While the OPSEU Pension Trust has been focused on responsible investing for some time, it’s bringing its sustainability activities to the next level with the introduction of a sustainable investing and innovation team. Launched in late 2019, the team’s responsibilities will include continuing to strengthen the organization’s traditional responsible investing activities. It will also have […]
Research and ratings firm Sustainalytics is launching a set of environmental, social and governance indicators aimed at helping investors with security selection, portfolio construction, risk and scenario analysis, as well as meeting disclosure requirements. The data covers more than 220 ESG indicators across several themes, subdivided into three categories. The ESG management indicators are meant […]
With environmental, social and governance issues top of mind for many pension plan investors, modern slavery is one concern to keep on the radar. Historically, slaves were kept through force, but modern slavery is about forcing people to work through coercion and lies, says Sudhir Roc-Sennett, head of ESG and thought leadership at Vontobel Asset […]
With the task force on climate-related financial disclosures becoming increasingly common in institutional investor circles, how can Canadian pension plans start to use its guidance effectively? During a webinar hosted by the Association of Canadian Pension Management on Tuesday, Maria Montero, climate change program head at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, said her organization […]
The University of Toronto Asset Management Corp. is teaming up with more than 120 institutional investors to call on the aviation sector to confront the issue of climate change-related risks and opportunities. The UTAM signed a statement from the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment, which lays out investors’ expectations on climate change for the sector. […]
Green, social and sustainability bond issuance is set to jump by 24 per cent in 2020, according to new data from Moody’s Investor Service Inc. Moody’s is predicting issuances will climb to US$400 billion by the end of the year, up from US$323 billion in 2019. More specifically, the research anticipates green bond issuance will […]
New York City is taking major steps toward divesting from fossil fuels by hiring investment advisors to review three of its pension plans and make recommendations about divestment. Combined, the three plans have more than $155 billion in assets under management, of which approximately $3 billion is invested in fossil fuel reserve owners’ securities. The […]
Index-provider FTSE Russell is launching the first government bond index of countries in the economic and monetary union of the European Union that adjusts country weights based on climate risk. The index provides a forward-looking assessment of these countries’ climate risks, such as the expected economic impact of transitioning to Paris Accord target greenhouse gas […]
In an unusual move for an index provider, MSCI Inc. is urging the investment industry as a whole to incorporate environmental, social and governance issues into their investment processes. “Really we think there’s an urgency,” says Remy Briand, head of ESG at MSCI. “We think there are still too many investors that are not realizing that, […]
Climate change’s ramifications for real estate, the rise of innovative technologies and the changing nature of stakeholder activism are some of the environmental, social and governance trends to watch as 2020 kicks off, according to an outlook from MSCI. While asset owners have been eyeing the potential effects of severe weather events and natural disasters […]