RIA Newsletter
July 2017
Canada's Annual RI Week   
October 23-27, 2017

Responsible Investment Week is a week of events dedicated to education and awareness about responsible investing.

We are currently seeking RI Week Partners. To learn more, please follow the link below. The RI Week schedule will be released in the coming weeks. 

RIA Partners with TMX on Event to Inform Issuers About ESG


On July 6th, the RIA partnered with TMX Group on an event to inform TSX-listed issuers about responsible investment reporting. A panel including Judy Cotte from RBC Global Asset Management and Paul Schneider from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan explained what ESG information responsible investors are seeking and how they are using this information. The event attracted about 100 attendees and was very well received. We hope to collaborate with TMX on more events in future.
Q2 2017 RI Fund Performance
 
The performance data for RI funds in Q2 2017 are now available. Below are links to a full spreadsheet of responsible investment funds organized by asset class, as well as a 2-page brief that highlights some of the key categories in which RI funds outperformed the industry. The brief makes a great handout for clients.  

Full report here | Highlights  here
In This Issue
Upcoming RI Events

SASB WebinarAug. 21

PRI in Person
Sept. 25-27, Berlin

Soul of the Next Economy Forum, Sept. 29-30, 
Calgary

2017 Toronto Pension Leadership Events
October 10-12, Toronto

RI Week
October 23-27

Colloque quebecois sur l'investissement responsable
October 26, Montreal

Social Finance Forum
November 9-10, Toronto

2018 BC Pension Forum & Pre-Forum Events, Feb 21-22
Vancouver

2018 RIA Conference
June 4-5, Toronto 
RI Job Postings

McConnell Foundation

CoPower


ISS

Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan

TREC

Business Development Manager
TREC 
New RIA Members

We are pleased to welcome the following new RIA Members:
View the full RIA Member list here .  
Canada's Newest Recipients of RI Certification

Congratulations to Canada's newest recipients of the RIA's financial designations in recognition of expertise in responsible investing:
 
Manmeet Bhatia (RIS), OceanRock Investments
Scott Boassaly (RIAC), J.R. Saint and Associates/Quadrus Investments
Joanna Y. Chen (RIS), Vancity Credit Union
Alexandra Gross (RIS), OceanRock Investments
Cavan Knox (RIS), iA Clarington Investments
Brett McKinstry (RIS), OceanRock Investments
Michael Nixon  (RIS), iA Clarington Investments
Jean Pagé (RIS), Frontline Financial Credit Union
Douglas Price (RIS), Kindred Credit Union
Gerry Ronan (RIS), iA Clarington Investments
Alex Steele (RIS), OceanRock Investments
Ayaz Sunderji (RIS), Vancity Credit Union
Cheryl Trayler (RIS), Vancity Credit Union
Mark K. W. Wu (RIS), Vancity Credit Union
RI Industry News

Inspirit Foundation moves to 100% impact portfolio
Their updated SIPP  commits to a 100% impact portfolio with the goal of leveraging their full asset base for financial returns and positive impact. Congratulations to Inspirit for this achievement and their leadership on impact investing in Canada. View the SIPP here
Morningstar acquires 40 percent ownership stake in Sustainalytics
Morningstar has acquired a 40% stake in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research and ratings firm Sustainalytics. More
TCFD final recommendations published
The Task Force was asked to develop voluntary, consistent climate-related financial disclosures that would be useful to investors, lenders, and insurance underwriters in understanding material risks.  Final Report
Carney draws bank support for climate risk reporting campaign
Eleven major banks, representing $7 trillion, started a pilot project to implement the TCFD recommendations.  TD Bank and Royal Bank are among the group who  will help develop useful analytical tools and indicators.    More
New initiative showcases companies committing to TCFD recommendations
The Climate Disclosure Standards Board announced the launch of a new initiative: a commitment for companies to implement the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures's (TCFD) recommendations by 2020.    More
NEI Investments releases responsible investment policy
The policy sets out the investment philosophy that guides NEI's efforts and describes its RI program in detail, including the strategies, procedures and lines of accountability. More
Amundi AM nominated to the Green Bond Principles Executive Committee
Congratulations to Amundi AM for having been elected to represent the investor community as an Executive Committee Member of the Green Bond Principles!
Social Finance Forum set for November 9 & 10, 2017
Now in its 10th year, the Social Finance Forum, organized by MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, is Canada's largest gathering of impact investors & social entrepreneurs. For details and early bird rates, visit  www.socialfinanceforum.ca.
RI Products & Services

