ImpactAssets, the impact investing trailblazer with a decade-plus track record of mobilizing capital for good, surpassed $3B in total AUM this year, according to its 2023 Impact Report. The report also reveals that the firm directed a total of $458M in investments and $224M in grants towards funds, companies, and nonprofits advancing a more equitable, net-zero world.
Now more than ever, corporate leadership on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues is imperative. And so is transparency. As companies decarbonize, align with the Sustainable Development Goals and rebuild an equitable economy post-pandemic, they must be open about their efforts. Each year, 3BL evaluates the largest public U.S. companies on ESG transparency and performance.
“These food companies are at a crossroads that will determine the health of our land and our communities. They need to closely monitor pesticide use in their supply chain and must also ensure that regenerative agriculture policies are adopted to protect farmworkers and nearby communities and reduce harm to soil, waters, ecosystems, and climate,” said Cailin Dendas, As You Sow.
“The theme of this year\’s report represents fundamental elements of our work at Calvert Impact: demonstrating that it is possible for everyday investors to use their investment portfolios to drive solutions to social and environmental challenges and educating the broader market on impact trends to ultimately transform the capital markets,” said Jennifer Pryce, Calvert Impact.
Former US Treasury deputy secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin and Madison Condon of the Boston Univ. School of Law are calling for more credible public data on climate risk. Recently, Climate & Capital Media hosted a panel of experts to discuss claims that the booming private-sector climate data services industry is hyping its accuracy and failing to deliver equitable, reliable or transparent datasets.
Even in an uncertain housing market, values-based investing can play an important role in helping to solve housing affordability needs and contribute to a healthier, more stable US consumer – which is good for the economy and business. Working toward a more affordable housing market and making homeownership obtainable from one generation to the next is in the interest of our collective prosperity and worthy of the effort.
To make an impact and bring about a truly sustainable approach to investing, I needed to incorporate my personal convictions and concern for animals and the environment into my professional life. I had adopted sustainable practices in my personal life, from shopping and recycling, to using solar panels to generate electricity, but I was not using my financial expertise to generate returns for investor clients in a sustainable way.
At Trillium we believe that diversity, inclusive of gender and race, is an essential component of sound governance and is vital to a well-functioning organization. As a firm, we seek to achieve diversity at all levels and look to invest in companies that are doing the same. Studies have shown diverse Boards, C-Suites and workforces supported by an inclusive work environment lead to better business outcomes.
Gender lens investing in the US was really an invention of the late, Linda Pei and her business partner, Leslie Christian. These pioneers launched the Women’s Equity Fund in 1993. Though the first studies linking gender diverse corporate leadership with financial results weren’t published yet, they believed that women’s contribution to the bottom line would be measurable and accretive over time. They were right.
(From the Archives) There is a growing recognition that addressing the climate crisis will require tapping into the knowledge, insights, and expertise of the whole population. If we want climate solutions that create a just transition for everyone affected, we need everyone involved – as innovators, entrepreneurs, workers, policymakers, customers, and investors.
