by Benjamin Bailey, CFA, Praxis Mutual Funds & Everence Financial
Praxis Mutual Fund shareholders expect us to invest with their values in mind. The Praxis Impact Bond Fund turned 25 this year and through the first half of the fund’s tenure we diligently focused on screening out holdings contrary to those shared values. In 2006, our eyes were opened by a public bond offering that showed us what positive impact bonds (those bonds that make a positive impact on the climate and/or communities) could do.
by Leslie Samuelrich, President of Green Century Funds
The climate crisis is precipitating a sustainable investment revolution, and I think that revolution will endure in 2020.
When the environmentally-responsible mutual fund company that I lead was founded in 1991, the average investor was not concerned about sustainability. Times have changed. Nearly 80 percent of respondents to a recent study said that they “love the idea of investing in companies that care about the same issues” as them. This isn’t just lip service.
by Jon Hale, Ph.D, head of sustainable investing research for Morningstar. In 2018, Hale was named to Barron’s list of the 20 most influential people in ESG investing, and in 2019, he was included in the InvestmentNews’ 10 leaders of ESG & Impact investing
According to US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investing, Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) has reached the $12 trillion asset mark. Unfortunately, the vast majority — 97 percent, to be precise — comprises investments in the traditional capital markets in which decisions are made using Environmental, Social, or Governance (“ESG”) criteria. While I applaud people adding ESG screens to their portfolio, it is imperative that we find ways to support direct, community-level investments.
This is the first of two articles from GreenMoney's International ESG/SRI Investing issue featuring short profiles on a number of the International SRI Mutual Funds, which invest in companies outside the United States. The information below comes from each Fund and is subject to change. We have included their website links for you to look up the latest information including Company Holdings, Country Allocations and Financial Performance.
The next time you walk around your community, look up! On the rooftops of buildings all around us, you’ll see idle power plants – potential sites for rooftop solar installations – just waiting to be activated in the fight against climate change.
GRI Chief Executive testifies to US House Committee on strengthening ESG legislation
Press Release
July 10, 2019 /3BL Media/ - GRI’s Chief Executive, Tim Mohin, testified today (10 July) before the US House Committee on Financial Services, which is considering new corporate reporting requirements for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) information.
Sales of Natural and Organic Products Outpace Conventional Food and Beverage as Consumers Get the Message About the Relationship Between Diet and Health
Article
by Steven Hoffman, Managing Director, Compass Natural
Consumer demand for healthier products continues to grow. With concerns ranging from the cost of healthcare to the effects of food and agriculture on climate change, consumers of all ages are opting for natural, organic and functional foods and beverages, nutritional supplements, natural medicines and other eco-friendly products from mission-based companies that share their values and address their concerns.
CEOs from institutional investor firms BlackRock and State Street released their annual guidance to companies on practices they “believe will drive sustainable, long-term growth, and profitability.” These letters were issued amidst widespread cynicism, both so
