Sustainable Investment

Survey responses from the 2017 Strategic Directions: Natural Gas Industry Report suggest that a root cause of inadequate preparedness for risks may be insufficient funding for physical and cybersecurity initiatives. In fact, results reveal that approximately 65 percent of respondents either don’t know how much money is being earmarked or are allocating less than $1 million annually to fund security programs.

Working together with policymakers, regulators and enterprises, GRI raises awareness and enhances reporting capacity on key sustainability issues in the Indo-Pacific region. GRI’s programs with the Australian government contribute to building a more inclusive economy that ultimately creates a higher quality of life.

Nearly all climate scientists and every government on earth (except for one) agree that society faces profound risks from human-induced climate change. Does your mutual fund company, investment manager, or 401(k) manager agree that the risks are serious and extend to companies in their portfolios?

For an overview of risks to businesses from climate change and what they should disclose, see reports and recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), Chaired by Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City. Examples of these risks already translating into impacts include the record-breaking string of Atlantic hurricanes and wildfires in North America.

Monika Freyman, Director of Investor Water Engagement shares her insights on the latest interactive web-based resource - “The Investor Water Toolkit” - a comprehensive tool that helps investors become more water aware. The Toolkit closes a critical gap for institutional investors who have long sought a how-to-guide for integrating water risks into portfolio management and decision-making.

SCS Global Services (SCS) has achieved a new milestone, crossing the 125 million metric tons CO2e mark for carbon offsets verified. This achievement reflects greenhouse gas (GHG) offset projects evaluated over nearly 10 years by SCS, including projects focused on forests and land-use, agriculture, renewable energy, ozone depleting substances (ODS), and more.

Barclays has become the first UK bank to launch a range of green finance products to help its corporate clients fund low-carbon projects and investments.

eBay launches Kiva Marketplace to help aspiring entrepreneurs reach global scale.

Now that millennial-aged employees represent the majority of the workforce, it’s increasingly important that corporate management teams finds ways to engage these employees in the company. Creating defined contribution plans which connect to millennial core values – like solving human, social and environmental problems through their work and investments – can spur employee engagement, spark innovation and provide companies with a competitive edge in their pursuit of the “best and brightest” employees.

Lower gas prices are driving investment across the sector as the industry hedges its bets on market recovery. Continuing flat demand has caused a stalemate across the industry, and most natural gas utilities remain in waiting mode. Nevertheless, the industry is looking ahead. It is expecting demand to shift and prices to eventually rise, and utilities are working to keep their assets running and maintain the systems currently in place.