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Asia
RI ESG Briefing, May 22: Pfizer, Potash removed from sustainability index
The round-up of environmental, social and governance news
RI People & Appointments, May 21: UN PRI seeks Head of Research & Public Policy
ESG movers and shakers
RI ESG Briefing, May 3: Aviva loses non-binding remuneration vote
The round-up of environmental, social and governance news
RI People & Appointments, April 30: Canadian funds hire BP exec for forestry role
ESG movers and shakers
RI ESG Briefing, April 27: Strathclyde fund hires GES for “two-way” engagement
The round-up of environmental, social and governance news
Tessa Tennant wins Joan Bavaria Award for Building Sustainability into the Capital Markets
Award presentation kicks off Ceres conference in Boston.
Asia investor group lays out plans for boosting regional asset owner climate change activity
Peer funds globally to help with Asia promotion.
ESG Asia conference: Singapore Exchange to survey 100 largest companies on ESG reporting
Study to be carried out by KPMG.
RI People & Appointments, March 26: New role for former UNEP FI head Clements-Hunt
ESG movers and shakers
Sustainalytics to buy Asian ESG research rival
Deal for Responsible Research expected to close in May
RI ESG Briefing: UK pension fund tenders proxy voting
The daily round-up of environmental, social and governance news
Environment, February 28: New carbon indices launched for Australia, Europe and Japan
RI’s regular review of environmental investing news
Responsible Funds, February 24: New manager at LGT sustainable global equity fund
The round-up of ESG funds news
RI Governance, February 23: South African state investor takes stand on exec pay
RI’s regular review of governance and engagement developments
RI Briefing, February 22: Global Investor Survey on Climate Change
RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news
Giant Japanese investor seeks environmental social and governance managers for passive equities
Candidates must be signatories to the UN PRI
Environment, January 31: Institutional investors’ climate change group reacts to EU working paper
RI’s regular round-up of environmental investing developments
RI Governance, Jan. 26: New proxy consultant launches in UK
RI’s regular round-up of govenrance and engagement news
Clean Investor, January 17: CDP chief named to Clean Development Mechanism panel
RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news
Olympus scandal highlights need for tighter focus on corporate governance in Japan
Increased levels of accountability and transparency are needed if Japanese companies are to attract long-term shareholders.
RI Governance & Engagement, Dec. 15: US pension funds take on drilling firm Nabors over pay
RI’s regular look at governance and engagement news
RI Governance & Engagement, Dec. 8: Australian govt looks at role of AGMs
RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement news
RI Governance & Engagement, Dec. 1: Class action lawyers looking at Olympus
RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement news
RI Briefing, Nov. 30: Global Reporting Initiative names new chairman
RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news
RI Briefing, November 23: Deutsche reviews asset management business
RI’s regular round-up of responsible 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 Briefing, Nov. 16: Pensions guru Ambactsheer: sustainable investing can buck headwinds capitalism
RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news
Responsible Funds, November 11: the round-up of ESG funds news
RI fund launches, closes and asset data.
Clean Investor, November 8: Clean tech investments by NBIM, Generation IM
The round-up of clean investing news
India’s struggle against corruption: what could the LokPal bill mean for companies and investors?
Anna Hazare’s campaign could start to break the cycle of graft.
RI Governance & Engagement, Nov. 3: €10bn UK fund tenders proxy voting
RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement developments
Clean Investor, November 1: Climate Advocacy Fund targets ANZ on emissions
RI’s regular look at clean investment
RI People & Appointments, Oct. 31: UKSIF Leadership Programme appointments
RI’s regular round-up of people news
Clean Investor, October 25: PGGM, Triodos in offshore wind tranmission sale
RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news
Clean Investor, October 11: GRI proposes new sustainability reporting approach
RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news
RI Governance & Engagement, Oct. 6: Pension case vs. ratings agencies gets go-ahead
RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement news
RI People & Appointments, October 3: Vigeo names UK business development head
RI’s regular Monday morning round-up of people news
The future of fish: investors get active on unsustainable fishing practices
Engagement could be a turning point for marine engagement.
