PRI Podcasts
Follow the PRI to get an insight into the world of responsible investment, with investor perspectives and discussion on a range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics. For any queries or suggestions, please contact ben.pincombe@unpri.org
In this podcast, the PRI’s Carmen Nuzzo speaks with Farah Imrana Hussain who is Senior Financial Officer and works on Financial Products & Client Solutions at the World Bank Treasury.
They discuss how sovereign bondholder engagement with debt management offices (DMOs) is evolving as a result of fixed income investor increasing focus on ESG topics.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Felix Soellner, Senior Analyst and lead author in the PRI's SAM guides speaks with Moya Yip of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme.
They discuss the crucial role asset owners have with their investment managers and how LGS has integrated ESG considerations in both their manager selection and ongoing monitoring practices. Moya also discusses LGS’s approach to active ownership through strong external investment manager partnerships.
In the fifth podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, PRI's Sixtine Dubost speaks with with Judy Wesalo Temel from Fiera Capital and Patrick Welch from KBRA about environmental factors and how they affect the probability of default of an issuer or a bond issue and why their relevance is increasing
This podcast highlights the global investor perspective on the US re-joining the Paris Agreement. It covers priorities for the Paris Agreement and for net zero investor action.
The podcast features:
- A new PRI/LSEG COP26 investor guide.
- Caisse des Dépôts’s net zero commitment
- London Stock Exchange Group’s recent net zero announcement.
Join the PRI’s Matthew McAdam in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast. In this episode, Matthew runs through key updates from the PRI from the last quarter of 2020.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
Asset owner technical guides: selection, appointment and monitoring
Why and how investors should act on human rights
The Inevitable Policy Response under Biden’s climate plan
ESG engagement for sovereign debt investors
Whistleblowing: why and how to engage with your investee companies
How policymakers can implement reforms for a sustainable financial system
In this episode, the PRI’s Rebecca Chapman speaks with Michiel De Smet, Finance Initiative Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. They discuss the findings from a report released last year by the Foundation called ‘Financing the Circular Economy’, including the relevance of the Circular Economy for investors and how investors can support a transition to a more circular future.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
‘Financing the Circular Economy’, Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2020) https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/finance
RI’s work on Plastics: https://www.unpri.org/sustainability-issues/environmental-social-and-governance-issues/environmental-issues/plastics
In this episode PRI’s CEO, Fiona Reynolds, speaks with Eric Usher, Head of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). They discuss its newest initiative, the Principles for Responsible Banking. Just over one year on from its launch, they explore why it was developed, what the initiative has achieved so far and ambitions for the future.
In the fourth podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Carmen Nuzzo (Head of Fixed Income, PRI) speaks to Naresh Aggarwal (Associate Director, Policy and Technical, The Association of Corporate Treasurers) and Rhys Petheram (Fund Manager, Fixed Income, Jupiter Asset Management), bringing the corporate and asset manager perspectives on ESG credit relevant data disclosure and engagement.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Simon Whistler talks to Rick Walters from GRESB. They talk about the state of play of ESG data and performance in infrastructure, how better ESG data can drive stronger long-term thinking and performance, and explore whether too much of a focus on data can distract from the real world elements of infrastructure investing.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Nikolaj Halkjaer Pedersen engages in a dynamic human rights focused conversation with Chris Newton, Executive Director of Responsible Investment at IFM Investors and
Akiko Sato, Human Rights Lawyer and Japan Programme Coordinator at the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.
The podcast begins by grounding an investor’s understanding of human rights through analysing what human rights are, where they exist in relation to fiduciary duty and how they can be integrated into ESG considerations. It then explores the ways in which human rights are regulated across different geographies, how human rights considerations can be incorporated across asset classes and the importance of investor responsibility to enable and provide access to remedy. It concludes with the guests expressing their hopes and desires for the future of human rights in institutional investment.
Read the PRI's flagship paper, Why and how investors should act on human rights
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds speaks with Dr Bronwyn King AO, Founder, Director and CEO of Tobacco-Free Portfolios. They discuss the Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge, the progress the initiative has made since its launch, the impact of COVID-19, links between human rights and tobacco, big issues on the horizon and more.
