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Clear mandatory disclosure requirements and alignment with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) were common requests to the European Commission in responses to its Sustainable Financial Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) review. However, asset managers and investment firms offer up differing opinions on how the EU should approach fund labelling and categories. In September last year, the … Read more

There are thousands of listed companies in the global emerging markets region. Many of these actively incorporate ESG considerations into their operations. However, it is important to recognise the disparity among ESG data providers, leading to different ESG scores for the same company. In terms of performance, responsible/sustainable strategies with a growth approach have faced … Read more

Trium Capital’s ESG Emissions Improvers fund is targeting shorting opportunities in companies with corporate governance concerns. Joe Mares (pictured), portfolio manager of the Trium ESG Emissions Improvers fund, told ESG Clarity‘s sister title Portfolio Adviser: “From the short side, we think labour is a really interesting dynamic. Labour is a big part of the ‘S’ … Read more

ESG Clarity talked to Angus Whiteley, chief executive of the investment advisory firm, Stafford Capital Partners, about the firm’s investment strategy and how the team are decarbonising portfolios. Whiteley talked about the opportunities and challenges for sustainable investment businesses, alongside two asset classes he believes are increasing in popularity. What are the opportunities for sustainable … Read more

Octopus Renewables Infrastructure (ORIT) is exploring a possible merger with the £257m Aquila European Renewables trust (AERI). In a stock exchange announcement last month (22 December), the Octopus board proposed a combination that would create a £1.6bn renewable energy portfolio. ORIT said the two trusts have “complementary” portfolios, which would offer increased geographic diversification and … Read more

Japan has soared up the rankings in Asia Pacific for corporate governance, while Hong Kong has plummeted, according to the latest biennial report from the Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA). The ACGA’s report, which canvasses responses from 108 questions in seven different categories across 12 markets, saw Japan climb three places to second, while Hong … Read more

New findings from the WWF Sustainable Financial Regulations and Central Bank Activities (SUSREG) Tracker show although some central banks and financial supervisors are attempting to “green” their financial regulation and supervision, significant gaps remain. More banks and supervisors focus on climate and neglect broader environmental and social impacts, such as biodiversity loss and its wider … Read more

Asset managers are failing to translate words into action when they vote at annual general meetings, according to an analysis of votes at 75 fossil fuel companies conducted by Reclaim Finance. Despite communicating a desire to act positively on climate engagement, asset managers are failing to do so in key strategy votes, with Reclaim Finance … Read more

The UK financial services sector faces an emerging green skills gap and is not moving fast enough to close it, jeopardising the UK’s net-zero goals, according to the latest report by PwC in its Green Jobs Barometer series. In collaboration with Financial Services Skills Commission (FSSC) and the Aldersgate Group, the report explores the pivotal … Read more

Question one: How does engagement in fixed income work in practice? It’s a myth that engagement in the realm of fixed income is less effective than for equities. Our multi-decade experience of deep engagement with companies issuing debt illustrates this – and we have a solid track record that underlines how effective engagement can be … Read more