Broadening Activism Among Institutional Investor Classes on ESG Issues - Here to Stay, Says Proxy Advisor CEO "Operating under the radar" -- that is, various categories of institutional investors getting active in the "investor activist" game? Bruce Goldfarb, CEO of Okapi Partners, describes a sea change that he sees that is underway, the trend in how large institutions are approaching in the [investor] push for corporate change. The lens is the annual corporate proxy season and the many campaigns therein, including the 2017 campaign. Okapi is one of the influential proxy advisors for both investor and companies, working on some 48 campaigns during 2017. What did the firm's leader see as patterns? Well, for starters, large mutual fund advisories and ETF complexes (like Vanguard, Fidelity, BlackRock, State Street) -- these organizations with many trillions' of dollars in corporate holdings in their portfolios, "...have become increasingly intent on holding public company boards and management teams accountable in higher ESG standards," CEO Goldfarb notes in our Top Story (published on the digital Forbes Investing platform). As many of us well know, the first iteration of ESG was about the "G" -- for several decades, the focus was on corporate governance issues. (Such as: investors pushing for separation of Chair and CEO, the often described example of a popular campaign in the G space). Over time, the emphasis on environmental and social issues ("E” and “S") broadened the approach to the familiar ESG measurements because the E and S issues are tied to share performance and confidence (or lack of) in management. The CEO in the interview points out that a climate change proposal at ExxonMobil recently was passed by a wide margin (investors supported the demand that the company publish an annual assessment of the impact of global warming policies) while a decade ago a push by investors in proxy campaigning to separate chair and CEO positions and a few environmental proposals failed by a very large margin. Things are a-changin' in the proxy arena. In 2017, there have been (so far) 430 resolutions filed that address "S" and "E" issues, compared to 370 a year earlier. Investors, says CEO Goldfarb, see the connection between ESG policies and stock performance more clearly now. In our conversations with corporate managers (at all size enterprises) it is clear that the managers want to press the Investing Case upward to their bosses in the C-suite and board room. Why should we make the investment in a sustainability effort, the question often goes, and the answer is that among other things, corporate performance and a scorecard of sorts on top management has a proxy, too -- that is, the ESG performance of the enterprise! You'll find more from perspectives shared by the Okapi Partners CEO in the Forbes interview by staffer Antoine Gara in our Top Story this week. Top Stories This Week... An Insider Explains Why Wall Street's Big Money Focus On Sustainability Is Here To Stay
(Friday - July 28, 2017)
Source: Forbes - When a hedge fund launches a major activist campaign calling for changes at companies here and in overseas markets it’s real news. About Sustainability: Progress Is Being Made - We See Forward Momentum! Source: Forbes - Given the complementary tools of enterprise risk management and sustainability to achieve strategic objectives, how are you organized to harness capabilities in these areas? Yale Sustainability Leadership Forum Announces 2017 Preliminary Agenda and Speakers
(Tuesday - July 25, 2017)
Source: Clean Technica - The Yale Sustainability Leadership Forum* has an outstanding lineup of speakers for their intensive program on Yale’s campus this September 12–15. Morningstar and Sustainalytics Expand Their Sustainability Collaboration
(Tuesday - July 25, 2017)
Source: PR Newswire - In a continuing and growing commitment to helping investors integrate sustainability considerations into portfolio decisions, Morningstar, Inc., a leading provider of independent investment... Annual sustainability report shows Johns Hopkins has reduced environmental impact while growing operations
(Tuesday - July 25, 2017)
Source: HUB - A new report released today benchmarks the progress Johns Hopkins has made toward its goal and highlights some of the innovative methods the institution has implemented to reach it. The report reflects activities through fiscal... Trend Insight Sustainability In Construction
(Wednesday - July 26, 2017)
Source: PR Newswire - The report provides detailed market analysis based on a survey of contractors, project owners, surveyors, architects and others involved in the construction industry worldwide to assess current and future sustainability practices... Sustainability, other issues among cotton’s challenges
(Wednesday - July 26, 2017)
Source: Delta Farm Press - “We’re very concerned about cotton’s message to its brands and retailers on whether U.S. cotton is considered sustainable. There are many definitions of sustainability, but basically our goal is to convince these key people — who... Source: GreenBiz - Turning an idea into a reality is rarely easy. Entrepreneurs must build teams, processes and, of course, products that will scale to attract customers and investors. They notoriously juggle too many balls, often with too few... Coaching the C-suite in profitable sustainability
(Thursday - July 27, 2017)
Source: GreenBiz - he proven way to kick-start any organization and propel it toward best environmental and social practices is to coach the CEO, CFO, CTO (chief technology officer) and other C-suite executives in providing vision and instilling. AICPA releases sustainability attestation guide
(Friday - July 28, 2017)
Source: Accounting Today - The new guide, Attestation Engagements on Sustainability Information (Including Greenhouse Gas Emissions Information), will help CPAs interpret and apply the clarified attestation standards in Statement on Standards for...
Our Focus This Week on A Range of ESG Topics & Issues -- Things to Think About..
Progress too slow on global goals for sustainable development, UN says
(Monday - July 24, 2017) Associated Profiles : Thomson Reuters
Source: Reuters - Progress is not moving fast enough ... Advances have been few and uneven in reducing conflict and promoting gender equality, sustainable energy, infrastructure and other key areas... What’s the sustainability story inside our food?
(Monday - July 24, 2017)
Source: Eco-Business - The sustainability chief for nutrition giant Royal DSM thinks retailers can do more to help consumers choose responsibly sourced food. In this interview with Eco-Business, he explains why this is, and opens up about DSM’s... America’s becoming a world energy leader – even as it leads in the fight against climate change
(Monday - July 24, 2017)
Source: New York Post - Fact is, the nation is cutting carbon emissions, making advances on clean-energy production and leading the world in renewables. Between 2000 and 2014, per-capita US emissions plunged nearly 20 percent — from 5.4 metric tons to...