In this podcast, the PRI's Nathan Fabian introduces the new EU Platform on Sustainable Finance, explains the Platform’s purpose, activities and what signatories can expect in the months and years ahead.
We need a decisive decade of action on climate change, incorporating a sustainable recovery from COVID-19 and actions towards net zero by 2050.
A leading group of asset owners, the UN-convened Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance has committed to aligning their portfolios with net zero by 2050, and published how they will get there – through a draft target-setting protocol.
This podcast seeks to assist asset owners, asset managers and their service providers to:
- understand the objectives of the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance
- understand the draft target-setting protocol including key features and implications
Join the PRI's Sagarika Chatterjee and Swiss Re's Claudia Bolli as they discuss just that.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Nabylah Abo Dehman speaks with Sam Hepher from the Living Wage Foundation and ShareAction’s Rachel Hargreaves.
They discuss the investor toolkit for the living wage recently launched in collaboration between their two organisations, why the living wage matters, and the practical steps investors can take to further this agenda.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
Joint the PRI’s Anastasia Guha in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast. In this episode, Anastasia runs through key updates from the PRI.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
Sustainable and inclusive: COVID-19 recovery and reform
Blog: Top four takeaways from the PRI’s first year of mandatory TCFD-based reporting
Bridging the gap: how infrastructure investors can contribute to SDG outcomes
In search of sustainability: private retirement systems in the Australia, the UK and the US
Investor action on biodiversity: discussion paper
Impacts of the Inevitable Policy Response across asset classes
Response to Department of Labor’s proposed rule for ERISA fiduciaries
Understanding how climate risk could play out is of central importance to investors’ response to the climate challenge. A key approach is the use of scenario analysis to test the resilience of the portfolio to a number of future states. This can further be developed for financial analysis. This podcast seeks to assist asset owners, asset managers and their service providers to:
- Understand that an end point ambition requires a scenario pathway to be of use in financial analysis.
- Understand the scenario pathway architecture (i.e. key variables, metrics, attributes and drivers) determine the financial impact of any scenario.
- Understand how climate scenarios can then be used in risk analysis of their own portfolios and engagement with companies following the Paris Agreement and the IPCC SR1.5°C study.
- Understand how scenarios can then become base case forecasts to begin to inform actual business and portfolio planning and decisions using business level metrics such as production, CapEx and emissions, which leads to action.
Join Sagarika Chatterjee, Director of Climate Change, PRI and COP26 Champions – Finance Lead, and Mark Fulton, Head of Research, CarbonTracker and advisor to the PRI on The Inevitable Policy Response for the discussion.
In this third podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Carmen Nuzzo (PRI), Andrew Steel (Fitch Ratings) and Wayne Seaton (Sustainalytics) bring the producers’ perspective to the difference between ESG in credit ratings and ESG evaluations.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Nabylah Abo Dehman speaks with Naeem Badat, director at Differential Capital.
They discuss unsecured lending practices in South Africa and the devastating impacts these latter are having on consumers and the broader society. They discuss the state of the industry, the profile of both consumers and lenders and the scale of the issue.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, Gail Whiteman, Professor of Sustainability, University of Exeter & Founder, Arctic Basecamp speaks with Peter Bakker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the PRI’s CEO, Fiona Reynolds. They discuss WBCSD and the PRI’s new collaboration created to redesign engagement between corporates and investors and to drive sustainability outcomes and value creation. The podcast explores the rationale behind this critical and unique collaboration and what it aims to achieve.
In this PRI podcast, the PRI’s Paul Chandler talks to Fredrick Alexander and Jennifer Warden of The Shareholder Commons – a new organisation set up to encourage a re-think of how our investment system functions.
They discuss The Shareholder Commons’ history and approach, introduce the concept of universal ownership and discuss its implications for stewardship.
Hand washing and access to clean water play an essential role in preventing the transmission of COVID-19.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Gemma James is joined by Marc Robert, Partner and COO, Water Asset Management, Chair of Board for WaterAid America, and Maher Abdullah Al - CEO and Head of Business, Fakir Fashion. They discuss the importance of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) during COVID-19 for businesses based in developing countries, as well as the role investors can play.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the head of the PRI's infrastructure workstream, Simon Whistler, speaks to Stanley Kwong from Aviva Investors’ real assets business about how they integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into their investment process.
