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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Sustainable voting behaviour of asset managers: Do they walk the walk?
This paper analyses a decade of voting data with more than 20 million observations to investigate asset manager characteristics that influence environmental, social and governance (ESG) voting patterns. Asset managers mostly vote against social and environmental proposals. Despite increased attention to sustainability, asset managers hardly voted in favour of these proposals.
Can sustainable investing save the world? Reviewing the mechanism of investor impact
The paper delves into how sustainable investing (SI) contributes to social and environmental goals. It highlights shareholder engagement as a well-supported mechanism, partial support for capital allocation impact, and limited empirical backing for indirect mechanisms. Policymakers are suggested to facilitate the spread of sustainable companies to amplify impact.
Wealthy private investors and socially responsible investing: The influence of reference groups
The study investigates how wealthy private investors engage with socially responsible investing (SRI) and how reference groups influence their investment behaviour. Qualitative data from 55 interviews with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and industry experts show that while family members emphasize profit, fellow SRI-oriented HNWIs prioritise similarity and reputation.
Who pays for sustainability? An analysis of sustainability-linked bonds
This paper analyses sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), which tie bond coupons to sustainability performance targets. They find issuing an SLB yields an average premium of -9 basis points on the yield at issue compared to a conventional bond, and the savings for an issuer exceed the maximum penalty for failure to meet the target.
The hidden risk in state pensions: Analysing state pensions’ responses to the climate crisis in proxy voting
This report analyses the proxy voting strategies of 19 state pensions, as well as the five New York City Comptroller systems, managing over US$2 trillion in assets. Results reveal that most pensions failed to address climate-related financial risk, especially in areas such as lobbying, environmental justice, and Indigenous rights.
Climate contract playbook: Edition 2
This report presents a playbook of precedent clauses designed to address climate change risks and opportunities across different sectors and financing scenarios. The clauses, drafted by Hogan Lovells lawyers from over 60 jurisdictions, can be used in corporate and finance agreements to help achieve the Net Zero targets of the UK Government and others.
RIAA's benchmarking impact investing series
This is a series of benchmark reports providing comprehensive insights into the impact investing market in Australia. It covers investor motivations, market size, and performance metrics, aiding stakeholders in understanding and enhancing their impact investment strategies.
Rights-respecting investment in technology companies
This briefing highlights the potential human rights impact of technological advancements and the responsibility of institutional investors to mitigate these risks. Based on the UN Guiding Principles, investors should implement human rights policies, assess risks and divest from companies with inadequate human rights practices.
Tracking the transition
This report examines the impact of China’s coal-fired power companies, and their inaction in responding to climate change. The report presents China’s six largest listed power companies and their associated CO2 emissions, as well as recommendations for investors to act on.
Australian Securities Exchange
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) operates Australia's primary securities exchange. ASX uses technology to develop innovative, globally attractive solutions for customers, and creates value for ASX shareholders. ASX operates liquid, robust, reliable markets and is overseen by local and international regulators. ASX is one of the world’s top-10 listed exchange groups measured by market capitalisation.
Global Governance Principles
The Global Governance Principles (GGPs) from the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) are corporate governance standards that act as a framework for well-governed companies to follow. The GGPs are widely applicable, irrespective of national legislative frameworks or listing rules.
Amundi
Amundi is a European asset management company headquartered in France that is committed to responsible investment and offering savings and investment solutions for retail, institutional and corporate investors. It was founded in 2010 and has a strong focus on environmental, societal and governance ("ESG") investing.
Sleeping giants: Are bond investors ready to act on climate change?
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.
Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility
Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) is a research and shareholder advocacy organisation. ACCR focuses on engaging with investors on how listed companies, industry associations, and other entities are managing climate, labour, human rights and governance issues. ACCR is philanthropically funded, not-for-profit, and independent.
Global stewardship principles
The International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) Global Stewardship Principles (GSPs) provide an international framework for investors to implement their fiduciary obligations on behalf of clients and beneficiaries. ICGN’s stewardship principles are a set of aspirational best practices, curated to be used flexibly with individual investor circumstances in mind.
ASX Corporate Governance Council
ASX Corporate Governance Council is an independent body that brings together a wide range of business, shareholder and industry groups, each offering their individual insights and perspectives on governance issues. The council develops and issues principle-based recommendations on corporate governance practices adopted by Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed entities.