More Pipelines Needed To Accommodate Domestic Energy Production
(Tuesday - July 25, 2017)
Source: Seeking Alpha - Pipelines offer a safer, more efficient way to transport these products. From 2007 to 2016, road transportation of oil, natural gas, and related products had an average annual incident rate of 7.11 per billion ton-miles, compared... Britain to ban sale of all diesel and petrol cars and vans from 2040
(Wednesday - July 26, 2017)
Source: The Guardian - Britain is to ban all new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 amid fears that rising levels of nitrogen oxide pose a major risk to public health. Jobs lift U.S. consumer confidence to near 16-year high
(Wednesday - July 26, 2017)
Source: Reuters - U.S consumer confidence jumped to a near 16-year high in July amid optimism over the labor market while house prices maintained their upward trend in May, which could boost consumer spending after recent sluggishness. Sponsored Message | SAVE 10% Use Code G&A2017CF 
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News for You From the Corporate Sector - With (+) and (-) Signs
The Positive Northrop Grumman’s 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Highlights Achievements in Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, and Corporate Citizenship
(Tuesday - July 25, 2017)
Source: NASDAQ - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today released its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report (CRR), highlighting the company's ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility including diversity and... GE, Invenergy build wind farm in Oklahoma, biggest in the U.S.
(Thursday - July 27, 2017)
Source: Reuters - Power development company Invenergy LLC and General Electric Co on Wednesday announced plans to build the largest wind farm in the United States in Oklahoma, part of a $4.5 billion project to provide electricity to 1.1 million... Novus Takes Steps to Advance Sustainable Animal Agriculture Initiatives
(Thursday - July 27, 2017)
Source: Business Insider - Novus International, Inc. released its annual sustainability report, highlighting improvements made toward its sustainable business goals during the last year. Foxconn unveils $10 billion investment in Wisconsin during White House event
(Thursday - July 27, 2017)
Source: CNBC - Foxconn's Terry Gou announces new plant in Wisconsin Foxconn's Terry Gou announces new plant in Wisconsin 4 Hours Ago | 04:28 Chinese technology company Foxconn will invest $10 billion to create a state-of-the-art... The Negative Verizon Slowed Down Youtube, Netflix, And Other Video Streaming Services As Part Of A "Test"
(Monday - July 24, 2017)
Source: Digital Trends - On Friday, the internet provider acknowledged that it capped customers’ speeds to 10Mbps this week as part of a “video optimization test.” BMW rejects media reports of emissions manipulations
(Monday - July 24, 2017)
Source: Reuters - German carmaker BMW on Sunday rejected media reports that the emissions treatment systems in its vehicles do not work effectively and that it colluded with rivals on their design. Bush's Baked Beans recalled because of defective cans
(Tuesday - July 25, 2017)
Source: Los Angeles Times - Certain cans of Bush’s Best Baked Beans — Brown Sugar Hickory Baked Beans, Country Style Baked Beans and Original Baked Beans — are being recalled because of a potential problem with a seam on the cans. Traces of controversial herbicide found in Ben & Jerry's ice cream
(Thursday - July 27, 2017)
Source: Straights Times - A growing number of foods commonly found in kitchens across America have tested positive for glyphosate, the herbicide that is the main ingredient in the popular consumer pesticide Roundup, which is widely used in agriculture... Bitcoin Exchange Was a Nexus of Crime, Indictment Says
(Thursday - July 27, 2017)
Source: New York Times - A Russian man was charged with overseeing a black market Bitcoin exchange that helped launder billions of dollars and stood at the nexus of several criminal enterprises, according to a federal indictment. Nike's CEO just took a 71 percent pay cut. Here are 5 other execs who've had their incomes slashed
(Friday - July 28, 2017)
Source: CNBC - Nike's CEO Mark Parker will be taking a drastic pay cut this year to the tune of 71 percent of his income, according to CNN Money, which looked at the company's regulatory filings. That means his compensation will go from $47.6... Chipotle Is Being Investigated by the Feds for Its Food Safety Practices
(Friday - July 28, 2017)
Source: The Daily Meal - Now the company is dealing with even more bad news, revealing yesterday that federal regulators have issued a grand jury subpoena as part of their ongoing investigation of the company’s food safety practices. News & Opinion: Asset Managers, US Pension Funds, Sovereign Wealth Funds Danish fund to track CO2, may exclude some firms from portfolio
(Friday - July 28, 2017)
Source: Reuters - Denmark’s biggest commercial pension fund will soon track carbon emissions by companies it invests in, and exclude those it finds breach the Paris climate accord, its CFO told Reuters.
CalPERS touts investment gains while ignoring long-term problems
(Sunday - July 23, 2017) Associated Profiles : California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
Source: capoliticalreview.com - Last week’s announcement by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System that it had strong 11.2 percent returns on its investment portfolio in 2016-2017 after terrible returns the two preceding years prompted... NZ Super Fund retains A+ for responsible investment from UNPRI
(Tuesday - July 25, 2017) Associated Profiles : New Zealand Superannuation Fund
Source: Share Chat - The New Zealand Superannuation Fund scored an A+ rating for governance and strategy around responsible investment for the third year in a row in the latest benchmarking report from the United Nations-supported Principles for... Trump Administration News... Affecting Directions on Governance, Sustainability & Climate Change Final decision on steel trade policy may have to wait, Trump tells WSJ
(Wednesday - July 26, 2017)
Source: Reuters - A final decision on a steel trade policy may have to wait until other top-priority issues on his agenda get addressed, U.S. President Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Tuesday | | | TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES | 
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