Finance & Investment
The latest in the spheres of socially responsible investing, impact investing, and other ways investors and shareholders are asserting their desire for ethical investment options.
New Guide to Aid US Food Sector’s Climate Transition Plans as Investors Ramp Up Pressure
Cross-Posted from Walking the Talk. Investors can use the guide to engage companies by emphasizing the importance of disclosing their full-scope GHG emissions and setting 1.5°C emissions-reduction targets — ahead of forthcoming mandates.
4 Ways to Unlock Carbon Finance in Agriculture to Drive Climate Action
Cross-Posted from Walking the Talk. Too many corporate carbon offset schemes rely on measuring soil organic carbon, which is highly variable, hard to measure and easy to lose. Here is a four-step framework for companies looking to create tangible impacts on the ground (pun intended).
Over 100 NGOs Join Forces to Escalate Climate Pressure on Vanguard
Cross-Posted from Marketing and Comms. The world's second-largest asset manager received the worst possible score in a new climate scorecard as NGOs, grassroots groups, and finance experts ramp up pressure for it to act on climate.
BlackRock ‘Anticipates’ 75% of Portfolio Edging Toward Net Zero by 2030
While the announcement from the world’s largest asset manager could potentially have significant influence on lowering global emissions, BlackRock’s passive approach is a missed opportunity to actively drive the transition to a low-carbon, net-zero economy.
40 Acre Co-Op Sowing Seeds for Financially Sustainable Future for Black Farmers
The first national Black farmer co-op since the Reconstruction era is on a mission to revive and support Black farmers — which have dwindled to a mere 1.4% of farmers in the US — and cultivate a national network of growers of regeneratively farmed hemp.
Refreshing Optimism from IPCC: ‘We Can Halve Emissions by 2030.’ But Will Banks Play Their Part?
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Without immediate, deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible to limit global warming to 1.5°C. We have the tech and know-how to halve emissions by 2030, and the impacts are already being seen — but fossil fuel financing must end.
New Tools Helping Companies Better Track, Meet Ambitious Climate Goals — with No Time to Waste
Cross-Posted from Product, Service & Design Innovation. The emergence of a host of new carbon-monitoring and -tracking tools is better equipping companies with the data to achieve their climate goals — but time is running short to turn this into meaningful action.
What SEC ESG Disclosure Mandates Might Mean for Your Business
Cross-Posted from Marketing and Comms. Earlier this month, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose convened 17 CEOs and key legal leaders to discuss newly proposed environmental and social governance disclosure requirements from the SEC. Here are four key takeaways from the conversation.
Look for These 3 Attributes When Buying High-Quality Carbon Credits
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. For carbon markets to be effective, a dedicated effort must be made by corporate buyers and project developers to align on a high standard of excellence. Companies exploring offsets should look for these three attributes of a project to feel confident they are purchasing high-quality carbon credits.
Proposed SEC Rules to Enhance, Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors
Cross-Posted from Marketing and Comms. The rules — which would require companies to include information about their GHG emissions and climate-related risks likely to have a material impact on their business, results of operations or financial condition — have garnered mixed reviews from stakeholders.
680+ Investors Call on Over 10K Companies to Share Environmental Data
While more companies are reporting through CDP every year, many still do not disclose enough data on their environmental impact. Non-disclosure will not be an option for many companies for much longer, with a series of mandatory environmental disclosure requirements coming this year around the world.
New Bank of the West Report Highlights Major Consumer Knowledge Gaps in Sustainable Finance
Fossil fuels and other climate-risky endeavors are still big money for banks; and even if consumers find their bank continues to fund them, it’s something they often feel powerless to change.
Visa Commits $100M to Help Minority Depository Institutions Drive Economic Mobility
MDIs are trusted providers for communities of color and include some of the oldest minority-owned US banks; they play a unique role in increasing access to financial services for underserved populations.
Company-Specific ESG Adoption Pushes Leaders to Dig Deeper
The rise of company-specific materiality assessments will require companies to undertake substantial organizational and behavioral adjustments, reduce their reliance on standardized metrics, and incent investors to dig more deeply into the inner workings of individual portfolio companies.
Fossil Free Banking Alliance to Help Conscious Consumers Put Their Money Where Their Mouths Are
Bank.Green’s new Alliance, made up of 8 founding members, aims to fuel the global movement towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient financial sector.
Umpqua Bank Offers $2M Infusion to Support Minority, Women Entrepreneurs
Through a series of multi-year partnerships with business-focused nonprofits, Umpqua aims to close the opportunity gap in access to capital, resources, and expertise for traditionally underserved innovators.
Decolonizing Wealth Project Redistributes $1M Towards Indigenous-Led Sustainability Efforts
The multi-year, multimillion-dollar Indigenous Earth Fund initiative will support systemic and policy-change efforts centered around Indigenous leaders and environmental solutions.
BlackRock's Fink Expounds on Need for Decarbonization, But Not Divestment
Cross-Posted from Walking the Talk. In his annual letter to CEOs, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink says that, while decarbonizing the global economy is ‘the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime,’ he also asserts that ‘divesting from entire sectors will not get the world to net zero.’
1% for the 99%: Corporate Leaders’ Golden Opportunity to Recharge US Communities
By unleashing the corporate balance sheet, finance teams can provide resources to nurture local entrepreneurial talent, improve climate resilience and build housing — all with minimal risk.
Improving the Sustainability of Wet Processing: An Investment Pot of Gold
In the textile industry, one area ripe for investment is making wet processing more sustainable. As with most pots of gold, it’s not without its challenges — but data indicate that the returns are well worth the effort. Investors keen to seize this nascent opportunity should consider three primary steps.
