Social Investment Organization News Digest – September 24, 2009
News
Private Member's Bill Seeks ESG disclosure by Pension Funds
Heightened awareness and activity on responsible investment will protect pension plan members...For more information, click here.
2009 Investor Statement on the Urgent Needs for Global Agreement on Climate Change
SIO members among largest group ever of world investors to issue call for strong action on climate change...For more information, click here.
Two of Responsible Investment's Leading Environmental, Social and Governance Research Firms Join Forces
Sustainalytics and Jantzi Research Inc. merge to form Jantzi-Sustainalytics in North America...For more information, click here
Reports
Groundbreaking international collaboration among public clean energy fund managers highlights the link between public clean energy spending and economic health
A new report detailing "Why Clean Energy Public Investment Makes Economic Sense - The Evidence Base" was released by an international coalition of public clean energy funds under the remit of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). News Release (August 13, 2009) ...The Report
Ethical Funds: Sustainable Investing Update / Fonds Éthiques : Les derniers développements en investissement durable
The September 2009 edition is available here. L'édition de septembre 2009 est disponible ici.
Inhance Insight #25 / MacInnes' Q2 Market Comment
The September 2009 edition is available here.
Share: Q2 Shareholder Engagement Report
The April 1-June 30 shareholder engagement activity report is available here.
World Microfinance Forum Geneva survey report on Pension Funds and Microfinance
European pension funds are set to increase investment in microfinance. Interviewed pension funds highlight the contribution to portfolio diversification and to the social mission of their institutions as main motivations for investing. News Release (September 17, 2009) ...The Report
Recommended Reading:
Sustainable Investing: The Art of Long-Term Performance (C. Krosinsky and N. Robins editors)
With conventional investors now scrambling to factor in issues such as climate change, this book captures a turning point in the evolution of global finance. Bringing together leading practitioners of Sustainable Investing from across the globe, this book charts how this agenda has evolved, what impact it has today, and what prospects are emerging for the years ahead.
More information is available at: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?TabId=4833&v=451491
Investment Executive TV's 12-part video series on socially responsible investing
Part 10: Social values victories are sometimes works in progress Advisors and industry executives describe several positive social victories for which the SRI industry takes some credit.
Links to the other videos in the series:
Part 9: Four environmental victories for the SRI industry
Part 8: Screening to promote shareholder activism
Part 7: Clients arrive to SRI with negative screens first
Part 6: SRI underperformance myth put to rest long ago
Part 5: SRI Industry challenges KYC reforms
Part 4: SRI advisor puts focus on client values
Part 3: SRI clients not only aging hippies
Part 2: Manufacturers winning distribution
Part 1: Investors and advisors turn to SRI
SIO Café AIR
Here is what's percolating at the SIO!
This is the first of a regular feature showcasing what we're working on at the SIO.
Staff are involved in several public policy issues and issued a couple of SIO Policy Alerts in September related to ESG disclosure: (1) Mandatory ESG Disclosure in Canada and Abroad and (2) Federal Pension ESG Disclosure Bill Introduced. In the coming weeks and months, SIO staff will do the following:
- Participate in the Ontario Securities Commission's consultation on CSR and ESG reporting standards
- Work with the SIO Policy & Advocacy Committee to draft SIO's formal response to the OSC's consultation
- Engage SIO members to support mandatory ESG disclosure
- Reach out to leading institiutional investors who are not SIO members to support the initiative
- Work with Liberal MP Robert Oliphant and the SEIU to encourage MPs from other parties to support the new Federal Pension ESG Disclosure Bill, or another version of this bill if it is re-introduced after the next election
We are pleased to report that the SIO's "Socially Responsible Investment and Your Clients" advisor education course has been approved for two CE credits by Advocis. We are working to secure presentation locations at key Advocis chapters across Canada this fall and into 2010.
The SIO-Environment Canada collaborative research projects - an inventory of information resources for foundations and best practices for pensions - are substantially complete, and final edits are now underway.
The SIO-Member Mutual Fund Companies Directory will be published for the first time in 2009. Similar to the Institutional Directory, this new directory will be a useful resource for advisors and investors.
A new Public Relations Committee will advise staff on communications strategies for the SIO, including best use of social media.
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