Stewardship – The 2020 vision

At the international business of Federated Hermes, we believe that the investment management industry could be a potent force in building a better world; but today that potential is largely unfulfilled.

Here, we set out our vision for how investment management can deliver on that promise through active stewardship of the businesses it owns. This is vital. Success means delivering better, sustainable returns for investors while helping
solve some of the world’s most intractable problems.

We believe the purpose of investment is to create wealth sustainably over the longterm. That’s why focusing on wealth creation at the expense of the planet and society, the very future for which investors are saving, is counterproductive.

Our world faces multiple challenges – from climate change to inequality to Artificial Intelligence. Investment management has a key role in addressing those challenges. It must behave in a way that is consistent with solving the world’s problems rather than compounding them. This will have notable positive financial implications for investors and society, guarding against significant risks to the long-term health of the economy.

Click here to read our vision for how stewardship can create that change.

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China ESG risk: the next unknown

China ESG risk: the next unknown

One of the most important, upcoming challenges at CalSTRS is how the fund should evaluate Chinese investments from a human capital and environmental standpoint, says Chris Ailman, chief investment officer at the giant pension fund.

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Longterm investment: A better capitalism

Stewardship and engagement will become an integral part of investment in the future, and asset owners need to write stewardship and non-financial objectives into their mandates with managers, according to Saker Nusseibeh, chief executive international of Federated Hermes.

CalPERS’ Simpson on Climate Action 100+

Climate Action 100+ illustrates asset owners’ ability to come together to solve the tragedy of the commons, said Anne Simpson, managing investment director, board governance and sustainability at US pension giant CalPERS. She said once investors realise that risk and return comes from managing financial, human and natural capital then ESG became a fundamental part of investing.

How to green the recovery: OECD

Shardul Agrawala, head, environment and economy integration division at the OECD laid out the challenges and opportunities for governments to build back better. He highlighted the industries and that may undergo transformation and the underlying market failures that need fixing.

No luxury to pick and choose SDGs

There is moment driven by the COVID-19 crisis to invest in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, according to chief executive of Robeco, Gilbert van Hassel. But investing in companies of the future, and avoiding risks of the past, requires real expertise and changing mindsets about investment poses one of the biggest challenge for investors.

Holding managers to account on net zero

Nigel Topping, Champion of COP26, says institutional investors should  put their fund managers on notice to provide more net zero products. He was speaking at the Top1000funds.com Sustainability conference in a session detailing how asset owners can move towards net zero.

Sustainability Conference 2020: Day 1

Watch day one of the Sustainability Digital event like it's a live stream. All the action and all the speakers can be viewed here.

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