ESG Recommendations?

Bloomberg has a number of good resources for this (though not for free) and has often dug into them at their sustainable business events (some of which have been excellent). Of course, we can get into the value of the "ESG" designation when funds include, say, oil companies. Like anything else once it comes to investing, everything has its tradeoffs. Also, ESG funds are based on the inputs but don't really, as far as I know, hold anyone accountable for results. Saying you're pushing for a more diverse board and lower emissions counts as much as actually doing those things in some cases. I'm certainly not a financial advisor, but I think any person or firm looking into these should consider what it's not willing to trade off and also to be transparent about what's in a given fund's mix. I do know that ESG funds and indicies have outperformed traditional offerings over the past few years.

Hi Mary Ann - a few additional thoughts (some perhaps tangential, but in case useful):

• for framework / approach resources, the Task Force on Climate Disclosure (TFCD) is getting lots of pick up, at least up here: https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/recommendations/

 

• International ESG assessment corp GRESB expands TFCD's framework (to more meaningfully include the S)  https://gresb.com/embracing-tcfd-turning-crisis-into-opportunity/

 

• a fledgling capacity-building site to support divestment at the firm level: https://www.architectsdivest.ca (Aside: for me, the greatest challenge re divestment is insurance - while Ontario's main PLI + CGL broker is divesting, options are slim to none in Vancouver. Ultimately we'd like to build out a list of available options - nationally and internationally - on this site, so we can use it to not only help transition firms but also to help transition market by making business case to insurers in areas lacking options. If any one interested in collaborating in any way, just say the word - many hands make light work!)

warmly, J