Profile achieved (industry-wide)
We are fully transparent about the profile achieved by organisations and individuals across our network and issue regular updates on industry visibility.
Here we list the buzzes and profiles that have been most viewed in the last 90 days.
For full details and rankings of which firms and individuals are most effectively developing their online profile in sustainable investment and corporate governance engagement on SRI-CONNECT, see Our reach; your opportunity.
Or you can request a personalised Industry Profile Report that analyses and benchmarks (vs peers) the activity and visibility of individual firms.
Most read research buzzes
(658) Sustainable Fitch: Transition Assessments Flag Hurdles for Energy Companies
Sustainable Fitch: Transition Assessments Flag Hurdles for Energy Companies
- The twelve energy companies Sustainable Fitch has evaluated using our Transition Assessment (TA) methodology have, to date, made limited progress towards net zero.
- 42% of them received the second-lowest grade (brown), while just a quarter of companies received an ‘olive’ or greener grade indicating more progress and higher ambition.
- Based on reported data, the companies are roughly evenly split between those with rising and falling Scope 3 emissions. However, few companies reported data across all relevant Scope 3 categories, making it challenging to draw firm conclusions.
- Targets are also patchy, in some cases only applying to certain parts of the company.
- For most of the companies we assessed, long-terms pledges to transition to net zero have yet to translate into concrete steps to shift energy companies’ business mixes away from fossil fuels. Just one oil & gas company we assessed commits to materially decreasing upstream hydrocarbon production.
(608) ISS ESG: 2024 Global Outlook Report: Key ESG Risks and Opportunities for Investors
ISS ESG: 2024 Global Outlook Report: Key ESG Risks and Opportunities for Investors
ISS ESG: 2024 Global Outlook Report Identifies Key ESG Risks and Opportunities for Investors
NEW YORK (January 30, 2024) — ISS ESG, the sustainable investment arm of ISS STOXX, today released its annual global outlook report, Actionable Insights: Top ESG Themes in 2024, to kick off its ESG Themes and Trends 2024 thought-leadership series. The new report draws on comprehensive ISS ESG data, with research and insights from ISS ESG’s financial research and sector leads, climate specialists, and regulatory experts to help investors identify key ESG risks and opportunities likely to impact their portfolios in 2024.
Ten of the key global trends identified by ISS ESG that sustainable investors will likely be focusing on through 2024 include:
- The European Union (EU) has adopted regulation that will, by the end of 2024, require some commodities and products that enter the European market to be deforestation free. This regulation may encourage heightened awareness of the economic and environmental impacts of land-use change and portfolios’ exposure to nature-related risks.
- Rising demand for critical minerals as inputs for renewable energy is shaping mergers and acquisitions within the mining sector and encouraging public efforts to secure access to these minerals. Mining companies also face the challenge of decarbonizing their extraction activities.
- Industrial sector companies generally perform poorly on the management of environmental matters in their supply chains. Nevertheless, companies may improve their supply-chain data disclosures in 2024, encouraged by the Recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
- Digital health technology is dramatically expanding, a trend that creates both investment opportunities and cybersecurity and privacy risks. Investors may accordingly want to advocate that companies tighten their information security management systems and practices in the future.
- Companies have been rapidly integrating generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their products and services, a process that might bring future liabilities. Although AI-related regulation is still developing, existing privacy and property laws already provide a foundation for potential liability.
- In an uncertain macroeconomic environment, in which volatility, inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical risks are expected to remain elevated, alternative investments can provide investors with an idiosyncratic opportunity to generate alpha and to actively consider the Net Zero transition.
- The complexity of climate change impacts, the global regulatory push for standardized climate-related disclosures, and the diversity of investment preferences mean that financial institutions will continue to demand climate scenario analysis tools. Wider adoption of climate scenario analysis means the methodology behind such analysis is likely to become more refined.
