investor statement

Country’s Senate told that investors see the ‘real world’ need for climate change solutions.

SRI asset growth in Australia and US outstrips mainstream market

Benchmark reports from local responsible investment associations reveal boost in take-up.

Australia’s Future Fund ups engagement and ESG integration

€49.2bn sovereign fund develops ownership rights approach

RI Briefing, November 8: FRR, Northwest & Ethical, LD Pension, Oikocredit

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

RI Briefing, October 15: ACSI, US SIF, Toyota, UBS, Triodos, MSCI, Ceres, IFC, Novethic

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

NZ Superannuation Fund looking at ‘Positive Investment’

€8.8bn state fund also considering footprint of total portfolio

Australian-listed companies face first fund manager climate resolutions

New Climate Advocacy Fund to corral Super funds on climate disclosure

Australia launches first global standard for RI training

Inauguration of RI Academy follows Aus$2.5m government grant in 2009.

Norwegian government fund excludes Israel construction firm

Giant fund the latest to exit Africa Israel Investments

ISS/RiskMetrics Australia chief Paatsch quits

Prominent governance voice departs MSCI arm

PRI signatories come together to kick off Australia collaboration network

Australian PRI members to share research and lobby work on ESG issues.

RI Briefing, July 26: ECGS, South Africa, Bursa Malaysia, OTPP, BP

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investment stories.

ESG USA conference report: “To BP or not to BP?”

Responsible Investor held its second ESG USA conference in New York last week. Here are some of the highlights:

RI Briefing, June 14, CalSTRS, Vigeo, CPPIB & OTPP, SAM, Global Environment Fund

RI’s regular round-up of the most important responsible investment news

RI Briefing, June 9: Nordea, HESTA, NAPF, Network for Sustainable Financial Markets

RI’s regular round-up of the most important responsible investment news

RI Briefing, June 3: Hermes, UNEP FI, Ethos, Church Commissioners

RI’s regular round-up of the most important responsible investment news

RI Round Up: Desjardins; RiskMetrics; CalSTRS

RI’s regular round-up of the most important responsible investment news

Australia eyes private investors for €461m renewables fund

Fund to get cash saved from shelved emissions trading scheme

Sovereign wealth fund governance forum expands

Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional joins SWF forum

Big funds keep up pressure on Freeport-McMoRan

Shareholder proposal targets Papua mine

Australian Aus$2.5m RI Academy names new manager

RIAA also appoints new president and communications manager.

Shell UK pension fund among new UN PRI signatories

€12bn Shell scheme joins burgeoning UN PRI membership

$16trn investor coalition to quiz companies on water

The shareholder resolution spat over BP’s controversial tar sands plans

Investors take sides on call for oil giant to disclose info on environmental and economic risks.

UNPRI to start lobbying on ESG regulation

European Commission discussions look at scenarios for ESG disclosure.

Global institutional big-hitters join climate change asset allocation study

Numbers swell for Mercer-led future strategy projections project.

Blogosphere survey says RI has yet to tap financial crisis potential

Responsible investment terminology gets most positive consumer associations.

RIAA seeks manager for Australian RI Academy

Govt backed Academy to push training, education and research.

APG, PGGM and USS create index of greenest property companies

Launch follows disappointing environmental reporting levels found by survey.

ATP seeds €400m sustainable forestry investment programme

Fund to buy FSC certified timberland in North America, Australia, New Zealand and EU.

Could the crisis become a vintage era for clean tech private equity deals?

Attractively priced deals and long-term ‘green’ stimulus make market look attractive despite the doldrums.

Why the fund management ownership model has failed

If pension funds want good governance they will have to invest in it.

Multi trillion dollar investor coalition unites to lobby governments on emissions targets

Call comes ahead of major Poznan and Copenhagen climate change summits.

World Bank aims to structure joint climate change products with pension funds

Bank examines asset allocation with pension funds to find appropriate products.

From crisis to catalyst

How ESG implementation could be the beginning of a solution to the market meltdown.

RI interview: Global Compact chief points the way for UNPRI

Georg Kell, executive director of the corporate forerunner of the UNPRI talks about the issues the $14 trillion investor initiative may have to face.

UN PRI Seoul special: interview with Donald Macdonald, PRI chair

PRI signatories gather in Seoul for the annual progress meeting of the huge investor initiative.

Fund managers predict $700bn rise in RI assets by 2010: RI landscape report

98 fund managers running $19.4 trillion in assets predict responsible investment market will jump by 35% in next two years.

The importance of responsible investment: Views from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund

How New Zealand runs its NZ$13.5 bn (€6.8bn) national pension fund to protect the country’s reputation.

Mainstreaming RI: The Enhanced Analytics Initiative needs you!

Why the biggest challenge now is to get relevant extra-financial analysis direct to mainstream analysts.

Changing the system: why sell side research must improve

The sub-prime crisis has re-opened questions about the quality and independence of sell side research.

EIRIS: Peter Webster looks back at 25 years of responsible research

UK research company celebrates 25th year of corporate and SRI scrutiny.

Australian super funds get rated on climate change

SuperRatings launches ‘Infinity Award’ to rate funds taking climate change seriously.

RI Landscape 2008 asset owners survey hits $1.5 trillion

Second part of RI Landscape 2008 for asset managers now open.

Sub-prime and carbon: an eerie similarity

Supporting renewable energy is a first step, but banks must also come clean about fossil fuel financing.

RI Interview: Paul McNamara, co-chair, UNEP FI Property Working Group

Why sustainability has an impact on real estate value and should play a central role in investment decisions.

Davos review: investor sustainability anyone?

Why was the potential role of investors virtually absent from Davos when it has been leading the way on many of the issues?

What does Bali mean for institutional investors?

Agreement on a ‘roadmap’ for a post-Kyoto climate agreement gives carbon trading a longer perspective. How should institutional investors react?

Investors push politicians for Bali post-2012 climate action

Letter urges Bali delegates to outline framework for reducing carbon and promoting future greenhouse gas solutions.

Carbon: a new asset class?

Investors are already testing the potential of markets in greenhouse gas emissions, but what are the risks and how can they be avoided?

Should pension funds be investing in companies with links to brutal governments?

Isn’t it time pension funds asked their members about their morals?

Australia takes a lead on responsible investment

Support for the UNPRI is growing rapidly in Australia as investors use it as their framework for SRI.