| From across the nation and around the world, INSIGHTS-edge brings you news, commentary and research in key areas of interest regarding ESG, Sovereign Wealth Funds and US Public Sector Pension Funds. We watch the watchers...who are watching you. ESG / Sustainability CSRwire Member Spotlight: Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. an Interview with G&A CEO, Hank Boerner
(Source: CSRWire) In the wake of the global financial crisis, ESG factor (Environmental/Energy, Social, and Governance) and Sustainability have become ever more important to asset owners' portfolios and therefore to investment professionals, corporate executives, and boards of directors. The Governance and Accountability Institute, Inc. helps leaders in the corporate, social/institutional and public sectors understand and address key and emerging issues in ESG and Sustainability. The G&A Institute helps CEOs understand risk and identify potential tipping points that need to be managed before they go critical, and provide crisis management strategies in case an emergency develops. As such, it not only can advise on investment strategy but also assist companies in protecting their reputations - by advising them on how to do the right thing.
Coca-Cola Pushes Sustainability in China
(Source: Triple Pundit) From its origins in an Atlanta pharmacy over 120 years ago, Coca-Cola has arguably become the most recognized brand in the world. If imitation is the sincerest source of flattery, that mix of sweet and spice has plenty of local imposters: Wuhaha’s brands are dominant in China; RC has its following in the American South; the lemon verbena variation Inka Kola has its following in Peru and among Latin American expats; and even tiny Vanuatu has its peppy version, Lava Cola.
SAM publishes new study on the global water market
(Source: SAM) SAM, the investment boutique focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing, published its second water study today, “Water: a market of the future.” The study demonstrates that the global watermarket continues to experience above-average growth rates, with the overall size of the global water market estimated at USD 480 billion for this year and an expected annual growth rate of 6.2% over the next five years.
Investors Managing $2.5 Trillion Press Energy Companies to Better Disclose Spill Prevention and Response Plans for Deepwater Wells Worldwide
(Source: Ceres) BOSTON - In the wake of significant financial losses from the BP oil spill and in response to a proliferation of deepwater offshore drilling worldwide, more than 50 U.S. and other global investors have sent letters to major energy companies asking them to disclose information regarding their risk oversight measures, including spill prevention and response plans, for their own offshore oil operations around the world. The letters, sent to CEOs at 27 oil and gas companies, were signed by 58 global investors with collective assets totaling more than $2.5 trillion, including the New York State Comptroller, California State Treasurer, Florida State Board of Administration and the UK-based Local Authority Pension Fund Authority Forum. Sovereign Wealth Funds ANALYSIS-Africa eyes East for help on sovereign wealth funds
(Source: Reuters Africa) LONDON - Africa's nascent sovereign funds are turning to Asia and the Gulf for a steer on how to manage resource revenues, a move that could shield wealth for the future and lure more attention from international investors. Govt drops proposal for creating $5 bn sovereign wealth fund
(Source: Economic Times) NEW DELHI: The government today said it has dropped the idea of creating a sovereign wealth fund for financing company acquisitions abroad, as it felt that Indian firms had enough money for foreign takeovers. CIC rides bull market to 2009 profit
(Source: MarketWatch) A bull market for global stocks helped lift China Investment Corp.'s overseas return on investment to 11.7% and its total return to 12.9% in 2009, according to CIC's recently released annual report. |
Coming Soon…
We are in the process of upgrading INSIGHTS-edge, including the addition of many more profiles, identification of ESG critical issues of importance to corporations and investors, adding to the toolbox (twitter, customized email alerts and more). You will see the 2.0 version soon. And, we are rebranding the platform to better identify the focus of our efforts:SustainabilityHQTM
will be here September 1, 2010.
Contents © 2009
All Rights Reserved Copyrights for other providers are
noted where appropriate.
Please credit the source if quoted. |
US Public Sector Pension Funds Economists: The Missing Heroes of the State and Local Government Pension Crisis
(Source: TPM) The latest cool thing for the Washington elite is to beat up on school teachers and firefighters for their overly generous pensions. It turns out that some of these public sector employees get enough money in their pensions that they can actually enjoy a decent retirement.
Battle Looms Over Huge Costs of Public Pensions
(Source: NY Times) There’s a class war coming to the world of government pensions. The haves are retirees who were once state or municipal workers. Their seemingly guaranteed and ever-escalating monthly pension benefits are breaking budgets nationwide.
Bell salaries raise more concerns about CalPERS
(Source: LA Times) The state's embattled pension system did not act four years ago when it learned about the city's runaway salaries. The state attorney general and auditors express shock that nothing was done. Watching the Watchers  MapleCroft
Category: ESG Influencers
Headquarters: Bath, England
Established: in England and Wales, October 2001
ESG/Sustainability Focus:
Yes. The organization is a UN Principles for Responsible Investing (PRI) signatory, and states: “ESG issues are at the core of our value proposition and are an integral part of our global, country and company risk analysis and rating.”
KEY PARTNERS
PRI. Bloomberg for the Climate Innovation Indexes. Has partnered with UN agencies.
OVERVIEW/MISSION
Maplecroft looks at social, environmental, and political factors that contribute to risks that may affect companies, countries, and investors. Maplecroft describes its services this way: “Our tailored services empower organisations to identify, manage and mitigate global risks in their operations, supply chains and distribution networks. They support investors to pick winners and develop successful investment strategies.” |