- National and international regulations and standards have targeted PFAS chemicals because of these chemicals’ health effects. The EU may ban the chemicals by 2027, for example. Risks from regulation, lawsuits, and controversies may foster heightened investor concern about companies’ involvement in PFAS and exploration of alternatives to the chemicals.
- Investors face the challenge of identifying which firms have superior ESG performance and linking that performance to the firms’ financial performance. ISS ESG offers ESGF, a rating that considers a firm’s ESG risks and opportunities along with its Financial Quality measured over time. ESGF can help investors navigate the volatile market likely in 2024.
- Ensuring investors have sufficient information to evaluate ESG issues accurately is a top priority for global financial regulators. A diversity of regulatory approaches, however, raises the possibility of fragmentation among regulatory regimes, with disclosure standards lacking interoperability and compatibility. Although leading reporting standards developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board, the European Commission, and EFRAG became more aligned in 2023, sustainability reporting will likely remain fragmented in the future.
Bonnie Saynay, Global Head of ESG Investor Research at ISS ESG, said: “Regulation, technology, natural capital, and climate change are among the major forces likely to shape the ESG investment landscape in 2024. Environmental concerns as well as the risks and opportunities raised by emerging and evolving technologies such as AI have encouraged regulatory and other legal responses. All these factors, combined, form the context for companies and investors in 2024.”Saynay added: “Our new report demonstrates how ISS ESG’s proprietary data and research team, with significant capital markets experience and sectoral expertise, help support investors in evaluating and prioritizing evolving ESG risks and investment opportunities.”
To download a copy of the full report, please click here.
About ISS ESG
ISS ESG solutions enable investors to develop and integrate sustainable investing policies and practices, engage on sustainable investment issues, and monitor portfolio company practices through screening solutions. ISS ESG also provides climate data, analytics, and advisory services to help financial market participants understand, measure, and act on climate-related risks across all asset classes. In addition, ESG solutions cover corporate and country ESG research and ratings enabling its clients to identify material social and environmental risks and opportunities. For more information, please visit us at: www.iss-esg.comAbout ISS STOXX
ISS STOXX GmbH, through its group companies, is a leading provider of comprehensive and data-centric research and technology solutions that help capital market participants identify investment opportunities, detect qualitative and quantitative portfolio company risks, and meet evolving regulatory requirements. With roots dating back to 1985, we today deliver world-class benchmark and custom indices across asset classes and geographies and serve as a premier source of independent corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence research, data, and related offerings. Our products and services give clients the scale and leverage they need to grow their business more effectively and efficiently. ISS STOXX, which is majority owned by Deutsche Börse Group, is comprised of more than 3,400 professionals operating across 33 global locations in 19 countries. Its approximately 6,400 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who turn to ISS STOXX for its objective and varied offerings, as well as companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. Clients rely on ISS STOXX’s expertise to help them make informed decisions to benefit their stakeholders.(580) Ceres: Toward Consistency: Assessing the Power Sector's Climate Policy Advocacy
Ceres: Toward Consistency: Assessing the Power Sector's Climate Policy Advocacy
This benchmark analysis examines the climate-related risk management, governance, and lobbying practices of 12 of the largest electric utility companies operating in the United States.
Toward Consistency: Assessing the Power Sector's Climate Policy Advocacy shows that power companies are heavily involved in climate policy engagement and are taking steps forward by advocating in support of certain climate policies. But they are also undoing that progress by advocating against other climate policies.
- 100% of the companies in this assessment agree with the scientific consensus concerning the causes of climate change and 100% have lobbied either individually or as part of a coalition for Paris–aligned climate policies in the last three years.
- Yet, at the same time, 100% of the companies have company assessed lobbied in opposition to Paris-aligned climate policies, illustrating the contradictory nature of the utility sector’s advocacy efforts.
(560) Environmental Defense Fund: Hydrogen Investments Are Everywhere. Which Have What It Takes To Succeed?
Environmental Defense Fund: Hydrogen Investments Are Everywhere. Which Have What It Takes To Succeed?
Environmental Defense Fund: Hydrogen Investments Are Everywhere. Which Have What It Takes To Succeed?