RI Governance & Engagement, Sept. 22: Malaysia seeks to boost corporate disclosure
RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement developments
Clean Investor, September 20: New Japan carbon efficient index launched
RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news
RI Governance & Engagement, Sept. 15: new European corporate governance head at BlackRock
RI’s regular look at governance and engagement news
Clean Investor, August 23: Institutions back €300m German wind/solar fund
RI’s regular look at clean investment news
RI People & Appointments, August 22: Niklasson joins Investec as Head of ESG Research
RI’s regular Monday review of people and appointments news
RI Briefing, August 17: Japan’s SRI market now worth €7.8bn - SIF-Japan
RI’s regular round-up of responsible investment news
US development finance body OPIC puts half a billion into renewables
Major climate change initiative from US government body
Canadian pension fund starts C$6.5bn class action against Sino-Forest, Ernst & Young
Investor takes on crisis-torn Toronto-listed Chinese forestry firm
Norwegian govt fund embroiled in Indonesia illegal logging allegations
Investor facing scrutiny from NGO
Responsible investors flagged governance concerns at Sino-Forest
Shareholders engaged with forestry firm before scandal
Singapore introduces guidance on shareholder engagement
Monetary Authority consultation calls for “constructive relationship” with companies
RI Briefing, June 8: EVCA includes ESG factors in new handbook
RI’s regular Wednesday round-up of responsible investing news
Japan nuclear crisis firm TEPCO removed from sustainability indices
Deleted over environmental management and health & safety failings
NY pension fund keeps environmental pressure on mining giant Freeport-McMoRan
New York Common Fund files shareholder resolution for June AGM.
Clean Investor, April 5: Fresh water shortage “becoming a business growth risk” - DEG
RI’s regular Tuesday review of clean investing news
Implications of the Japanese nuclear disaster: An ESG research perspective
Financial pressure and public scrutiny on companies who build and operate nuclear plants.
RI Governance & Engagement, March 18: Renault facing shareholder resolution on CEO pay
RI’s regular review of governance and engagement news
RI Briefing, March 16: Oekom Research’s report on Corporate Responsibility
RI’s regular round-up of sustainable finance news.
Norwegian Government Fund excludes Chinese conglomerate over tobacco
US industrial group L-3 Communications readmitted
FTSE4Good deletes software giant Oracle over human and labour rights
South Korea and Israel added to investment universe in review
RI Briefing, March 9: GovernanceMetrics report on women on listed company boards
RI’s regular round-up of sustainable finance news.
RI Briefing, March 2: Nomura Asset Management signs up to UN PRI
RI’s regular round-up of sustainable finance news.
Clean Investor, March 1: ASrIA proposes Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
RI’s regular Tuesday review of clean investing news
CP3, UK/Asian govt climate fund, issues mandate for asset manager as part of UN $100bn plan: P8/P80
Fund-of-funds house sought for sizeable Asian green infrastructure portfolio.
Powerful Japanese union, RENGO, issues formal guidelines to pension funds and managers to adopt ESG
Union-linked pension plans account for almost half of the schemes in Japan’s corporate pensions sector.
Clean Investor, January 25: LAPFF issues climate change guide for trustees
RI’s new regular Tuesday review of clean investing news
OECD calls on Japan’s giant Government pension fund to integrate ESG
Report suggests world’s largest asset pool should sign up to UN PRI
Canada’s Northwest & Ethical divests from Vedanta
Ethical investor becomes the latest institution to exit mining firm
What the Indian interest scandal allegations will mean for microfinance
Some microfinance developments seem to mirror the sub-prime crisis.
Norwegian Finance Ministry’s response to Burma accusations
Response to Broken Ethics report
ATP targets first direct renewables investment for €1bn emerging markets climate commitment
Danish fund says position will be taken in first quarter of 2011 after delay in putting capital to work.
Malaysian stock exchange to launch ESG index
Bursa Malaysia launches programme to promote ESG integration
China and the green energy paradox
The worlds biggest CO2 polluter is also becoming the biggest investor in green solutions.
