Organisation | ShareAction
ShareAction
ShareAction, formally known as FairPensions, is a charity focused on propelling a shift towards responsible investment. Their vision entails transforming the investment system into one that better serves savers, society and the environment.
Please login or join for free to read more.
OVERVIEW
ShareAction is a London-based charity that promotes responsible investment. It exists to influence corporate behaviour on environmental, social and governance issues. The charity, through successful campaigning of promoting the value of responsible investment, has built the interest of savers, society and organisations, to engage with investors and bring about change. ShareAction’s work highlights how important global companies are in shaping the long-term outcome, as they have the power to alter business practices that can positively or negatively impact the environment.
ShareAction’s aim is to democratise the financial system so that ordinary savers have more influence over how their money is invested. They engage with investors, pension funds, asset managers, individuals, charities and policy makers to achieve their mission.
ShareAction stresses three mutually reinforcing elements that influence all of its activity and programs:
- Build a movement for responsible investment
- Reform the rules, governance, and incentives inside the investment system
- Unlock the power of investors to catalyse positive social and environmental change
The business was founded by current Chief Executive Catherine Howarth in 2005, and was previously known as FairPensions. However, Howarth felt that their original brand name did not capture the interest they had in other institutional investors, and felt that proceeding with a better-aligned name (ShareAction) would help further their message to the investment industry as a whole. The overall charity grew out of a campaign by People & Planet that helped Britain’s largest single pension scheme adopt a responsible investment policy, and flourished when they began the process of ranking big UK pension funds on responsible investment.
Overtime, ShareAction has been successful in shaping public policy, and have built a diverse movement of savers and investors. It regularly publishes research on issues pertaining to responsible investment, which includes reports providing insight into independent analysis and helping to shape public policy debate.
MISSION STATEMENT
Unleash the positive potential of the mainstream investment system.
FUNDING SOURCES
The bulk of ShareAction’s funding comes from donations and other trading activities, including Charities Responsible Investment Network (CRIN) membership fees.
ShareAction has a strict policy against receiving donations from listed companies or any for-profit investment firms. They fundraise generally through the wider public and sometimes accept from commercial entities when it clearly furthers the charitable aims of the organisation, e.g. hosting a training/seminar on responsible investment.
There is an option on their website to make a singular donation or a repeating monthly donation.
ORGANISATION TYPE
Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2005
LOCATION
United Kingdom
KEY PEOPLE
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY SHAREACTION
Introducing a standardised framework for escalating engagement with companies
6 December 2023
ShareAction’s report introduces a standardised escalation framework for investors to engage with companies on environmental and social issues. It outlines an escalation toolkit and pathway to ensure structured, transparent, and time-bound engagement. The framework aims to enhance investor accountability, drive systemic change, and improve corporate sustainability practices through clear expectations, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms.
Point of no returns part V – leading practice: A guide to current leading practices by asset managers on responsible investment
1 March 2021
This report provides investors with insights into leading practices for integrating biodiversity into investment strategies. It highlights best practices, case studies, and practical recommendations for enhancing the sustainability and resilience of investment portfolios.
Shareaction's insuring disaster benchmark series
17 May 2024
The "Insuring Disaster" series by ShareAction evaluates the responsible investment and underwriting practices of the world's largest insurers, focusing on their approaches to critical environmental and social issues. This benchmark series highlights the industry's impact on climate, biodiversity, and human rights, offering actionable recommendations for improvement.
ShareAction's voting matters series
Voting Matters are benchmark-series reports by ShareAction evaluating the proxy voting behaviour of asset managers on environmental and social issues. This report analyses the voting patterns of major asset managers to determine their commitment to responsible investment practices.
Assessment of the six largest pesticide companies’ approaches to addressing biodiversity loss
31 October 2023
This assessment evaluates the approaches of six leading pesticide companies toward addressing biodiversity loss. None of the companies has committed to phasing out highly hazardous pesticides, and progress in reporting and disclosure is limited. Investors are urged to heed recommendations and use the report to guide engagements.
Is regulation enough? A review of UK master trusts' ESG policies
19 December 2019
This report explores the approach to climate change risk by UK's largest master trusts. It examines 16 master trusts' ESG policies and practices, focusing on the work of the trustees and their engagement with investee companies on ESG practices and risk management. The report draws attention to some positive developments, showing that some schemes have incorporated ESG and/or climate change factors into their asset allocation strategy.
The biomass blind spot
7 February 2019
This report highlights the financial and reputational risks associated with the biomass power sector's impact on climate change. The report provides recommendations for investors and banks engaged with the sector, including not providing financial support for new biomass power infrastructure.
Insuring a low carbon future: A practical guide for insurers on managing climate-related risks and opportunities
11 September 2019
This report explores how climate awareness is being integrated into underwriting, investment, and group-wide risk management practices in the insurance industry. It identifies common barriers and presents a practical framework of eight building blocks relevant for insurers introducing and developing climate strategies. Based on interviews with 14 proactive insurers.
Investing in the living wage: A toolkit for responsible investors
26 September 2020
This toolkit details low pay risks for investors, particularly in industries such as retail, hospitality, and care homes. The toolkit urges investors to proactively tackle low pay issues by promoting the Living Wage through collaborative engagement, integrating ESG concerns into policies and guidelines, and encouraging incentive schemes in this area.