Our recently published article in Forbes focuses on hydrogen, the new regional industrial hubs being funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the vital importance of getting these investments right from the start.
What's important to know is that hubs could be a gamechanger - an entirely new model for clean industrial development - but that project teams and their investors need to ask tough questions to know if proposed hubs will live up to their promise to deliver real benefits to not just businesses, but the climate and the communities where they are built.
Are you an investor in a proposed hub? Learn about the 10 key due diligence objectives Environmental Defense Fund has identified for hubs before putting your money to work.(553) Planet Tracker: Water Risk Disclosure in the Apparel Industry
Planet Tracker: Water Risk Disclosure in the Apparel Industry
(https://planet-tracker.org/exposing-water-risk/)
Planet Tracker: Urges Increased Water Risk Disclosure in the Apparel Industry
In a recent analysis of 3,900 documents, transcripts and filings from apparel-related companies using Natural Language Processing (NLP), Planet Tracker examined how the management teams of 29 major apparel brands perceive water-related risks.
An overwhelming 90% of the examined documents failed to mention water-related risks, with many companies barely mentioning water-related risk at all, highlighting a significant gap in disclosure practices.
Despite this, the findings reveal a notable increase in mentions of water-related risk over the analysed period, growing from approximately 2,000 in 2018 to more than 9,000 in 2022, implying that in the minority of documents where water-related risk is disclosed, the subject is being more frequently discussed.
The majority of disclosures come from non-luxury brands, followed by luxury brands, while companies mainly operating as apparel retailers show limited mentions of water-related risks.
Minimal attention in transcripts from corporate events suggests a lack of focus from investors on this critical issue - financial institutions, investors, and lenders in the apparel industry face financial exposure to water-related risks.
Download the report: Exposing Water Risk: How do textile brands think about water risk?
Download the Investor Engagement Sheet
(493) Sustainalytics: Biodiversity in the Balance: Hedging Portfolio Risks
Sustainalytics: Biodiversity in the Balance: Hedging Portfolio Risks
Investors have grown increasingly interested in addressing portfolio risks linked to biodiversity loss. Portfolio risks linked to biodiversity loss can stem from holding stocks in companies involved in land use changes for industrial production. Among the industries in our research coverage, automobiles, food retailers, textiles and apparel and household products companies are most exposed to controversies associated with biodiversity loss through their supply chains.
Readers of this report will learn how:
- According to new research from Morningstar Sustainalytics, investing in companies facing high levels of risk associated with biodiversity loss could have a material effect on long-term portfolio performance.
- A model portfolio investing in consumer goods stocks with lower material ESG issue (MEI) risk scores delivered a cumulative return of 51.1% over the past five years as compared to an 8.5% return for a similar, yet higher MEI risk portfolio.(491) Lombard Odier: AI, big data: can technology make agriculture greener?
Lombard Odier: AI, big data: can technology make agriculture greener?
Increasing crop yields while limiting their environmental impact is the challenge facing agriculture. The sector is currently among those contributing most to its own degradation, but technological solutions can help. This overview highlights some of the developments being put in place in France, which is a European leader in the field.
Agriculture may be undergoing a third revolution. Following the discovery of crop rotation in the 17th century and the advent of mechanisation and chemistry in the 20th century, the digital revolution heralds the dawn of a new transformation. Artificial intelligence, big data, connected services... this is the birth of the age of precision agriculture, or smart farming.
The use of digital tools in agriculture is likely to increase in the upcoming years. For its part, France adopted the Ecophyto Plan II in 2015, which targets a 50% cut in phytosanitary products on fields over 10 years.
Conscious of these regulatory developments, investors are showing no hesitation in deploying more and more funds to young AgriTech start-ups. According to the AgFunder fund, investments in AgriTech and FoodTech (new technologies applied to the food sector) start-ups came to USD 51.7 billion in 2021. These two sectors, jointly referred to as “AgriFoodTech”, account for thousands of start-ups worldwide, including 400 in France two years ago, according to INRAE.
