Library | ESG issues

Shareholders & Voting

Shareholders have the right to vote on corporate decisions, including board appointments, mergers, disclosures, and ESG policies. Active ownership through voting and engagement is a key mechanism for aligning corporate actions with investor interests and long-term value creation.

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Externalities and the common owner

This article analyses institutional investors’ incentives to internalise negative externalities across their portfolios. It focuses on climate change, showing how large asset managers influence fossil fuel companies to reduce emissions, disclose risks, and limit lobbying, reframing shareholder primacy by prioritising portfolio-wide welfare over firm-level profit maximisation.
Research
20 November 2021

Companies should maximize shareholder welfare not market value

This report summarises why firms should maximise shareholder welfare rather than market value, noting that investors often have ethical and social preferences beyond profit. It proposes shareholder voting on corporate policy to better align company decisions with investor welfare, particularly where externalities are inseparable from production.
Research
30 September 2017

Point of no returns 2025: A responsible investment benchmark of 76 of the world’s largest asset managers

ShareAction
This report benchmarks 76 of the world’s largest asset managers on responsible investment across governance, climate, biodiversity, and social issues. Findings show stagnating progress, weak biodiversity policies, and continued fossil fuel investments, with European managers outperforming peers. Only a few demonstrate comprehensive responsible investment practices.
Research
19 May 2025

Transition Pathway Initiative

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) is a global, asset-owner-led initiative assessing companies’ preparedness for the low-carbon transition. Featuring open-access ESG benchmarks, it evaluates Management Quality and Carbon Performance across high-emitting sectors, aiding investor decision-making and promoting climate-aligned corporate governance and transparency.
Organisation

Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA)

Finance Industry Groups
Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA) supports Singapore’s emergence as a trusted, vibrant and inclusive sustainable‑finance centre. Established in January 2024 by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and financial industry stakeholders, SSFA drives collaboration across financial, corporate and academic sectors via workstreams on taxonomy, carbon markets, transition finance, blended finance and natural capital.
Organisation
1 research item

Market Forces

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Market Forces works to hold financial institutions accountable for funding environmentally harmful projects. Based in Australia, it campaigns for banks, superannuation funds and governments to align investments with climate goals. Market Forces provides research, advocacy tools and transparency on fossil fuel financing to support climate-conscious financial decision-making.
Organisation

PRI's resolution database

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
The PRI Resolution Database provides information on shareholder resolutions, management proposals, and votes, aiming to enhance transparency in shareholder advocacy and proxy voting. It includes details on ESG themes, proposal statuses, and allows PRI signatories to pre-declare voting intentions.
Online tool/database

Addressing biodiversity risk and opportunity at PensionDanmark

Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)
PensionDanmark developed a biodiversity strategy targeting its real estate and infrastructure assets to mitigate nature loss. It employs data-led initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and nature-based solutions to protect and restore biodiversity, aligning with EU taxonomy and Science Based Targets for Nature. Implementation includes construction screening, sustainable sourcing, and performance monitoring.
Research
18 February 2025

The purpose of investor stewardship

This paper critically examines investor stewardship, shifting from traditional shareholder-focused governance towards "enlightened stewardship." It advocates balancing fiduciary duties with broader societal and environmental considerations. Analysing the evolution of the UK Stewardship Code, it highlights a systemic shift to integrate sustainability and stakeholder concerns alongside financial returns for long-term value creation.
Research
23 January 2025

Introducing a standardised framework for escalating engagement with companies

ShareAction
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.
Research
6 December 2023

Contextualising ESG funds' engagement strategies in Asia

The report examines the engagement strategies of ESG funds in Asia, highlighting the unique challenges posed by regulatory constraints, concentrated ownership, and political influences. Using a structured engagement pyramid, the study categorises ESG fund strategies, ranging from investment screening to direct corporate control. Despite obstacles, notable regional features can support ESG initiatives, such as shareholder voting mechanisms and strategic collaborations. The report provides insights into how ESG funds navigate these challenges to influence corporate governance and sustainability outcomes in Asia.
Research
16 October 2024

Point of no returns part V – leading practice: A guide to current leading practices by asset managers on responsible investment

ShareAction
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.
Research
1 March 2021

The Shareholder Commons

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
The Shareholder Commons (TSC) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to aligning corporate behaviour with social and environmental sustainability. TSC advocates for systems-first investing to prioritise long-term global health over short-term profits. It provides resources, research, and strategies to help investors protect shared interests and promote sustainable economic practices.
Organisation

Responsible investment and blockchain

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
The report explores blockchain technology's relevance to responsible investment, highlighting its potential to enhance transparency, automate processes, and improve ESG data tracking. It discusses blockchain's implications for shareholder voting, decentralised systems, financial inclusivity, and sustainability. Practical challenges, including regulation, technical integration, and energy use, are also addressed. .
Research
17 April 2018

Collective investor impact in secondary markets

Sustainable Finance Observatory
This report explores collective investor impact mechanisms in secondary markets, focusing on collaborative engagement and coordinated price signalling. It examines how collective actions by investors, such as joint shareholder engagements and price signals, can influence corporate behaviour more effectively than individual efforts, with practical recommendations for successful implementation.
Research
25 October 2024

The big three and board gender diversity: The effectiveness of shareholder voice

The report analyses how campaigns by major institutional investors significantly boosted gender diversity on corporate boards. From 2017 to 2019, these initiatives increased female directorships by encouraging firms to broaden candidate searches and reduce the focus on executive experience, indicating impactful, non-tokenistic change.
Research
25 November 2020
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