ESG – Karma

U.K. Pensions May Focus on Climate Change, While U.S. May Limit Pensions’ ESG Investment

Neanda Salvaterra — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0000

While the U.K. moves to ask retirement funds to disclose their portfolios’ carbon footprint, U.S. authorities may limit pension plan managers’ ability to factor in environmental, sustainability and governance issues in their investment decisions. The moves are happening as more investors are interested in value-aligned assets and ESG investment offerings have surged in the last […]

The post U.K. Pensions May Focus on Climate Change, While U.S. May Limit Pensions’ ESG Investment appeared first on Karma.

When Is Tech Making Things Better, Not Just Easier?

Meg Massey — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:00:01 +0000

Figuring out when tech is “mission-driven” and making life better rather than just easier usually depends on your values. Sometimes, like when Code for America develops systems that help nonviolent juvenile offenders clear their records, it’s clearly tech-for-good. This article is part of the daily Karma newsletter. To get the whole newsletter delivered to your […]

The post When Is Tech Making Things Better, Not Just Easier? appeared first on Karma.

USMCA Might Miss ESG Goals as Mexico Rebuffs Renewable Energy

Mark Shenk — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0000

USMCA is supposed to improve on NAFTA when it comes to ESG criteria, but actions by the Mexican government are likely to curb renewable power and bolster pollution. The government’s moves are likely to halt investment in Mexico’s renewable sector and leave projects that are already underway in limbo. While the new pact might eventually […]

The post USMCA Might Miss ESG Goals as Mexico Rebuffs Renewable Energy appeared first on Karma.

In Fashion, Does Anyone Know What Sustainable Means?

Michelle Lodge — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0000

With so many interpretations of sustainability, no one in fashion really knows what it means. Some investors in fashion lines are looking at a company’s ESG performance instead. A New York-based fashion designer maintains that there’s no government entity regulating sustainability, yet a Swedish designer says there are too many ways to define it in […]

The post In Fashion, Does Anyone Know What Sustainable Means? appeared first on Karma.

Impact Investing Slowed to a Crawl in 2nd Quarter

Bruce Rule — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 10:00:54 +0000

Capital invested in impact collapsed in the second quarter, falling to $389.8 million from $2.1 billion in last year’s second quarter, according to PitchBook data. Coronavirus slows social-impact dealmaking, while social unrest shifts emphasis in ESG investing. Social-impact investing may not begin to recover until after investors get a sense of how the pandemic will […]

The post Impact Investing Slowed to a Crawl in 2nd Quarter appeared first on Karma.

Stoking Passion for Impact Bonds With Passion for Social Issues

Mark Shenk — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

COVID-19 pandemic is leading to increased flow into social and sustainability-linked bonds, according to 280 CapMarkets’ Jennifer Tonda. ESG bonds allow fixed-income investors to have a measurable impact on environmental and social issues. Green, social and sustainability bond issuance is projected to rise from $204 billion in 2019 to $400 billion this year. Jennifer Tonda […]

The post Stoking Passion for Impact Bonds With Passion for Social Issues appeared first on Karma.

Change Finance Heeds Social Justice Call, Seeks Pay Equity Data

Neanda Salvaterra — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Change Finance, an exchange traded fund issuer, is calling on its portfolio companies to divulge pay-equity data following social justice protests in the U.S. The company is part of a trillion-dollar movement of financial stakeholders looking to promote environmental, social and governance matters with their money. Unequal pay is one of the factors that exacerbate […]

The post Change Finance Heeds Social Justice Call, Seeks Pay Equity Data appeared first on Karma.

Pandemic Relief Program Tweaks Would Make Funds More Accessible

Neanda Salvaterra — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

ESG-focused enterprises and other firms accessed the government’s pandemic relief funds, aided by the KPMG Spark accounting system, but some nonprofits are worried the monies may prove insufficient if there is another outbreak. The U.S. government made almost $900 billion available to help offset the economic pain felt by businesses. Small and medium-sized companies struggled […]

The post Pandemic Relief Program Tweaks Would Make Funds More Accessible appeared first on Karma.

Pandemic May Speed Sustainability Factors for Assessing Investments Into Mainstream

Margot Habiby — Tue, 26 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

ESG isn’t just for impact investors anymore, and the pandemic is expediting the change. Sustainability issues have become a strategic priority for companies who want to survive the current economic upheaval. ESG indexes have outperformed the broader market since the start of the pandemic, according to S&P, BlackRock, Allianz and Invesco. Sustainability investing is going […]

The post Pandemic May Speed Sustainability Factors for Assessing Investments Into Mainstream appeared first on Karma.

ESG Funds Outperformed Peers, as COVID-19 Pandemic Spurred Bear Market

Mark Shenk — Wed, 20 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Sustainable funds have performed better than their peers this year as COVID-19 upended markets. Sustainable funds are underweight energy, overweight technology and companies that take ESG criteria into consideration tend to be more resilient, according to Morningstar. U.S. sustainable funds experienced a record inflow during the first quarter, despite equities descending into bear-market territory in […]

The post ESG Funds Outperformed Peers, as COVID-19 Pandemic Spurred Bear Market appeared first on Karma.