ESG

Today, 50,000 companies are annually subjected to ESG evaluations by 150 ratings systems on approximately 10,000 metrics according to MIT Sloan Management Review.

The Seventh Annual ESG Research Australia (ESG RA) Awards function was held today in Melbourne. The award winners were: Best ESG Broking Firm: Citi Best piece of new ESG Research by an Individual Analyst or Team: “Risks in Payday Lending andGoods Rental” by Sandra McCullagh and Chris Parks of Credit Suisse Best Piece of Ongoing ESG Research by an Individual Analyst or Team: “Australian ESG/SRI AGM Series” by Sandra McCullagh and Chris Parks of Credit Suisse At a luncheon function today in Melbourne attended by some of Australia’s leading superannuation funds, fund managers and broking firms, the coveted annual ESG Research Australia (ESG RA) Awards were announced. ESG RA is an association of Australian superannuation funds, fund managers and asset consultants which has the single objective of increasing the quantity and quality of broker research in Australia that includes consideration of ESG issues (Environmental, social & governance issues). Membership currently represents over 50 institutions managing over $100 billion in Australian equities, and includes some of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, fund managers and asset consultants. The awards ceremony also included an experienced panel showcasing and debating many of the very relevant issues raised by this broad array of research reports produced in 2015. The panel was expertly moderated by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia’s CEO Simon O’Connor. Twenty-two pieces of research conducted during 2015 were nominated by members for consideration. Environmental and social research pieces dominated the nominated topics for this year’s awards with six nominations each. Social issues included cyber security, employee safety, and payday lending, whilst climate change issues dominated the environmental nominations. Governance issues were also well represented with executive remuneration the dominant area of interest.

In September 2015, RIAA launched our new 3-Year Strategy (see here) that contained one big audacious goal – to grow funds flowing into core responsible investment products from 2.5% of the market to 10% of the market in 3 years.

The GSIA is a coalition of membership based sustainable investment organisations (“SIF’s”) , currently including the USSIF, UKSIF, Eurosif and the VBDO (Dutch SIF) with further links to the SIF network across the world. Our work as a coalition has included the leading global research on the size and growth of the responsible investment industry, the Global Sustainable Investment Review. This biennial report is the best source of information on the global market dynamics in responsible investment, which measured the industry at $US 21.4 trillion in AUM in 2014. This year’s summit was hosted by the UKSIF in London, and included an enjoyable event with UKSIF members that allowed us to discuss the market dynamics and key trends across each of our markets. It was great to be able to reach out and meet a solid cross section of UK responsible investment organisations at that event.

During our recent member-only webinar, speakers from CAER, MSCI ESG Research and Sustainalytics provided no fewer than 15 ESG trends expected on the radar in 2016. What came through strongly was that ESG issues are ever increasingly dynamic and that to stay abreast of shifting trends requires ever better data.

We spent a big chunk of last year spring cleaning our 10-year-old Responsible Investment Certification Program – the program designed to verify and maintain the quality of responsible and ethical investing products and to make it easier for consumers to navigate towards the growing range of responsible investment products and suitably experienced financial advisers.

Welcome to the RIAA blog, where you’ll find regular updates and interesting views on responsible and ethical investment issues, insights into the market, explainers on key issues and developments, summaries of events, discussions of trends, commentary on topical news and so much more.

Responding to the surging consumer interest in responsible and ethical investments, RIAA is today announcing the re-launch of its Responsible Investment Certification Program – a tool designed to help consumers and financial advisers navigate towards the growing range of responsible investment options. RIAA’s Certification Program has been in place for 10 years and in recent months was revised and strengthened with a focus on the internal governance, program requirements, criteria and verification processes. Responding to the surging consumer interest in responsible and ethical investments, RIAA is today announcing the re-launch of its Responsible Investment Certification Program – a tool designed to help consumers and financial advisers navigate towards the growing range of responsible investment options. RIAA’s Certification Program has been in place for 10 years and in recent months was revised and strengthened with a focus on the internal governance, program requirements, criteria and verification processes. “With the recent work we have done on the Certification Program, we are now very excited to be bringing this to market at a time when it couldn’t be more important to provide clear, verified and transparent information about the rapidly growing range of responsible investment products.” said RIAA CEO Simon O’Connor.

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Responsible investment assets in New Zealand continue their strong growth reaching $63.5 billion following a 10% increase in 2014. Launched today, the new report from the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), the most comprehensive review of the responsible investment sector in New Zealand (now in its 14th year, but the first year as a stand alone NZ report), found more money is being invested under responsible investment portfolios through superannuation funds, fund managers, advisers and kiwisaver accounts to underpin strong investment returns, and deliver a healthier environment and society.