(455) DWS: Nature focused regulations start to get serious
DWS: Nature focused regulations start to get serious
- Over recent years, we have published a number of whitepapers examining the relevance of land, freshwater and oceans as they relate to climate neutrality
- Today, we explore the rising tide of nature-related regulation which will mark the start of a series of nature-focused whitepapers to support investor understanding
- Like climate before it, government, corporate and investor commitments relating to nature have picked up speed over the last few years
- Nature-focused regulation, such as the European Commission’s Nature Restoration Law approved last month , are focusing on eliminating harmful practices, encouraging more sustainable activities and promoting nature-positive policies
- The ambition is to radically transform the process of production and consumption, which includes moving away from the current linear model of take-make-waste to one which decouples economic growth from resource use
- It also includes increasing protected areas on land and sea, eliminating deforestation, reducing chemical use across key sectors, cutting food and plastic waste, and ending the illegal trade in wildlife among others
- Investors will require their investee companies to inform them of their transition plans to facilitate performance as well as progress transparency
(448) Profundo: Expert View - The energy transition requires changing how we travel
Profundo: Expert View - The energy transition requires changing how we travel
Profundo: Expert View - The energy transition requires changing how we travel
The European Union is making significant investments in climate action, aiming to become the first climate-neutral block by 2050. In this context, decarbonising the energy and transport sectors is vital to achieving this goal.
But the negative consequences of this transition on human and labour rights in the Global South are largely overlooked, particularly in terms of mining and producing crop-based biofuels. Culprit in this is not only the lax social sustainability criteria in the EU’s policies governing the energy transition across the energy and transport sectors, but also the failure to address how we travel.
(445) Robeco: Robeco launches the Essentials of Biodiversity Investing (Educational Module)
Robeco: Robeco launches the Essentials of Biodiversity Investing (Educational Module)
Biodiversity is a relatively new area of sustainable investing that is gaining traction, particularly as it’s directly connected to climate change. But how much do you know about it? Could you explain the opportunities that lie in this abundant arena, along with the regulations thar are promoting it, and how it works in real life?
Summary
- New Essentials module explains biodiversity investing in nine chapters
- Course includes relevance, regulations, collaborations and case studies
- Reading the module and passing the test gives you up to two hours of CPD
Most viewed job posts
(453) Principal Sustainability Reporting Consultant
Principal Sustainability Reporting Consultant
(https://www.digbywells.com/vacancies/)
At Digby Wells Environmental, we are passionate about what we do and to Make A Difference in the lives of our colleagues, our clients, the communities we work in, and the environment.
As a Principal Sustainability Reporting Consultant, you will be a key contributor to our mission, to move us from the world we live to world we seek. You will work with clients to produce compelling sustainability reports and strategies, that tell the client’s sustainability story, and tick the boxes for reporting requirements and guidelines.
●Excellent writing skills to communicate clearly including the ability to create clear, concise and compelling sustainability reports
●Extensive knowledge of ESG reporting frameworks (i.e. GRI, SASB, UN Global Compact), industry specific sustainability challenges and emerging trends
●Strong analytical skills to assess ESG data and metrics, identifying trends, risks and opportunities
●Strong client and stakeholder communication skills including influencing, negotiating, presenting and relationship management
●Robust project management, and able to run with a project from proposal to publication, and ensuring projects are delivered on time and in budget
●Flexible – able to see where help is needed and support colleagues as necessary.
●Curious mindset to learning and development, client relationship and contributing to the ESG team’s growth – a self-starter and motivator
●Comfortable juggling a variety of tasks in a dynamic, fast – paced operational environment
As an experienced Principal ESG Consultant your main responsibilities would be:
●Developing compelling sustainability reports that tell clients sustainability story while also ensuring alignment with the appropriate ESG disclosure standards
●Delivering comprehensive ESG materiality assessment processes (including impact, finance and double materiality) tailored to each client’s unique needs
●Leading stakeholder engagement exercises including conducting interviews, surveys and workshops to gather valuable input for sustainability report and materiality processes
●Analyzing ESG data and to identify trends, risks and opportunities relevant to each client
●Collaborating with clients to integrate material ESG issues into their corporate strategies
●Acting as the client lead for key projects, building and maintaining strong client relationships
●Staying up to date with evolving ESG regulations and industry best?
