October 2022

How Sustainable Investing Can Impact Climate Change

Zach Stein, co-founder and CEO of Carbon Collective, a climate change-focused online investment advisor, talks about the three ways sustainable investing can make a positive impact on climate change, as well as the trends shaping the climate tech space. Stein also shares what more investment in climate-focused companies will lead to and the top companies investors may want to keep an eye on. What is the most important issue facing the world today? Climate change is the single most...

Impact funds grow 40% over last two years, hitting $1 trillion

Impact investing has soared 40% over the past two years, according to a fresh analysis, as more money flows into strategies that actively seek to save the planet and its people. Investor allocations to impact investing, which targets specific environmental, social or governance outcomes instead of just screening for ESG risks, now stands at more than $1 trillion, according to the Global Impact Investing Network. That growth feeds into a maelstrom of discordant views around ESG that have plunged the once...

Iceland, Netherlands and Denmark have the best pensions in the world in 2022

Today, Mercer and the CFA Institute released its 14th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI). Iceland’s retirement income system has once again topped the list, with The Netherlands and Denmark retaining second and third places respectively in the rankings. As more employers have stepped away from defined benefit (DB) plans, the study also investigates the challenges and opportunities with the global shift towards defined contribution (DC) plans where individuals bear increased financial responsibility. The MCGPI is a comprehensive...

UK. Green pensions increasingly important to workers

Workers are favouring companies that offer green pension plans, according to research from Scottish Widows. Almost a quarter (25%) of employees named green pensions as one of the top benefits they would expect from a new employer. Nearly three quarters (72%) of employees said it was important for their company to invest their savings sustainably, demonstrating a commitment to taking environmental and social issues seriously. Despite the demand from workers, the report showed 34% of employers don't currently offer a sustainable pension...

The Depth & Breadth of Sustainable Finance Regulatory Initiatives: Global Developments in 2022

By Lydia Sandner & Noam Cherki The scope and pace of global sustainable finance regulation has accelerated in 2022 across an array of regulatory areas (taxonomies, ESG and climate risk management and disclosures, product requirements, ESG in stewardship, and green bond frameworks). ▪ Regulatory efforts continue to prioritize management of climate-related financial risk as well as preventing greenwashing, although the agenda is beginning to expand to naturerelated risks and social issues as well. ▪ The European Union continues to be the leading...

Sustainable finance regulation grew around the world in 2022

Sustainable finance regulation around the world increased in both scope and pace in 2022, according to a report released Monday by ISS ESG, the responsible investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services. The Depth & Breadth of Sustainable Finance Regulatory Initiatives: Global Developments in 2022 report analyzes initiatives proposed or implemented to date and breaks that down by region and country. The report is based on a proprietary ISS ESG index. "All regions see sustainable finance regulation as critical to increasing market...

Integrating sustainability in DC pensions

Workplace pensions are an integral part of the social infrastructure in our society, and most workplace pensions are now defined contribution schemes (DC). In contrast to the defined benefit (DB) world, there is no sponsor underwriting scheme risks and no Pension Protection Fund to fall back upon; massive responsibilities rest upon the shoulders of scheme trustees. A further important differentiating factor is the relative maturity of the two markets. Today’s active contributors to DC schemes are likely to be still...

September 2022

México. Las afores deberán capacitar a su personal en materia de ASG

La Consar publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación que las afores ya tienen la obligación de contar con un programa de capacitación contínua para su personal en materia de los principios Ambientales, Sociales y de Gobernanza (ASG). La Comisión Nacional del Sistema del Ahorro para el Retiro (Consar) publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) que las administradoras de fondos para el retiro (afores) ya tienen la obligación de contar con un programa de capacitación contínua...

Expert investors believe sustainable investing is most likely to drive long-term returns

This is among the sustainability-focused findings of Schroders’ Global Investor Study 2022, which have been revealed today. “Expert” investors are more likely to believe that investing sustainably is key to driving long-term returns compared with their peers who rate themselves as less knowledgeable, research by Schroders has found. The finding is from Schroders’ Global Investor Study 2022, the bellwether annual survey which highlights trends based on the answers and opinions of more than 23,000 investors in 33 locations. Data was...

UK Pension Schemes Under Pressure for Climate Impact Reporting

The mid-sized and smaller pension schemes in the UK are under tighter rules as new reporting regulations are requiring more detailed information. The UK has been one of the fastest countries to adopt the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) reporting requirements into law. This covers corporates, regulated financial institutions, and pension schemes. Large pension schemes in the country have to report climate risks in line with TCFD guidance since last October. This is also part of the Occupational Pension Schemes...