Environmental

MSCI launches ESG ratings for sovereign bonds

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 1 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
MSCI has launched a sovereign ratings tool designed to identify a country's exposure to and management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk factors.

IGCC working group engages on green finance design, function

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
Given the Australian and global push to transition to a low carbon economy by attracting private investment, the Low Carbon Finance Working Group (LCFWG) of the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) is engaging with the government on the set-up and ...

Institutional investors put climate change into risk budget

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
More than half of the 12 institutional investors that participated in a 2011 Mercer climate change survey have decided to include climate change considerations in future risk management and/or strategic asset allocation processes.

Four appointed to Energy Security Council

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
The government has made four appointments to the Energy Security Council, a body established as part of the Clean Energy Future legislation to advise on measures to address energy security risks.

Global Reporting Initiative publishes events sector guidance

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has published a new guidance for the events sector to increase the relevance of reporting on issues including greenhouse gas emissions, waste, attendee travel, event legacy, and initiatives taken at an event to promote ...

ESG investment analysis - answering the "so-what" question

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 20 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
Fund management professionals say that the continuing quest to demonstrate the tangible costs and benefits of integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into portfolio valuations will be a dominant theme for 2012, along with continued ...

CSIRO: engagement increases wind farm development approval

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 18 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
Actual and perceived costs and benefits of wind farms can be influenced by "design, implementation and community engagement processes", according to a study by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

GRI establishing working groups for G4

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 13 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is continuing to set up working groups for the development of the G4 next generation reporting guidelines.

Investors make 2012 climate change investment commitments

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 13 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
The Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), a collaborative group of more than 100 institutional investors managing nearly US$10tr, has agreed to an agenda that will further integrate climate risks and opportunities into investment portfolios and processes ...

GBCA certifies record 100 Green Star projects for 2011

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 11 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has reported certifying 100 Green Star building projects in one calendar year.