Join Lorenzo Saa, the PRI’s Chief Signatory Relations Officer, in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast.
In this episode, Lorenzo runs through key updates from the PRI over the past quarter.
Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?
Investing with SDG outcomes: a five-part framework
UN-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance
The Inevitable Policy Response
Engaging on cyber security: results of the PRI collaborative engagement 2017 - 2019
Investor priorities for the EU Green Deal
From farm to table: ensuring fair labour practices in agricultural supply chains
Are infrastructure plans SDG-aligned, and how can investors play their part?
The connection between investors and policymakers is not working as it should if the recovery from COVID-19 is to be sustainable and inclusive with concrete reforms. This podcast explores the role investors have in elevating climate and human rights as part of the COVID-19 recovery, and how they can work with policy makers to achieve on key goals.
Futher resources:
In this episode of the PRI podcast, and the second to feature A Legal Framework for Impact, the PRI’s Oliva Mooney hosts Martin Jonasson, General Counsel of AP2, and Elodie Feller, Investment Lead at United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).
They discuss what investing for sustainability impact means and why it is important. They also dig deeper with specific examples of investor approaches to managing for impact, how it goes beyond niche impact investing, the evolution in EU benchmarks, and balancing the appropriate level of returns and real-world impact.
Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?
A Legal Framework for Impact
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI policy team discusses the latest policy developments in the EU, US, China and internationally, such as:
- the green recovery,
- the EU Taxonomy,
- the June 2020 Department of Labor bulletin,
- and aligning international finance policy dialogue with the Paris Agreement.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's Director of Climate Change, Sagarika Chatterjee, speaks with Julian Poulter of Energy Transition Advisors. They discuss the Inevitable Policy Response (IPR), research from the PRI, Vivid Economics and Energy Transition Advisors, through an asset owner lens.
They discuss how IPR can help the PRI's asset owner signatories to act on climate risk, and the actions asset owners can take today to use IPR.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
The Inevitable Policy Response
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s head of corporate governance, Athanasia Karananou speaks with Sacha Sadan of Legal and General Investment Management.
They discuss the AGM season and other governance topics, including the role of investors, through the lens of COVID-19. They discuss whether boards have risen to the challenge presented by the pandemic, which capital allocation decisions are acceptable, and the increased expectations around tax fairness and lobbying practices during the current crisis.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
In this second podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, the PRI’s Head of Fixed Income Carmen Nuzzo discusses with Alessia Falsarone from PineBridge Investments and Mike Wilkins from S&P Global Ratings the difference between ESG in credit ratings and ESG evaluations.
Interested in the resources from this episode?
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's Tom Barron and Nicole Martens are joined by special guests, David Geral, Head of Banking and Financial Services Regulation, Bowmans, and Sibonelo Mdluli, Senior Associate, also at Bowmans.
In this podcast they discuss the recent report completed by Bowmans, commissioned by PRI, on acting in concert and collaborative shareholder engagement. They highlight the importance of collaborative engagement in South Africa, provide an overview of the contents of the report, and challenge the view that there is a significant legal barrier to collaborative engagement in South Africa.
Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?
Acting in concert and collaborative shareholder engagement in South Africa
Recorded during the global COVID-19 pandemic, in this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's CEO, Fiona Reynolds, speaks to Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
They discuss the role investors can play to support the health and safety of workers during this time; how investors can mitigate negative impacts on workers in the gig economy; and how we can ensure the rights of women and vulnerable groups are considered during the crisis.
Want more investor resources on COVID-19?
Join the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds for this episode of the PRI podcast as she speaks with special guest, David Blood, Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Generation Investment Management.
Along with The Generation Foundation and UNEP FI, the PRI recently launched the project A Legal Framework for Impact, which aims to make the consideration of sustainability impact in investor decision making a core part of investment activity within the decade.
In this episode, Fiona and David discuss the crucial role of investors in considering the real-world impacts of their investments.
Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?
Join the PRI's Head of Fixed Income Carmen Nuzzo for the first podcast of a series on ESG in credit, risk and ratings.
