Report: Integrating ESG into Mainstream Portfolios
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Report Summary
The title of Responsible Investor’s first conference: “Integrating ESG into Mainstream Portfolios” begs an important question for many institutional investors who may feel overwhelmed by the increasing amount of pressure to take into account what was once considered a niche pursuit. Why integrate environmental, social and governance issues in the first place? Aren’t these the responsibilities of governments and regulators? Or even consumers if they wish to spend or save according to their personal values?
This special report is complementary to the conference, providing insight and raising questions for all key stakeholders.
Chapter Headings
Steps on a long journey: The financial crisis may force investors to get back to basics. Incorporating ESG issues into investment decision-making should lead to a shift towards seeking real value, with a better understanding of risk and opportunity. By James Gifford, UN PRI click to download report
Building the capacity to engage: FRR, the French pensions reserve fund, could be about to start lobbying the companies in which it invests on their ESG records, breaking new ground among French investors. Hugh Wheelan talks to Nada Villermain-Lecolier, FRR’s head of responsible investment, about the fund’s search for an adviser to support its new engagement strategy click to download report
Creating sustainable value: A new initiative by leading Norwegian investors aims to persuade companies to develop responsibly and provide their shareholders with long-term value. KLP’s Jeanett Bergan reports on the initiative and reactions to it from around the world click to download report
Uncomfortable truths: Will enhanced analysis really deliver social and environmental benefits? By Rory Sullivan, Rachel Crossley and Jennifer Kozak, Insight Investment click to download report
Effective engagement: What makes engagement effective and how can its success be measured? This article aims to give some insights into how to make engagement effective, how to measure it and what the options are if engagement, even after an extensive dialogue, proves unsuccessful. By Erik Breen, Robeco click to download report
The importance of consistent and comparable ESG performance data: As more investors incorporate ESG factors into their decision-making, the inadequacy and inconsistency of much current reporting on the issues becomes ever clearer. By Christopher Greenwald, ASSET4 click to download report
US shareholder litigation and European investors: The current credit crisis is another wake-up call to investors to be vigilant in protecting their rights and proactive in preventing governance and management breakdowns at companies in which they have an interest. An increasing number of European investors are finding ways to do this through actions in the US courts. By Darren J Check and Naumon Amjed, Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler click to download report
Plus full conference programme click to download programme