Canada's Growing List of CleanTech Investments

Retail investors have a growing range of investment options providing exposure to clean technologies. The list includes RIA members SolarShare, CoPower, Genus Fossil Free, NEI and AGF.    More

ISS Announces Acquisition of IW Financial

The deal will help meet growing demand from the asset management community for ESG data and insights.  More

SASB Creates Investor Advisory Group

The IAG comprises leading asset owners and asset managers who are committed to improving the quality and comparability of sustainability-related disclosure to investors. More

ISO Kicks Off Climate Finance Standards Work

The International Standards Organisation (ISO) is looking to develop what could be the first internationally-approved certificate for climate performance. More

Archdiocese of Toronto Incorporates ESG Factors into Decision Making

Deb Abbey of RIA and Peter Chapman of SHARE, discuss the growing number of religious organizations adopting ESG policies. More

Executive Pay on the Rise

There is a widening gap between what top executives earn versus what average Canadian workers get paid.  Globe and Mail reports that the top 100 chief executives make 193x the average annual industrial wage.   More

80% of Companies Don't Know If Their Products Contain Conflict Materials

The Harvard Business Review reports that giant multinational corporations are often unable to identify sources  of materials in their global supply  chain.   More

USA's Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters

A recent report by National Centers for Environmental Information stated that during 2016, 15 weather and climate disasters caused a total of $46 billion in damages. This was the second highest number in the 37 year record.  More

CalPERS To Expand Tobacco Investment Ban

CalPERS, the pension fund for Californian public employees, will sell its remaining $550m in tobacco stocks by instructing external managers to divest.  More

Global and Regional Trends in Corporate Governance for 2017

Russell Reynolds Associates recently interviewed numerous  investors, pension funds, public company directors and other governance professionals about the trends and challenges that public company boards will face in 2017.   More

Investing for the Soul Newsletter 

Investing for the Soul offers newsletters and resources for ethically-minded investors. To access this newsletter, subscribe here:  Investing for the Soul

MSCI's 2017 ESG Trends to Watch

In their annual trends to watch report, MSCI highlights the six biggest ESG forces affecting institutional investors over the long haul.  More.

Sustainalytics' New Thematic Research Report Released

The report looks at the key drivers of 10 ESG themes that are expected to create a host of new risks and opportunities for investors in the year ahead.  More.

Green vs. Greenwashed: Measuring What Matters 
Trish Nixon of CoPower discusses the methodology of calculating the positive impact achieved by investing in green bonds. More

EY:  Four takeaways from proxy season 2016 
Institutional investors are reshaping the corporate governance landscape and challenging how boards think about fundamental issues such as strategy, risk, capital allocation and board composition.  More

SHARE:  Taking Climate on Board

Are Canadian energy and utilities company boards equipped to address climate change?  The report  highlights the increasing concern from investors about the risks associated with climate change.     More .

Milla Craig TED Talk on Responsible Investing

RIA Member Milla Craig speaks on how investors have the power to direct their money toward companies that take environment and social impacts in to consideration.     More.

Macleans:  The Cost of Carbon Pricing in Ontario and Alberta

Ceres: 10 Reasons to be Optimistic for a Low-Carbon Future

Bloomberg: Solar Could Beat Coal to Become the Cheapest Power on Earth

Forbes:  Agri-food Mergers is a Worrying Food Trend

PRI Launches Roadmap for Fiduciary Duty in Canada

The report touches on the context for fiduciary duties and ESG in Canada and proposes recommendations on the themes of investor education, corporate reporting, stewardship and regulation.   More.

Alberta Securities Commission to Adopt Diversity Disclosures

The amendments align the disclosure requirements under NI 58-101 in Alberta with most other jurisdictions in Canada regarding the representation of women on boards of directors and in executive officer positions.     More.

Proposed Regulations for CBCA's C-25 Released

Diversity disclosure, majority voting in uncontested director elections; and internet-based 'notice and access' are the top themes in the proposed C-25 amendments.    More.

New offerings from RIA Members

Sustainalytics Launches New Quantitative Tool

ESG Signals is an innovative quantitative tool that provides securities-level financial risk and opportunity signals based on environmental, social and governance (ESG), trading and financial data.  More.

ISS Launches Online Engagement Tool

ISS has launched a new engagement solution designed to assist institutional investors in facilitating and monitoring engagement activity across their portfolio companies. More.

New RI Bond Fund from IA Clarington

IA Clarington has launched the IA Clarington Inhance Bond SRI Fund, a fossil fuel free fixed income solution.  It is sub-advised by Vancity Investment Management.   Read press release here.