●Mentoring and guide junior consultants, providing leadership and expertise in Sustainability Reporting
Skills
•Proven track record of successfully managing and delivering complex ESG reports.
•Ability to establish and maintain strong client relationships
Qualifications
•Post graduate degree preferably in Environmental Sciences, Sustainability or Financial Communications.
•Project Management Certificate would be beneficial.
•At least 5 years’ experience in copywriting or editing for publication.
•Proficiency in adapting writing for audience.
Work Experience
•10 or more years relevant experience in sustainability consulting or similar. Experience and knowledge of the resources industry (mining sector, oil and gas and renewables) would be helpful.
Other
•Prepared to obtain vaccinations that may be required by clients and for travel purposes.
•Prepared to undergo a Pre-Employment Medical Assessment.
(410) Sustainability Consultant
Sustainability Consultant
At Digby Wells Environmental, we are passionate about what we do and are extremely fortunate to be able to Make a Difference in the lives of our colleagues, our clients, the communities we work in and the environment.
We are looking for someone who will be responsible for reporting sustainability related activities and helping our clients respond to and develop strategies to manage issues across the ESG agenda. This will include aligning client’s sustainability reporting requirements with industry best practices in terms of frameworks, data collection and assurance to meet the Client’s sustainability targets and ambitions. You must have a proven track record of producing high value sustainability reports, ideally within ‘the resources sectors.
● Producing Sustainability reports and disclosures that showcase clients’ work in a compelling way, while also ticking the boxes for GRI or SASB compliance.
● Compiling annual responses to investor questionnaires such as CDP and DJSI and providing clients with guidance to improve their scores and their practice.
● Reviewing, benchmarking, and developing policies against industry and best practice.
● Assessing client’s current sustainability performance and working with key stakeholders to identify, prioritize and strategically manage key sustainability issues.
● Developing climate risk management and mitigation strategies, including Science based targets and TCFD aligned reporting and guidance.
● Developing Modern Slavery Statement and strategies.
● Identifying and tracking ESG and sustainability trends, best practices, frameworks, and standards and communicating those relevant to internal and external stakeholders and using information to develop new services and client offering.
● Forming and maintaining a network of relationships to support sustainability efforts.
● Ensuring appropriate controls and measurement systems are in place for clients to support and maintain sustainability reporting integrity and assurance.
● Monitoring the latest trends from ESG rating agencies and recommend courses of action to improve client scores and address gaps.
● Networking and growing strong relationships with clients and other partners in the market.
● Working closely with various specialists to implement strategies and annual environmental and social performance for clients.
● Assisting with the drafting of our client’s strategic position and narratives on sustainability issues.
● Carry out field work under strenuous conditions.
Qualifications:
● Post graduate degree preferably in Environmental Sciences, Sustainability or Financial Communications.
● Project Management Certificate would be beneficial.
- Experience in copy/writing or editing would be beneficial.
Work Experience
● Seven or more years relevant experience in sustainability consulting or similar.
Other Requirements
● Deep understanding of responsible investment, sustainability emerging topics, the latest energy industry trends, strategies, and technologies.
● Knowledge of Sustainability/ESG rating agencies, frameworks, and databases.
● Expert in technical sustainability data, calculation methodologies and limitations.
● Establish credibility and effectively interact with clients, including all levels of senior leadership.
● Self-motivated, autonomous with a can-do attitude.
● Demonstrable mastery in extensive use of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and experience developing market research and business cases for new strategies
Other Requirements
● Excellent verbal communication skills to build and maintain relationships with Senior executives.
