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Material climate change already here
The impact of climate change is already material, said Woodwell Climate Research Center’s Philip Duffy who warns that thawing permafrost could mean the loss of control of ever being able to manage climate change. Elsewhere, he urged investors to use their voice to bring about change.
articleClimate
Nordhaus and ‘No Regrets’
Nobel Prize winner Professor William Nordhaus, Sterling Professor of Economics and Professor of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University, explains his theory of ‘No Regrets’ whereby companies can integrate ESG at a level that brings real benefits for society but has limited impact on the corporate.
articleSustainability Digital 2021
The path to net zero
Investors from Brunel, Wespath and Robeco talk about the challenges of shaping their net zero portfolios including data, benchmarks and holding managers to account.
articleClimate
Sovereign engagement is the new frontier
Robeco chief executive Gilbert van Hassel opened the 'Sustainability Digital: A Planet in Trouble' conference with a reminder of the opportunities in sustainability and the importance of working with others. At Robeco this now includes engaging directly with sovereign governments.
articleClimate
Principles of a climate-impact dashboard
The climate-impact dashboard is part of a 3-D investment framework that balances risk, return and impact. This includes total portfolio thinking, long-horizon investing, impact investment strategies, system-level engagement and strategic partnership between asset owners and asset managers. Here Tim Hodgson lays out eight guiding principles to help shape a climate-impact dashboard.
Session recordingClimate
The spirit of green
This session looks at the expected sustainability policies in 2021 and the important role of a price on carbon as part of that.
Session recordingClimate
The path to net zero
This session looks at the actions of both asset owners and asset managers in reaching net-zero 2050 goals including the short-term plans needed to get there.
Session recordingClimate
What’s at stake
This session examines research from Woodwell Climate Research Centre that assesses near-term physical and socioeconomic risks associated with climate change and demonstrates a model for embedding the insights of climate science into both public- and private-sector decision-making.
articleEngagement
CalSTRS takes on ExxonMobil
The $255 billion Californian pension fund, CalSTRS, has embarked on a new era of “activist stewardship” which will see it take on large companies such as Exxon Mobil which have not responded to shareholder engagement.
PaperClimate
Electric Revolution
With a federal government turn over to the Democratic party this year, hopes are high for a focused, comprehensive federal approach to tackling climate change, rather than the patchwork state approach of the past administration. President Biden has consistently highlighted the climate crisis as urgent, and the team of advisors he has assembled on the issue demonstrates his commitment.
PaperClimate
The future of energy
The election of Joe Biden as America’s 46th President is just one more important signal that change is imminent, for energy markets and the broader economy. With the world aligned and committed in the fight against climate change, the global movement towards a sustainable energy supply is gaining considerable momentum.
articleClimate
SWFs need to move on climate
Sovereign wealth funds need to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change, according to a first of its kind survey of sovereign wealth funds.
articleSustainability Digital 2021
Behind OTPP’s net zero 2050 plan
Ontario Teachers' has launched its plan to reach net-zero portfolio emissions by 2050, the culmination of a decade of work by the fund in addressing climate change. Amanda White looks at the fund’s climate journey, which has significant lessons for other funds looking to move to net zero.
PaperClimate
Social Conditions Consideration
The ultimate goal of economic policy is simple and timeless - to ensure prosperity and maximise living standards. Broad macroeconomic measures such as GDP growth, the unemployment rate, and inflation had for decades been a good proxy of rising prosperity, so they have dominated economic policy making and are enshrined in most central bank mandates. But even before the COVID-19 crisis, it had become clear that traditional economic measures have increasingly diverged from social outcomes.
PaperClimate
Secular Supply and Demand
Over the past two decades, China's secular rise dominated commodity markets, as its industrialization required a massive amount of raw materials to build up the country. As we consider the future, we see many reasons to be bullish on commodities tactically, but one of the most important secular factors will likely support industrial commodity demand for years to come: the shift in global economies away from fossil fuels and toward greener energy.
articleClimate
A new era of ESG under Biden
Against all odds, there is an air of optimism in 2021. We have entered a new era in US politics, and the inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration brings renewed hope for sustainable investment, particularly climate policy. So what can investors expect?
articleClimate
What to expect with US ESG policies
Charles Millard, former director of the US Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, expects more ESG-favourable regulation in the US under President Biden. But the path to get there is not so easy.
articleClimate
Climate risk is investment risk: Fink
The reallocation of capital towards sustainable companies is happening in real time and will accelerate, according to Larry Fink who is investing in technology and people to develop systems that can prove “climate risk is investment risk”.
articleClimate
Climate problem and industry ownership
Tim Hodgson, co-head of the Thinking Ahead Group, goes through an elaborate exercise to determine how much of the climate problem the institutional investment industry owns. The first step, he says, in finding a solution.
articleClimate
Finance needs to lift its climate game
A recent survey of CFA Institute members showed finance firms are lagging in how they incorporate climate change into the investment process. Matt Orsagh, senior director, capital markets policy at CFA Institute, details steps that can be taken to improve this.
articleClimate
New Zealand Super adds climate alpha
New Zealand Super’s low-carbon reference portfolio has outperformed the original reference portfolio, adding NZ$800 million to the fund and providing evidence of ESG alpha. The low-carbon reference portfolio, that until now has had targets of reducing emissions intensity by 20 per cent and its exposure to potential emissions from fossil fuel reserves by 40 per cent, has added about 60 basis points per annum to performance since it was brought in.
ArticleClimate
New investment-led net zero framework
More than 70 investors have collaborated to produce a framework for an investment strategy led approach to decarbonising portfolios and maximising efforts to achieve net zero emissions globally by 2050. The IIGCC, which developed the framework, is seeking consultation.
articleClimate
The need for urgent action on climate
Nigel Topping who was appointed by the UK Government as the High Level Climate Action Champion for United Nations climate talks, COP26 joins Fiona Reynolds, chief executive of the PRI, in conversation with Amanda White, editor of Top1000funds.com This episode focuses on climate change and how, amongst and despite, the short-term focus of this COVID-19 crisis, we can mobilise government, business and investors into action around this important issue of climate change.
articleClimate
Minnesota to expand private markets
A strategic and long-term focus sees the Minnesota State Board of Investment
CIO, Mansco Perry, adopt a patient and encouraging approach when it comes to climate change and diversity. The $104 billion fund is also looking to expand its allocation to private markets, and double its internal team.
articleClimate
Investors’ role in a carbon-neutral 2050
Everyone's talking about it - a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 - but what are investors doing about it? Amanda White reports on the specific climate activities of some of the world's leading asset owners.