Investor Best PracticesProxy VotingQuestions and Answers for Foundations on Proxy Voting – Nov. 2006 A growing number of foundations are taking ownership of their proxies. Investors are looking with increasing favor on shareholder proposals asking companies to disclose potential liabilities related to global warming, issue broad-based reports on sustainability impacts, monitor their political contributions, or report on their fair employment policies. This guide serves as a reference for foundations seeking to ensure their endowments generate income as well as align with their principal mission. Download: full text PDF Proxy voting guidelines for pension funds Proxy season results Investors engaging with US companies on the financial risks and opportunities from climate change had their most successful year ever during the 2007 proxy season. A record 43 climate-related shareholder resolutions were filed with US companies this year, of which 15 led to positive actions by businesses such as ConocoPhillips, Wells Fargo and Hartford Insurance. Read more. Financial Analysis / Portfolio ManagementUpdate RFP’s to include Climate Risk/Opportunity Update RFP’s for investment consultants and investment advisors to require investment process that includes assessment of climate risk / opportunity and other key ESG issues. Example from CT State Treasurer’s Office RFP SECTION II., PART (E).
Specialty Capacity:
Identify any specialty capacity in the areas of climate risk and/or Environment Social Governance (E.S.G.) investing, principally the ability to evaluate a fund manager’s ability to assess risks associated with E.S.G. factors.
Enhanced Analytics Initiative The Enhanced Analytics Initiative is an international collaboration between asset owners and asset managers aimed at encouraging better investment research, in particular research that take account of the impact of extra-financial issues on long-term investment. The Initiative currently represents total assets under management of c. €1.8 trillion (c. US$2.4 trillion). Principles of Responsible Investment An investor initiative in partnership with UNEP Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact Cleantech Investments Following the 2005 Institutional Investor Summit, a group of institutional investors formed the Clean Energy Investment Working Group (CEIWG) of INCR to examine the opportunities and strategies for investment in clean energy and climate technologies. The working group is managed as a collaboration between INCR and the Clean Energy Group to facilitate the deployment of $1 billion of capital in companies developing and utilizing clean technologies. Investor Guide to Climate Risk - July 2004 This report outlines specific investor strategies for addressing the financial risks and investment opportunities posed by global warming. Public PolicyINCR Letter to the SEC - June 14, 2006 In a letter to SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, the 28 institutional investors wrote that climate change poses material financial risks to many of their portfolio companies and that those risks should be disclosed as a matter of routine corporate financial reporting to the SEC. OpEd in San Francisco Chronicle on 04/20/07: SEC has a role in addressing Global Warming Call to Action A popular commercial asks, "what's in your wallet?" A similar question should be asked of investors: Do you know what risks are lurking in your portfolio? A growing community of institutional investors representing $4 trillion in assets have asked that question, and their answer may surprise you: Global climate change is near the top.
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