Point of no return 2023: Part IV: Climate and biodiversity
2 June 2023
This report assesses the climate and biodiversity policies and practices of 77 of the world’s largest asset managers, who collectively hold over $77 trillion in assets. The report finds that asset managers need stronger and more comprehensive net-zero targets, consistent with limiting biodiversity loss, and a greater focus on climate scenario analysis.
Do androids dream of responsible investment? Exploring responsible investment in the age of information
16 April 2020
This report provides insight into the emerging responsible investment risks surrounding technology. The report covers four key areas of concern; bias and discrimination, manipulation and influencing behaviour, big tech and market dominance, and automation and the future of work, alongside case studies and recommended questions for asset owners.
Electric vehicle fleets: An impact opportunity for investors
19 December 2019
This report makes the case for electric vehicle fleets as an important opportunity for investors. It outlines the potential financial incentives, risks and benefits, and impact on the environment, economy, and society. The report also includes recommendations for investor engagement with EV adoption.
Decarbonising cement: The role of institutional investors
8 October 2019
This report outlines why cement production is carbon-intensive and provides pathways for decarbonisation. A 60% reduction in emissions by 2050 is required to limit temperature increases to 1.75°C. Institutional investors need to engage with cement companies and cut off funding for carbon-intensive infrastructure to mitigate climate-related risks.
Clearing the air: A case for investor action on air quality and a practical guide for getting started
18 January 2024
This report summarises the health implications, financial risks, and actions investors and companies can take to reduce air pollution emit. It also highlights existing regulations across the world as well as upcoming sustainability reporting standards.
Workplace health is workplace wealth: A case for investor action on worker health and a practical guide for getting started
1 February 2024
This report highlights the financial benefits to companies and the economy as a whole of investing in worker health. The report urges investors to consider population health when making investment decisions, and outlines a practical guide for companies to improve worker health. Key areas include job security, mental health, and good work-life balance.
How asset managers can set interim net zero targets that are fit for purpose: Responsible investment standards and expectations
18 July 2023
This paper provides guidelines for asset managers to strengthen their interim net zero targets, help promote transparency, effective emissions reduction and promote responsible finance within a modern world faced with an ever-increasing problem of climate change and inequality.
Winning climate strategies: Practical solutions and building blocks for asset owners from beginner to best practice
30 June 2018
Based on interviews with 22 leading asset owners, this 2018 report explores the best-practices landscape for managing climate risks and opportunities. The report identifies barriers faced by industry leaders and presents a framework of ten building blocks for other asset owners developing and introducing climate strategies.
Sleeping giants: Are bond investors ready to act on climate change?
31 January 2019
This bond investor report by ShareAction highlights the key findings from 22 interviews involving key financial actors based in Europe. The interviews explore their thoughts on the opportunities and responsibilities that exist for bond investors in relation to climate change and climate-related risks.
Healthy competition: Why the safest bet for investors is healthier retail markets and how to get there
11 March 2020
This second briefing report explores ShareAction’s Healthy Markets campaign, featuring the UK food retailers most exposed to the childhood obesity agenda. The brief is designed to inform and support investor stewardship and company engagement through an analysis of their disclosure policies and practices for healthy eating.
Point of no returns: A ranking of 75 of the world’s largest asset managers’ approaches to responsible investment
31 March 2020
In this first of a series of reports released by ShareAction, 75 of the worlds largest and most influential asset management companies from across Europe, the United States, Africa and the Asia Pacific are ranked according to an analysis of their performance on stewardship, transparency and governance.
Banking on a low-carbon future II: A ranking of the 20 largest European banks’ responses to climate change
30 April 2020
This report ranks the 20 largest European banks based on their response to climate change as of the 6th December 2019. The report highlights that while the European banking sector is making progress in reflecting climate-related risks, there is need for greater integration of these risks fully into strategies, processes, risk management tools and transparency.
Hitting the sweet spot: The investment case for solutions to childhood obesity
31 May 2019
This report discusses the growing cost to society posed by rising rates of obesity in children and adults. It identifies risks and opportunities for investors created by shifting trends in the food and beverage markets, driven by evolving consumer demands and regulatory changes.
Getting to green: Showcasing leading approaches to climate change within the European banking sector
30 September 2018
Banks are affected by climate change and have the ability to make an impact through their support and finance of certain industries. Banks must start setting precedent for ambitious climate disclosure. This paper provides recommendations on how banks can align their business models with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Pensions in a changing climate
30 November 2018
A critical review and gap analysis of the pension industry’s positioning in regard to the recommendations from the Task Force on Climate-related Disclosures. The review includes a rating index of the world’s 100 largest public pension funds with rankings linked to both their approach and engagement.
States of the apes: The impact of infrastructure development on biodiversity
5 September 2019
The impact of infrastructure projects on biodiversity are examined, using apes to illustrate how investors can contribute to biodiversity protection. A sustainable approach to infrastructure development, which mitigates environmental, financial and reputational risks of investment, is presented.
Banking beyond coal: Sustainable development without coal finance
30 June 2018
This investor briefing investigates the financing of the coal power industry. Highlighting that bank financing continues to facilitate active development of coal power infrastructure, particularly in developing nations, which is incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Additionally, it provides a call to action for investors to engage with their banks to strengthen coal divestment policies.
Protecting our best interests: Rediscovering fiduciary obligation
24 March 2011
ShareAction (formerly FairPensions) report on the fiduciary obligations of different types of investors, exploring how the interpretation of this relationship has shifted from its traditional meaning. A detailed analysis concludes with recommendations for government departments, regulators and investors, to ensure that fiduciary principles are indeed protecting beneficiaries.
