Country and Corporate Rankings, Biodiversity, and Davos
Here are 5 ESG insights you might have missed this week:
The Green Future Index-
MIT Technology Review Insights has developed a ranking of countries based on their progress and commitment towards a more sustainable future.
The Green Future Index is a ranking of 76 leading countries and territories on their progress and commitment toward building a low carbon future. It measures the degree to which their economies are pivoting toward clean energy, industry, agriculture, and society through investment in renewables, innovation, and green finance.
Unearthing Investor Action on Biodiversity-
"Biodiversity will be one of the most important topics amongst the investor community by 2030"
In this Responsible Investor study, Credit Suisse's Chief Sustainability Officer & Global Head Sustainability Strategy Marisa Drew evaluate how and to what extent investors are addressing biodiversity. While biodiversity has undoubtedly risen up the agenda in the investment world, this research, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, IUCN, and Zoological Society of London (ZSL), aims to investigate if this is translating into action.
Biodiversity is of increasing focus in 2021 as the world recognises that without significant steps towards change, it is losing animal and plant species at an alarming rate. However, are investors taking action to manage biodiversity risks and are they able to make investments supporting nature and wildlife? How confident are they in this area?
Download the report for free using 'BIODIVERSITY' as the promo code.
Climate Action 100+ Progress Report-
An overview of Climate Action 100+, its engagement agenda and the role of investors.
Climate Action 100+ now includes 545 investor signatories, with almost US$52 trillion in combined assets under management, engaging more than 160 companies responsible for 80 per cent of global industrial GHG emissions.
The 2020 progress report highlights the role of investors and the progress of focus companies against a number of key indicators through regular progress reporting and benchmarking.
Source: https://www.climateaction100.org/progress/progress-report/
Larry Fink's 2021 letter to CEOs-
BlackRock's Larry Fink, CEO of the $9 trillion asset manager, published his annual letter to corporate CEOs.
"We have long believed that our clients, as shareholders in your company, will benefit if you can create enduring, sustainable value for all of your stakeholders."
On the opportunity of net-zero transitions, "investors cannot prepare their portfolios for this transition unless they understand how each and every company is prepared both for the physical threats of climate change and the global economy’s transition to net zero. They are asking managers like BlackRock to accelerate our data and analysis capabilities in this area – and we are committed to meeting their needs."
Source: https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/investor-relations/larry-fink-ceo-letter
Davos 2021-
With no skiing, the yearly gathering in the Swiss Alps goes virtual. Some key quotes and takeaways.
The 2030 Water Resources Group shares its story from an informal group of committed water champions to a dynamic network today of over 900 partners across 14 countries and states.
U.N. special envoy and ex-Governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, Mark Carney released a blueprint from the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets aims to boost carbon markets, projects and technologies in emerging markets “where the economics are not yet quite there”.
Also on carbon markets, “The way forward is to connect these private-sector payments to innovation around tough challenges like green cement, steel and aviation fuel" Bill Gates.
Source: https://www.weforum.org/events/the-davos-agenda-2021
One more thing: Refinitiv makes ESG company scores free. The scores are derived from Refinitiv’s database of 450+ company-level ESG measures, of which a subset of 186 of the most comparable and material data points power the overall company assessment and scoring process.
Find the company scores here- https://www.refinitiv.com/en/sustainable-finance/esg-scores
Do share your comments or the content you think our community should not miss!