● A flair for writing; you will enjoy transforming information and data into compelling copy and infographics.
● Strong project management skills: you will be developing sustainability reports from start to finish, working with clients until they are perfect.
● A working knowledge of; TCFD recommendations, GRI Standards, SASB, the Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI), the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
● A willingness to travel.
● Experience in the mining sector is preferable
● A flexible, pragmatic, and innovative approach project development and delivery.
● Fluency in English is essential, working knowledge of another language particularly French or Spanish would be advantageous.
(405) JobPost: WHEB - Marketing Associate
JobPost: WHEB - Marketing Associate
(https://www.whebgroup.com/about/working-at-wheb)
Pioneering impact investment firm WHEB seeks Marketing Associate.
WHEB Asset Management
WHEB is a pioneer in sustainable and impact investing. Our mission is ‘to advance sustainability and create prosperity through positive impact investments’. We do this through a single, long-only, global equity strategy, investing in companies that provide solutions to sustainability challenges. With a track record of over 15 years, we are one of the early innovators in listed equity impact investing.
Sustainability and impact investing define our whole business as well as the investment philosophy. As a Certified B Corporation, WHEB is part of a global movement of stakeholder businesses, which consider the impact of business decisions on our employees, clients, suppliers, the community, and the environment, as well as our shareholders. Our mission is supported by a strong culture and core values that guide our behaviour.
For more information about WHEB Asset Management see www.whebgroup.com
Marketing Associate role
WHEB is seeking a marketing professional to join the team, based in London. At the forefront of the rapidly growing market for Impact Investing, WHEB is constantly innovating in our communications with both existing and potential investors. We produce a wide range of thought-leadership content, and this role will be closely involved in helping to deepen the connection our investors have with the real-world impact of their investments.
Working with our Marketing Manager, your role will be expected to cover a wide range of activities, including:
· Production of new and regular marketing collateral and content;
· Administration of client mass-comms and newsletters, often working in Mailchimp;
· Supporting the organisation and management of client events;
· Managing website updates and keeping content/documentation up to date;
· Managing social media accounts;
· Powerpoint presentation updates and new slide design;
· Search engine optimisation and digital marketing approach; and
· Salesforce & Mailchimp management, including managing client lists.
The Successful Applicant
The successful applicant will have, as a minimum:
· Data processing and manipulation skills and experience, including list management;
· Graphic design skills, including high proficiency in Powerpoint. Will be expected to work with Indesign and Adobe tools;
· Demonstrable focus on accuracy and attention to detail; and
· A passion for sustainable investment and positive impact.
Prior experience in financial services is not a requirement.
The successful applicant will also be able to demonstrate our values, in particular:
· Teamwork - work in a small, close-knit team, where debate and reasoned discussion are expected and rewarded;
· Leadership - demonstrate a driving and responsible attitude, working with a high degree of autonomy and ownership;
· Continuous Improvement – having a passion for progress and sharing learning;
· Passionate about Impact - a demonstrable understanding of – and passion for – sustainability; and
· Integrity – honest in approach and treat all stakeholders fairly.
Equal opportunities and flexible working
WHEB is an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. The role would be suitable for candidates looking for a full or part-time position. Based at our office in central London, the position will offer considerable opportunity for flexible working, including both office and home-based work. For more information on WHEB’s policies and culture please see https://www.whebgroup.com/about-us/working-at-wheb/
Process
Applicants should send their CV and a covering letter (which is important as we want to understand what applicants would bring to this role and why it is right for them) to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The deadline for applications is Friday 5th January 2024. We regret that it may not be possible to contact unsuccessful applicants.
(325) JobPost: Fitch Learning - ESG Financial Trainer, Freelancer, APAC (Singapore | CloseDate: Unknown)
JobPost: Fitch Learning - ESG Financial Trainer, Freelancer, APAC (Singapore | CloseDate: Unknown)
(https://careers.fitch.group/job/Singapore-ESG-Financial-Trainer%2C-Freelancer%2C-APAC/987763501/)
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