BNP Paribas head of SRI leaves as firm consolidates to Paris HQ
Former Fortis Investments staff peel off as Frankfurt office winds down.
RI Briefing, October 15: ACSI, US SIF, Toyota, UBS, Triodos, MSCI, Ceres, IFC, Novethic
RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news
Conference report: Sustainable Stock Exchanges Dialogue in Xiamen: “One destination, many journeys
Exchanges, regulators, investors and NGOs come together to discuss sustainable stock exchanges.
China launches first ESG index, plans corporate governance addition
Joint venture between China Securities Index and Italy’s ECPI
India Inc.’s increasing presence on the Burma “Dirty List”
The recent visit of the Burmese senior general to India underpins a growing corporate relationship.
APG sends warning to mining firm Vedanta on ESG issues
Giant pensions manager abstains at AGM vote over ESG concerns.
RI Briefing, July 26: ECGS, South Africa, Bursa Malaysia, OTPP, BP
RI’s regular round-up of responsible investment stories.
The rising wave of investor/corporate engagement in Japan
How the debate and practice of engagement in Japan has developed.
PGGM seeks investment director for €2.2bn responsible equity portfolio
Expansion comes as Dutch giant excludes FTSE-100 listed mining group, Vedanta.
RI Briefing, June 9: Nordea, HESTA, NAPF, Network for Sustainable Financial Markets
RI’s regular round-up of the most important responsible investment news
Former Innovest research MD joins ESG emerging markets research firm
Research advisor takes up business development position at Solaron.
Powerful Japanese trades union body prepares major ESG recommendation for its pension funds
Union confederation says ESG is a way of ‘regaining trust’ in investment.
Sovereign wealth fund governance forum expands
Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional joins SWF forum
Giant Norway fund manager to vote against shareholder say-on-pay proposals
Management knows best, says manager of Norway’s Government Pension Fund Assets.
Balancing risk and reward sustainably in the BRICS
Investors must consider the short-, medium- and long-term issues.
RI round up: Apr 09
RI’s regular round-up of the most important responsible investment news.
UNPRI to start lobbying on ESG regulation
European Commission discussions look at scenarios for ESG disclosure.
Norwegian Global Fund hires specialist water manager
Water Asset Management picks up undisclosed sum for investment brief.
Asia sustainable investments could jump from $20bn to $4 trillion by 2015: Vontobel report
ESG uncertainty holding back investors from bigger allocations.
Institutional investors input to new India governance recommendations
White paper on shareholder rights and audit issued by Asian Corporate Governance Association
Singapore’s huge SWF, Temasek, backs US solar tech firm
Fund joins pension investors by buying into Innovalight fundraising.
TIAA-CREF sells PetroChina and Sudan-linked companies in Darfur protest
US pension fund furthers dialogue with Malaysia’s Petronas.
What hope for better investor ‘stewardship’ in Asia?
Why the ability of management to articulate their approach to governance and the environment is very revealing.
Sweden’s AP funds shift Grupo Ferrovial, PetroChina and Thales on international convention breaches
Corporate engagements ongoing with Wal-Mart, Toyota and Freeport-McMoRan
Dutch pensions giant APG invests 50m dollars in innovative Chinese energy efficiency project
Manager also confirms 100m dollars allocation to US clean energy firm.
Green New Deals for new green investment
What could the various green global economic stimuli mean for institutional investors?
Hong Kong versus China in the new Asia Pacific sustainability index
As the mainland introduces better environmental reporting, can Hong Kong companies stay ahead?
Sustainable investment in India is a marathon, not a sprint
A senior portfolio manager’s reflection on investing and governance in the world’s biggest democracy.
Drilling down into Asian corporate governance
Why local culture, legal and business knowledge could be key.
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.
RI interview: Amy Domini on Obama, SRI returns and clipping hedge funds
After a decade ‘out-of-kilter’, Domini believes SRI strategies are in tune with the new US regime.
