FS Sustainability

In case you missed it, here are the top stories in ESG and responsible finance from last week: 1. Broader job pain finally hits ESG: With the news a major carbon firm will lay off a quarter of its staff, a sector many thought to be immune is finally feeling the pinch. https://lnkd.in/g2C7CqfS. 2. Australia leads in greenwashing lawsuits: Santos is in federal court this week over greenwashing allegations in the first court case in the world to challenge the legitimacy of a company's net zero emissions plan. https://lnkd.in/gSZq3SK7. 3. The economic impact of AUKUS: Most of Australia's superannuation funds have no qualms about investing in controversial weapons manufacturers. https://lnkd.in/gRcZSzDj.

Many in the investment community believe that implementing net zero policies comes with high risk and is incompatible with active investing, but is this really true? Guido Baltussen is Northern Trust Asset Management International Head of Quantitative Strategies. He recently put out a paper on ‘carbon misconceptions’ and the impact of net zero commitments on equity portfolios. This episode covers how investors can apply conventional portfolio construction techniques to achieve net zero targets, and how to achieve alignment with multiple sustainability objectives without taking significant active risk. Guido joins host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability. https://lnkd.in/gMumkR57 #netzero #investing #sustainability #podcast #finance #sustainablefinance #ESG

The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC)'s Summit will be held on November 7-8 at the Sofitel, Melbourne. This unmissable event brings together leading investment experts, policymakers, academics, and industry associations dedicated to driving the transition towards a decarbonised economy. This year’s theme, Mission 1.5°, is about uniting efforts to maintain momentum toward achieving critical climate goals. There have been significant groundwork laid with initiatives like mandatory climate disclosures, net zero sector plans, and the National Climate Risk Assessment. Now, the challenge is turning these foundations into concrete action across the industry. To book your ticket and view the agenda for IGCC's Annual Summit, visit the event website here: https://lnkd.in/endej5cG #IGCCSummit24 #Mission1Point5

In case you missed it, here are the top stories in ESG and responsible finance from last week: 1. Funds SA and Apostle aid in activist rebound: The embattled global climate alliance has its phoenix moment reporting 90 new signatories across every continent, including Future Group, Funds SA, and Apostle Funds Management. https://lnkd.in/gNMJZjin 2. Mega recovery on cards for sustainable funds: Sustainable funds have fallen out of favour but Zenith Investment Partners predicts a major comeback. https://lnkd.in/gfanjrBK 3. Ethinvest reaches $100 million milestone: Demand for responsible investing is up on HUB24, Australia's fastest-growing investment platform. https://lnkd.in/gh_yJnbZ. #news #ESGnews #ESG #climatechange #finance #sustainability #investing

"Governments alone can't do this. The private sector alone can't do this. "It's about building a coalition of the willing who can actually partner together to deliver on these 17 critical issues." After 20 years of progress, we are now seeing rising inequality and poverty reaching levels not seen in a century, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In response, there’s been an uptick in demand for companies to report on social impact through the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) – and along with it, an increase in misleading marketing, or ‘social-washing’. Of course, poverty is not the only critical UN sustainable development goal – there are actually 17 of them, of which many are interconnected. To discuss, Read Taylor Price is the founder of Investors for Impact and director and managing partner at Alpencrest Capital. Do investors play a role in driving meaningful change towards achievement of the UN SDGs, especially in an era of ‘socialwashing’? Join host Rose Mary Petrass, senior journalist at FS Sustainability to find out more. https://lnkd.in/gpyQbU4Q #podcast #UNSDGs #sustainabledevelopment #greenwashing #investing #finance #ESG

As climate risk continues to grow, a slow transition could see $600 billion wiped from Australian super funds over the next decade. In a recent piece from FS Sustainability, Emmi’s CEO, Michael Lebbon, CFA, highlights the need for a robust carbon price to mitigate these risks. Emmi provides financed emissions data and climate risk analysis across all major public and private asset classes. At Apostle we understand carbon risk, which is why we created the Apostle Carbon Credit Fund to provide an option for investors to hedge climate risk. By pricing carbon effectively, we can better protect retirement savings and facilitate a smoother transition to net zero. Thanks to Rose Mary Petrass for a great piece. Follow the link here: https://lnkd.in/g2MuUFfZ Please contact Luke Donovan for information on Apostle’s Carbon Credit Fund.

"Things are turning, most asset classes and styles in sustainability-orientated funds are on par if not slightly outperforming traditional funds. "Cycles happen, but it can be difficult for people to stay the course when they're in the inevitable trough. "It takes a while for people to notice performance picking up again." A welcome dose of optimism from Dugald Higgins in FS Sustainability He suggests the 'sustainability-recession' may already be waning, and that a resurgence in sustainable investment inflows could emerge as early as next year. Let's hope so

In case you missed it, these were our top stories last week: 1. Impact investor boosts affordable housing: https://lnkd.in/g85Q3SVM 2. Aussie asset managers rise to RI challenge: https://lnkd.in/g2gWYhR3 3. UN PRI bolsters APAC expertise: https://lnkd.in/gFRZX2ur #ESG #sustainablefinance #finance #sustainability #climatechange #investing #investor

This episode is with special guest Kate O'Rourke, Commissioner at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). With mandatory climate reporting coming into force in Australia, the corporate regulator ASIC is stepping up enforcement, targeting misleading and deceptive practices with serious consequences for non-compliance. This episode is your guide to mastering climate reporting and avoiding greenwashing. The host of The Greener Way is senior journalist Rose Mary Petrass. https://lnkd.in/gPQ2tdbp

How can we ensure that climate reporting goes beyond a mere compliance exercise and provides investors and stakeholders with genuinely useful and actionable information? To unpack this topic and many more, the IGCC is holding its annual Climate Finance and Investment Summit, on 7-8 November at the Sofitel, Melbourne. This unmissable event brings together leading investment experts, policymakers, academics, and industry associations dedicated to driving the transition towards a decarbonised economy. To book your ticket and view the agenda for IGCC's Annual Summit, visit the event website here: https://lnkd.in/endej5cG #IGCCSummit24 #Mission1Point5 Duncan Paterson, Director of Investor Practice at the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) discusses Australia's mandatory climate reporting regime in The Greener Way podcast episode. Learn more about it here: https://lnkd.in/gxhsbU2b