In this episode, Carmen is joined by Yasmina Serghini of Moody’s Investors Service and William Vaughan of Brandywine Global.
They discuss:
- The ESG factors traditionally factored into credit risk analysis
- The importance of credit-relevant time horizons
- The implications of the COVID-19 crisis for credit risk analysis through the ESG lens
- The benefits of joining the PRI’s Credit, Risk and Ratings Initiative
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
Published on Earth Day 2020, in this episode, the PRI's Director of Climate Change, Sagarika Chatterjee, and Jason Eis, Executive Director of Vivid Economics, discuss a pioneering piece of research from the PRI, Vivid Economics and Energy Transition Advisors: the Inevitable Policy Response to climate change.
They discuss what exactly the Inevitable Policy Response is; the potential impact on asset classes such as equities of not acting now on climate change; and what PRI signatories can do to integrate IPR thinking into their investments.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
Read about the Inevitable Policy Response here
Please note this episode was recorded before the Covid-19 outbreak in Europe
Join the PRI's Chief Operating Officer, Graeme Griffiths, in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast.
Graeme is joined by the PRI's Director of Policy and Research, Will Martindale, and the PRI's Director of ESG and the SDGs, Shelagh Whitley. Together they run through the key updates from the organisation over the past three months.
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
Short-term participation group
Investing with SDG outcomes, available until 24 April
EU consultation on renewed sustainable finance strategy
UN-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance
TCFD for private equity general partners
Passive investment survey results
In this academic episode of the PRI podcast, Mikael Homanen, the PRI's Senior Specialist, Research, is joined by Caroline Flammer, Associate Professor and Dean’s Research Scholar at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.
Caroline and Mikael discuss how CSR can contribute to company competitiveness; why companies don't engage more extensively on CSR; and whether CSR can ever constrain competitiveness.
Find out about the research here.
Following the launch of the Investor Year of Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at Davos, the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds, sat down with Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Together they discuss what AMR is, why it should be on everyone’s radar and critically, the role investors can play in making change happen.
This episode was recorded prior to the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. While a separate matter to AMR, Covid-19 is another issue we must act now on.
In the last episode in our series of modern slavery podcasts, the PRI's Head of Social Issues, Bettina Reinboth speaks with Anders Stromblad, Head of Alternative Investments and External Management at AP2.
There are currently 40.3 million people in modern slavery today.
To bring this number close to zero by 2030, and reach the Sustainable Development Goal target 8.7, we would need to reduce the number of individuals affected by 10,000 a day.
The risks of modern slavery are increasing due to changes such as climate change, automation and migration, as they disrupt global labour markets and value chains.
In this episode, Bettina and Anders discuss how AP2 is addressing modern slavery and human trafficking across its investments, and what private equity investors can do to tackle the issue.
Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?
Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking: https://www.unpri.org/social-issues/a-blueprint-for-mobilizing-finance-against-slavery-and-trafficking/5156.article
Tax avoidance is a systemic issue for investors. It can not only have adverse impacts on the profitability and sustainability of investee companies, but it can also affect overall portfolio returns and overall macroeconomic conditions.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, join Vaishnavi Ravishankar of the PRI and Edward Mason of the Church Commissioners for England as they discuss how investors can work on promoting corporate tax responsibility.
Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?
Collaborative engagement on tax transparency: https://www.unpri.org/governance-issues/pri-collaborative-engagement-on-tax-transparency-outcomes-report/5541.article
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds is joined by Nigel Topping, the COP26 High-Level Climate Action Champion.
The UK will host COP26 in Glasgow in November against a backdrop of urgency; we need to reduce emissions by 50% within the next ten years to stand any chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. 2020 must be the year of action – and the 2020s the decade of action.
Fiona and Nigel discuss the critical role of non-state actors – in particular investors – in achieving this, and making COP26 a success.
Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?