Why should investors get involved in the ‘Better returns in a better world’ project?
How alleviating poverty can foster better market conditions in developing countries.
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.
SNS Asset Management: the growing pains and gains of microfinance
Fund manager raising cash for second microfinance fund as institutional commitments grow and industry debates sharpen.
Sovereign wealth funds: the future of ESG investing?
Attacked for political investing, could sovereign wealth funds actually be the most important future trend in ESG finance?
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.
Investor appeal for ‘packaged’ sustainability products: TBLI Asia report
Investors, entrepreneurs and NGOs converge on Bangkok for TBLI Asia 2008.
Asia’s state pension funds: en route to better governance
Funds in China, Korea and Thailand break ground on voting and corporate accountability, but there are still areas to develop.
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.
EIRIS: Peter Webster looks back at 25 years of responsible research
UK research company celebrates 25th year of corporate and SRI scrutiny.
Why sovereign wealth funds have provoked schizophrenia in western markets
Market saviours or dangerous political investors? Sovereign wealth funds have got governments in a funk.
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.
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?
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?
Indices rise to the sustainability challenge
A new breed of indices is being added to the established SRI benchmarks.
Responsible pensions in BP pipeline
Sally Bridgeland, CEO of BT pension trustees explains how the oil and gas company is exploring SRI within the scheme.
Why lack of action on SRI is the biggest market failure ever.
Swedish pension fund AP7 says investors have a duty to follow international guidelines for responsible investment.
Total hit as investors pull millions over Burma links
Human rights campaigners list other companies with business in the military-led country.
Clean tech booms despite the bubble talk
Investor allocations soar, but research is key to finding the sectors that will match future political decisions on climate change.
Why are corporate pension funds hiding from SRI?
Corporate social responsibility is everywhere, but companies are failing to spot the potential for their pension funds.
Schroders heralds the changing investment climate
CIO Alan Brown says fund managers will also come under pressure on their own internal environment policy.
How to invest in clean tech
A guide to selecting investment strategies and fund managers in this nascent asset class.
Climate change: mother of invention and investment returns
Why the technological revolution will clean up the planet and drive profits.
Getting alpha from activism
Can pension funds profit from increasingly aggressive hedge fund strategies?
Sweden’s AP funds’ ethical umbrella
Council gives Swedish state funds responsible investment muscle.
Leveraging the Carbon Disclosure Project
Corporates are doing well in carbon disclosure, so why are investors lagging?
ABP’s total responsible investment strategy
Rob Lake, senior portfolio manager for environmental, social and governance at ABP, the €221bn ($311bn) pension fund for Dutch civil servants, talks clean tech, engagement and cluster bombs.
The Janus-faced foreign investors in China
Greenpeace says investors in China must act responsibly before we all pay the price.
The rising sun of institutional SRI in Asia
The SE Asia market for responsible investment is growing, but could be tested in a market downturn.
Calculating the carbon footprint of Chinese companies
Credible reporting is crucial to solve China’s growing CO2 problem
Why being responsible does not mean underperforming in SE Asia
Investment opportunities are ripe, but it pays to know the CSR terrain.
Rising to the ESG challenge of emerging markets
Are long-term investors fully aware of the growing importance of ESG issues in emerging markets investments?
Good credit after bad
The subprime crisis shows the value of extra financial research.
USS shows enterprise in engagement
David Russell, co-head of Responsible Investment at the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the £31bn (€46bn) second largest UK pension fund, explains how its SRI strategy is not just about risk but also reward.
KPA liquidates tyre and mining stocks over alleged abuses.
Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone and mining group Freeport-McMoRan sold in protest.
Can ‘Made in China’ be responsible?
Theme of the month: Why investors must help clean up South East Asia’s companies.
HSBC hires Henderson SRI head for global eco research hub
Bangalore-based research team will gauge climate change risks and opportunities
PGGM comes clean on private equity
Fund will increase ‘renewables’ if €500m venture with ABP is successful.
What difference will the UN Principles on Responsible Investment make?
Winning hearts and minds for sustainable prosperity.