Yuki Shirota

Getting to net zero by 2050 is going to take more than just a few tweaks - it will make the financial system unrecognisable.

Practical guidance and opinion about how COP26 and the EU sustainable finance agenda impact the investment decisions and reporting responsibilities of asset owners, investment managers and service providers.

The complex nature of climate change will have far-reaching implications across all corners of the economy. As more data and scientific information becomes available on the rapidly worsening effect climate change is having on the planet, companies need to realise the implications of their actions. A large number of companies are playing catch-up and need to quickly incorporate climate change into their business strategies. Those that do not will be faced with the probability of their company being less resilient in the low-carbon economy, as well as less attractive to investors. This report by ISS Corporate Solutions will investigate how companies are aligning with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) at an overall level as well as individual disclosure pillars.

Responsible Investment Report from First Sentier Investors

Responsible Investment Report from Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking

The common pursuit of impact investors—to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return5—is well-understood. However, to impact investing newcomers and veterans alike, it is not always clear what that pursuit looks like in practice. What is it that impact investors do, in crafting investment strategies and in their day-to-day work, to generate positive impact? How can asset allocators and other stakeholders know whether those claiming to be impact investors are practicing what they preach?

Plastic has become embedded in nearly every facet of daily life due to its versatility and low cost of production. However, plastic pollution is also a major and growing environmental concern, as plastics are both abundant and ubiquitous in the environment.

From houses to highways, investing in Real Assets – comprising of Listed and Non-listed Real Estate and Listed Infrastructure – is about much more than attractive and predictable cashflows. The building and operation of Real Estate and Infrastructure forms the backbone of the economies, societies and communities in which people will live and work, now and in the future.

Biodiversity is of increasing focus in 2021 as the world recognises that without significant steps towards change, it is losing animal and plant species at an alarming rate. However, are investors taking action to manage biodiversity risks and are they able to make investments supporting nature and wildlife? How confident are they in this area?

Climate. ESG bubbles. Biodiversity. Disclosure. Social inequality. The topics don’t get much bigger — or more systemic. Here’s our analysis of the five ESG trends that will matter most to companies and their investors in 2021.