Original, independent, thought leadership

Labeling the Politics of ESG Funds

The Bottom Line: Critics of ESG investing exhibit a lack of knowledge and awareness of key features of sustainable investing specifically related to ESG integration. Introduction Increasingly, criticism of ESG investing has taken on a political tilt.  These arguments often identify ESG funds as a means of ‘state control of the economy and of society’.  […]

Sustainable Investing Monitor-September 2023

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable funds’ net assets benefited from positive flows, new fund launches held up relative to 2022 while ESG fund indices lagged again. Sources:  Morningstar Direct, Bloomberg, MSCI and Sustainable Research and Analysis

Sustainable Investing Monitor-August 2023

The Bottom Line:  Relative performance results lagged again this month, as did fund formations and quarterly sustainable bond issuances, but sustainable mutual funds gained assets.   Sources:  Morningstar Direct, Bloomberg and Sustainable Research and Analysis

Greenwashing incidents on the rise but likely overstated

The Bottom Line:  References to greenwashing appear to be on the rise, but various considerations other than greenwashing may be contributing to the recent uptick. References to greenwashing are on the rise but likely overstated References to greenwashing appear to be on the rise, as illustrated by data along the lines captured by FactSet in […]

ESG Issues in the Bond Fund Space presentation slides

The Bottom Line:  Slides presented at Crane Data’s Bond Fund Symposium, March 28, 2022, on the topic of ESG Issues in the Bond Fund Space. Key takeaways from Crane’s Bond Fund Symposium presentation: ESG and sustainable investing are terms that are used interchangeably, leading to confusion and misunderstanding.  Terms should be defined, and standards established […]

Net Zero Asset Managers initiative invites stakeholder questions

The Bottom Line:  Net Zero Asset Managers initiative supports the carbon transition, but managers’ actions will have an impact on portfolio structures, investments and outcomes. Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative has attracted 220 signatories with $57 trillion in assets under management Ahead of the conclusion on November 13, 2021 of the Glasgow Climate Pact […]

2020 Review: Sustainable ETFs and ETNs

The Bottom Line: Sustainable ETFs/ETNs in 2020 experienced significant growth and ended the year at $93.1 billion across 154 funds. The ESG Integration-Mixed approach dominates. Sustainable ETFs in 2020 experienced significant growth and ended the year at $93.1 billion in assets Sustainable ETFs[1], dominated by funds that pursue an ESG Integration-Mixed[2] approach to sustainable investing, […]

Research

Research and analysis to keep sustainable investors up to-date on a broad range of topics that include trends and developments in sustainable investing and sustainable finance, regulatory updates, performance results and considerations, investing through index funds and actively managed portfolios, asset allocation updates, expenses, ESG ratings and data, company and product news, green, social and sustainable bonds, green bond funds as well as reporting and disclosure practices, to name just a few.

A continuously updated Funds Directory is also available to investors.  This is intended to become a comprehensive listing of sustainable mutual funds, ETFs and other investment products along with a description of their sustainable investing approaches as set out in fund prospectuses and related regulatory filings.

Getting started

Many questions have surfaced in recent years regarding sustainable and ESG investing.  Here, investors and financial intermediaries will find materials that describe the various approaches to sustainable investing and their implementation.  While sustainable investing approaches vary and they have thus far defied universally accepted definitions, many practitioners agree that they fall into the following broad categories:  Values-based investing, investing via exclusions, impact investing, thematic investments and ESG integration.  In conjunction with each of these approaches, investors may also adopt various issuer engagement procedures and proxy voting practices.  That said, sustainable investing approaches will continue to evolve.

In addition to periodic updates regarding sustainable investing and how this form of investing is evolving, investors and financial intermediaries interested in implementing a sustainable investing approach will also find source materials that cover basic investing themes as well as asset allocation tactics.

Inesting ideas

Thoughts and ideas targeting sustainable investing strategies executed through various registered and non-registered sustainable investment funds and products such as mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), closed-end funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). Coverage extends to investment management firms as well as fund groups. 

Independent source for sustainable investment management company research, analysis, opinions and sustainable fund disclosure assessments