- Inevitable Policy Response: https://www.unpri.org/inevitable-policy-response/what-is-the-inevitable-policy-response/4787.article
- Climate Action 100+: http://www.climateaction100.org/
- UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance: https://www.unpri.org/climate-change/un-convened-net-zero-asset-owner-alliance/5370.article
- The Investor Agenda: https://theinvestoragenda.org/
- Climate change and the just transition: a guide for investor action: https://www.unpri.org/academic-research/climate-change-and-the-just-transition-a-guide-for-investor-action/3202.article
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's Nabylah Abo Dehman is joined by Steven Heim, Managing Director, Boston Common Asset Management, and Annie Signorelli, Project Manager for Renewable Energy and Human Rights at the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.
It is crucial that the transition to a net-zero economy happens fast. But the transition must be both fair and inclusive for workers and communities. As such, renewable energy companies should be expected to create decent jobs and respect the rights of communities around their operations.
Nabylah, Steven and Annie discuss, among other issues:
- The main human rights risks associated with renewable energy companies
- How investors can play a role in ensuring that renewable energy companies can integrate human rights due diligence into their operations
- Recommendations for investors to ensure both climate and renewable energy investments respect human rights
- What implications the risks associated with renewable energy companies can have on the transition to a low-carbon economy
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode? Find out more:
Renewable Energy and Human Rights Benchmark Methodology: https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/renewable-energy-human-rights-benchmark-methodology
The Equator Principles: https://equator-principles.com/
Renewable energy investor briefing: Managing risks & responsibilities for impacts on local communities https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/renewable-energy-investor-briefing-managing-risks-responsibilities-for-impacts-on-local-communities
Fast and fair renewable energy: A practical guide for investors https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/fast-fair-renewable-energy-a-practical-guide-for-investors
First People Worldwide and University of Colorado questionnaire: https://www.colorado.edu/program/fpw/sites/default/files/attached-files/fpic_due_diligence_questionnaire-2.pdf
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html
UN Global Compact business reference guide on UN declaration: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/541
RE 100: http://there100.org/
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the second in our series on modern slavery, the PRI’s Head of Social Issues, Bettina Reinboth, speaks with Mark Eckstein. Mark is Director of Environmental and Social Responsibility at CDC Group. He was a commissioner of the Liechtenstein Initiative, a partnership between the governments of Liechtenstein, Australia and the Netherlands, as well as Liechtenstein public-private sector actors and foundations, to put the financial sector at the heart of global efforts to end modern slavery and human trafficking.
Bettina and Mark discuss how to move the Liechtenstein Initiative recommendations forwards from a DFI perspective.
Interested in the projects mentioned in this episode? Find out more:
- New private sector guidance on tackling modern slavery risks: https://www.cdcgroup.com/en/emerging-markets-investment/new-private-sector-guidance-on-tackling-modern-slavery-risks/
- A Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking: https://www.unpri.org/social-issues/a-blueprint-for-mobilizing-finance-against-slavery-and-trafficking/5156.article
In this quarterly update podcast, the PRI’s Chief Signatory Relations Officer, Lorenzo Saa, is joined by the PRI’s Director of Stewardship, Paul Chandler. Together, they give a rundown of our key activities from the past quarter.
Interested in the projects mentioned? Follow the links below for more information.
Inevitable Policy Response: https://www.unpri.org/inevitable-policy-response/forecast-policy-scenario-equity-markets-impacts/5191.article
Climate Action 100+: http://www.climateaction100.org/
Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance: https://www.unepfi.org/net-zero-alliance/
Active ownership 2.0: https://www.unpri.org/investor-tools/stewardship
Active ownership 2.0 consultation: https://collaborate.unpri.org/group/2236/stream
ESG in credit risk and ratings: https://www.unpri.org/investor-tools/fixed-income/credit-ratings
A Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking: https://www.unpri.org/social-issues/a-blueprint-for-mobilizing-finance-against-slavery-and-trafficking/5156.article
SDGs: https://www.unpri.org/sdgs
EU taxonomy: https://www.unpri.org/sustainable-markets/eu-sustainable-finance-taxonomy
Reporting Framework consultation: https://unpri.org/2020-reporting-review
SEC letter, open until 31 January: https://collaborate.unpri.org/group/2206/stream
Get involved with events: https://www.unpri.org/events
At the time of recording, Australia is experiencing unprecedented bush fires, with huge swathes of the country engulfed by flames.