Climate rating for equity funds launched
The Climetrics rating, launched by CDP, ISS-Ethix Climate Solutions and EU-backed Climate-KIC will enable investors to gauge and compare the climate impact of investments in funds.  More
MSCI launches new Japan ESG indices
MSCI launches two new Japan ESG equity indexes - the MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index & the MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index. More.
Cyber security and gender diversity ETFs coming to Canada
ETF player Evolve Funds Group Inc. is expanding its product shelf to incorporate several niche products new to the Canadian market, including ETFs that invest in gender diversity, cyber security and the next generation of automobiles.    More
ESG News

Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI) enables insight on workforce  management
SHARE and UK-based ShareAction have collaborated on the initiative which now has 79 global institutional investors with nearly $8 trillion in AUM. The goal is to provide a better insight into companies workforce policies and practices.   More
Canadian lender Desjardins may stop pipeline loans
Desjardins is considering no longer funding energy pipelines, citing concerns about the impact such projects may have on the environment. More.
California locales sue fossil fuel companies for rising seas
Two California counties and a city have sued 37 oil, natural gas and coal companies and trade groups, saying their actions intensified climate change and exacerbated costly sea-level rise. More.
State Street votes against 400 companies citing gender diversity
The index-fund giant votes against reelection of directors after companies failed to add women directors.  More
A coral reef gets an insurance policy of its own
Swiss Re AG is preparing a policy for a stretch of the Mesoamerican Reef. It may be the first time an insurer has covered a natural structure.  More
Research & Analysis
Genus report studies the effect of carbon emissions on investment returns
Genus Capital Management's recent report concluded that an investment portfolio's carbon intensity negatively impacted returns by 9.2 per cent over the past seven years, after adjusting for other variables and risk factors.  More
2ii and The CO-Firm launch a Transition Risk Scenario Tool
Launched in tandem with the final TCFD recommendations, the tool allows users to 'select' their scenario covering 8 of the most energy-intensive sectors and over 30 risk-related parameters, at a global level and across a set of key countries. Feedback is welcome during the open consultation period.    More
Sustainalytics: ESG compatibility: a hidden success factor in M&A
A new ESG Spotlight Series report shows that  ESG scores of  M&A targets and acquirers can serve as a proxy for firm culture. While other factors can influence the returns of acquiring firms, ESG compatibility may positively contribute to the financial success of M&A deals. More.
Vigeo Eiris report on challenges posed by growing use of nanomaterials
The paper seeks to explore the issue of nanomaterials' impacts on human health and the environment, with a focus on sectors where there are evidences of applications in the market.   More
TrueValue Labs: 10 studies that show how and why ESG investing works
The report summarizes 10 studies that ask how do ESG, or environment, social, and governance investments perform? As well as when do these strategies work, and why.   More
The Economist Intelligence Unit: The Road to Action
The report e xplores the issues relating to climate-related financial disclosure and investigates the mandates of regulatory and standard-setting institutions in terms of climate-related financial risk reporting.  More
Policy & Legal News

OSC's Statement of Priorities includes notes on ESG
In the statement the OSC acknowledged investor feedback about "the growing financial relevance to investors of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and the need for ESG disclosure by companies."   More
California Legislature extends state's cap-and-trade program to 2030
California lawmakers voted to extend the state's premiere program on climate change to help meet the state's ambitious goal for cutting emissions.   More
Financing a Sustainable European Economy:  Interim Report
The European Commission's High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance's interim report maps out the challenges and opportunities that the EU faces in developing a sustainable finance policy agenda More
News site dedicated to climate and law launches
Climate Liability News is a news outlet whose mission is to report objectively and neutrally on the relatively new, but quickly growing area of legal responsibility for the impacts of climate change in the United States and around the world More
Viewpoints

Nieuwenkamp & Letourneau:  Clarification on OECD Guidelines Raises Expectations of Canadian Institutional Investors
This expectation aligns with a quiet but significant global trend that is redefining the role of investors and enterprises as countries strive to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals.    More   
Robins, McDaniels, and Heaps:
Financing the clean transition is Canada's G7 opportunity to lead
As Canada takes over the G7 Presidency from Italy in 2018, there is an opportunity for us to create a national plan that anchors sustainability in financial regulation and policy-making.    More    
Sustainalytics: What will the TCFD mean for oil and gas producers? 
The report analyses how these new guidelines may affect the oil and gas industry and how investors can leverage them in their engagement efforts.  More
Arun Agrawal:  Indian Energy
India is emerging as a major market for renewable energy and laying out aggressive plans for investments in solar and wind.    More   
Submissions

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