UN-ESG

FCA to Require Companies to Disclose on Board and Executive Diversity

April 27, 2022

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it has finalized rules for listed companies to disclose on diversity and inclusion at the board and executive committee level, beginning April 1, 2022 forcing companies to include a statement in their annual financial report if they have met diversity targets.
The ISSB: a game changer for ESG reporting?

April 20, 2022

FinancierWorldwide.com writes that as many companies continue to struggle with how to effectively report their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), introduced at the COP26 2021 meeting, may change the game for businesses, as the ISSB plans to work alongside existing reporting processes while giving consistant standards globally.
Halaschak: Investors Pushing Disney into Culture War, Woke, Inc.

April 11, 2022

Vivek Ramaswamy, The bestselling author of Woke, Inc., which makes the case that corporations should not involve themselves in politics , observes that the enormous money managers that have invested in Disney and other companies are calling some of the shots when it comes to corporate political positions as seen in Disney’s reaction to Florida’s recent education legislation.
National Law Review: SEC Announces 2022 Examination Priorities, Includes ESG

April 08, 2022

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced its 2022 examination priorities including Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) investing, with an aim to ensure that registered investment advisors (“RIA”) who claim ESG strategies or criteria do not have misleading statements or omissions.
California Corporate Diversity Law Ruled Unconstitutional

April 06, 2022

A Los Angeles judge ruled that California’s landmark law mandating that corporations diversify their boards with members from certain racial, ethnic or LGBT groups is unconstitutional following a lawsuit that argued that the mandate violated the state’s constitutional equal protection clause.
Reuters: New Company Sustainability Standards Body Drafts First Guidelines

April 01, 2022

In a move that is backed by world leaders, top investors and regulators, The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published two draft standards for public consultation until July 29 ahead of formal adoption by the end of the year, paving the way for a new global standard for company sustainability reporting.
Forbes: ESG leading to One Global Disclosure Standard?

March 29, 2022

In a major step towards a global sustainability reporting standard, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the IFRS Foundation have announced plans to co-ordinate and align their capital market and multi-stakeholder standards for sustainability disclosures.
Reuters: U.S. ESG shareholder resolutions up 22% to record level for 2022, study finds

March 24, 2022

According to a study released by activist group As You Sow and researchers including the Sustainable Investments Institute, shareholders have filed a 529 resolutions related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues for the annual meetings of publicly traded U.S. companies so far this year, giving a 22% increase from this point in 2021.
Bloomberg: ESG investors at crossroads after investing in Putin's Russia

March 09, 2022

Sustainable funds labeled ESG (Environment, Social, Governance interests), a movement that promotes itself as changing the world for the good, are finding themselves at crossroads holding Russia Bonds, as well as shares of companies like state-run Gazprom, ultimately helping invest in Putin’s government.
Bloomberg Law: Who Regulates the ESG Ratings Industry?

February 23, 2022

Emanuel’s Kurt Wolfe examines the fact that questions are increasingly arising as to who rates the products and services as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expands.