As of 20 January, twenty-eight people have died, close to 2,000 homes have been destroyed and a billion animals have been killed. Once again, the physical and economic threats of climate change are being brought to the fore.
In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds speaks to Australians working in the responsible investment space who have their own experiences of the fire:
- Julian Poulter, Energy Transition Advisers
- Brynn O'Brien, Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility
- Dan Gocher, Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility
- Andrew Whiley, Climate Bonds Initiative
They discuss how they were personally affected by the fires; and what the implications of climate crises are for investors.
Act on climate now:
Read The Inevitable Policy Response: bit.ly/2v88LkX
Join Climate Action 100+: bit.ly/2sFkPcn
In this episode, the PRI's CEO, Fiona Reynolds, speaks with our very special guest, Ted Kennedy, Jr.
As a paediatric bone cancer survivor and amputee, Ted has been an active leader in the movement to expand opportunities for persons with disabilities. As well as a leading healthcare regulatory attorney, he is the chair of the board of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). He also advises employers on best practices and compliance with the Americans with Disability Act, as well as lectures worldwide on healthcare policy and disability law.
Ted is also involved with The Disability Equality Index, America's leading corporate benchmark tool for disability equality inclusion.
Fiona and Ted discuss why disability inclusion in the workplace is an 'S' issue for investors, and why they should look at diversity from a strategic perspective.
Want to join the PRI webinar on disability inclusion on 19 February? More information here: http://bit.ly/36DE8Sf
Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?
Disability Equality Index: http://bit.ly/36BT4jR
Joint investor statement: http://bit.ly/2QDxFkP
Accenture, 'Getting to equal': https://accntu.re/2QUY3Fy
In this episode of the PRI podcast, published on International Human Rights Day, the PRI’s Head of Social Issues is joined by Anne-Maree O’Connor, Head of Responsible Investment at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. Anne-Maree is also a commissioner of the Liechtenstein Initiative, a partnership between the governments of Liechtenstein, Australia and the Netherlands, as well as Liechtenstein public-private sector actors and foundations, to put the financial sector at the heart of global efforts to end modern slavery and human trafficking.
In this episode, Bettina and Anne-Maree discuss the role investors can play in combatting modern slavery, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7.
As Anne-Maree notes, "Freedom from slavery is a fundamental human right and a financial system cannot be sustainable if it undermines these basic human rights that we all hold so dear."
Read the Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking here: unpri.org/blueprint-slavery-trafficking
This episode we’re joined by André Guimarães of the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, and the Brazilian Coalition of Climate, Forests and Agriculture.
André speaks with the PRI’s Senior Specialist in Environmental Issues, Danielle Carreira, about the key sustainability matters facing Brazil today.
They discuss issues including the factors driving the country’s deforestation, the Amazon fires and the Brazilian cattle sector. They also ask, how can the financial sector contribute to a more sustainable Brazil?
Oceans generate half of the oxygen we breathe, supply us with food and provide livelihoods – in short, they play a critical social, environmental and economic role for us.
But our oceans are in danger. Plastic accumulating in them has become a global crisis and at current rates, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050.
Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear – or “ghost gear” – makes up 10% of the plastic pollution in oceans every year. And by weight, ghost gear accounts for 70% of all floating macro-plastic debris.
So, how is ghost gear impacting our oceans? What are seafood companies doing to mitigate negative impacts of ghost gear? And what can investors do on this critical issue?
Join the PRI’s Head of Environmental Issues, Gemma James, as she delves into the topic. Gemma is joined this episode by guests Rory Sullivan, Co-Founder and Director at Chronos Sustainability, and Lynn Kavanagh, Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection.
Please see links below of projects discussed in the podcast:
- The PRI’s work on plastics: https://www.unpri.org/esg-issues/environmental-issues/plastics
- Global Ghost Gear Initiative: https://www.ghostgear.org/
- Investor letter asking MSC to include ghost gear in its new certification standards: https://collaborate.unpri.org/group/786/stream
In this quarterly podcast special, the PRI’s Chief Signatory Relations Officer, Lorenzo Saa, gives a rundown of our key activities from the past quarter.
Interested in the projects mentioned? Follow the links below for more information:
PRI elections: https://www.unpri.org/pri/pri-governance/board-elections
Signatory survey: https://www.unpri.org/pri/pri-governance/formal-consultations#signatory_survey
Responsible investment starter guides: https://www.unpri.org/pri/an-introduction-to-responsible-investment
The Inevitable Policy Response: https://www.unpri.org/esg-issues/environmental-issues/climate-change/inevitable-policy-response
The PRI Awards: https://www.unpri.org/signatories/the-pri-awards/4189.article
The PRI Leaders’ Group: https://www.unpri.org/signatories/showcasing-leadership/the-pri-leaders-group
Amazon statement: https://www.unpri.org/amazon-fires
The PRI Collaboration Platform: https://collaborate.unpri.org/
The PRI blog: https://www.unpri.org/pri/pri-blog
Recorded at PRI in Person just after the sustainable food system breakout, the PRI’s Danielle Carreira sat down with Peter van der Werf, Director of Active Ownership at Robeco.
They discussed key takeaways from the sustainable food system breakout; whether there is clear alignment between company and investor perception of risk and what is material when it comes to food security; and the importance of investor engagement and collaboration on the topic.
At PRI in Person, the PRI’s Elena Espinoza spoke with John Howchin, Secretary-General, Council of Ethics of the Swedish National Pension Funds, and Jaime Gornsztejn, Director, Hermes EOS, about tailings in the mining sector.
We sat down with them following a breakout session with Amanda Andrade, a survivor of the Brumadinho dam disaster in early 2019. We discussed what the opportunities are for investor action. How can investors effectively carry out engagements with mining companies? What are the new investor expectations on mining companies? And what will be the consequences for companies who don’t comply with these expectations?
Length: 11:03
The PRI's Head of Academic Research, Katherine Ng, is joined by Jim Hawley, Head of Applied Research at TruValue Labs and Professor Emeritus, Saint Mary's College of California; and Jon Lukomnik, former Executive Director, IRCC Institute, and soon to be Visiting Professor, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
In this podcast, they discuss modern portfolio theory, or MPT. Is it just a theory? Why should investors care? Is there a problem and what can be done about it?
Length: 28.08
Wolf Kirsten (Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces) joins the PRI’s Bettina Reinboth to discuss the role investors can play to promote workplace health and well-being. They explore the relationship between corporate good practices in promoting health and well-being and financial performance, and the indicators investors can use to assess companies’ performance in this space.
Richard Murphy, a chartered accountant, political economist, and co-founder of the Tax Justice Network, joins PRI’s Vaishnavi Ravishankar to discuss the OECD’s BEPS project with a particular focus on Action 13 and Country-by-Country reporting. Together, they unpack the concept by discussing the merits as well as challenges associated with requirements.
Marc Robert (Water Asset Management) and Michael Alexander (Diageo) join the PRI's Gemma James to explore how water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) issues in company operations and supply chains affect investors and why investors should engage on the topic.
Olivier Van Hirtum and Jaideep Singh Panwar join the PRI’s Nabylah Abo Dehman to discuss the role of cobalt in battery technology and the human rights risks associated with the sourcing of cobalt. They explore the impact of electric vehicles growth on the demand for cobalt and the key role that investors can play in pushing for the adoption of more responsible sourcing practices of cobalt.
Georgie Erangey, an independent business and human rights consultant joins the PRI's Naheeda Chowdhury to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act and how this ground-breaking disclosure clause will impact organisations beyond their first year statement. Together, they discuss the role that investors can play in tackling the issue of modern slavery.
Måns Carlsson- Sweeny (Ausbil Investment Management) joins the PRI's Bettina Reinboth to explore how investors can engage with apparel companies to encourage better labour practices in the apparel industry. They discuss PRI’s recent investor briefing on the topic, including various red flags that investors should look out for which may indicate negative human rights practices in investee apparel companies and recommendations for effective investor-company engagement.
Sudip Hazra (Kepler-Cheuvreux) joins the PRI's Bettina Reinboth to explore the issue migration and why it is a material issue for investors. They explore the link to a number of other ESG issues, including labour skills, human rights and climate change.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news. This month's topics include HSBC's sustainable agriculture policy, the G20 Energy Efficiency Investment toolkit, Occidental's shareholder resolution on climate change and more car emissions problems with Fiat Chrysler and Daimler.
Hongqiao Liu (China Water Risk) joins the PRI's Gemma James to discuss rare earth minerals and their importance to investors. As a key component in many new technologies, such as electronics and renewable energy, the sustainable supply of these "vitamins of industry" is becoming increasingly critical.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news. This month's topics include the sale of the UK Green Investment Bank, investments and divestments by the Ford Foundation and PKA, and new reports from the Asset Owners Disclosure Project and OECD.
David Harris (Group Head of Sustainable Business, London Stock Exchange Group), Christopher Szpojnarowicz (Company Secretary & Head of Legal, Unite Students) and James Corah (Head of Ethical and Responsible Investment, CCLA) join the PRI's Nathan Fabian to discuss recent work by the UN's Sustainable Stock Exchange initiative and its partners to improve transparency on ESG information for investors.
Sister Nora Nash (ICCR) joins the PRI's Olivia Mooney to discuss the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)'s engagement and shareholder resolution activities in relation to the banking sector.
Robert Eccles (Chairman of Arabesque Partners) and Mirtha Kastrapeli (Head of Sustainable Investment Research at State Street’s Center for Applied Research) join the PRI's Danielle Chesebrough to discuss their recent paper "The Investing Enlightenment" based on global surveys of 582 institutional investors and 750 retail investors.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news. This month's topics include Lloyds' report on stranded assets, the new Fish Tracker Initiative, ACTIAM's water-neutrality goal, NAB and gender equality bonds, and the Shareholders' Rights Directive.
Robert Wilson (MFS Investment Management) joins the PRI's Athanasia Karananou to discuss the issue of tax and why this matters to investors. This covers Robert's work as part of a PRI-led investor taskforce to explore and engage on the issue of corporate tax responsibility.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news. This month's topics include investor statements on climate change and the SEC's conflict minerals rule, recent oil majors' results, investor guidance for engaging the banking sector on low carbon transition and a McKinsey study on long- vs short-termism.
Martin Skancke (Chair of the PRI Board and FSB Task Force member) joins the PRI's Sagarika Chatterjee to discuss the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and what their recently released recommendations mean for investors.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news. This month's topics include the FSB Task Force on Climate-related Disclosures, ExxonMobil, Rolls-Royce, Fiat Chrysler, Samsung, Deutsche Bank and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news. This month's topics include the the Marrakech Climate Change Conference (COP22), oil and gas companies, the car emissions scandal (Renault and VW), and Rio Tinto.
Sean Wright (Environmental Defense Fund) and Matthias Beer (BMO GAM) join the PRI's Gemma James to discuss why methane emissions are a material issue for investors in the context of climate change. This coincides with the launch of a new investor guide to methane on how to manage the risks through company engagement.
Kathy Mulvey (Union of Concerned Scientists) joins the PRI's Paul Chandler to discuss why corporate lobbying on climate change matters to investors, as well as the findings from UCS' new report: The Climate Accountability Scorecard - Ranking Major Fossil Fuel Companies on Climate Deception, Disclosure, and Action
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news. This month's topics include the flurry of recent global climate deals, Yahoo's data breach, gender diversity in mining and Morningstar's new sustainability indices.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news.
Secret or anonymously-owned companies pose a number of risks to shareholders - both financial and non-financial. This is primarily due to the difficulty in identifying the actual ("beneficial") owners. Eryn Schornick (Global Witness) joins the PRI's Olivia Mooney to discuss the issue, as well as the tools available to investors (also detailed in their new report, Chancing It).
Shipbreaking is one of the world's most dangerous occupations, with severe impacts on human rights and the environment. Annie Bersagel (KLP) joins the PRI's Valeria Piani to explain why this is important to investors and encourages them to join their current engagement on responsible ship recycling.
Monthly, 5 minute roundup of the latest responsible investment and ESG news.
Steve Waygood (Aviva Investors) and Toby Heaps (Corporate Knights) join the PRI's Danielle Chesebrough to discuss the current state of sustainability reporting, and identify the key next steps exchanges, regulators, investors and international organizations (such as IOSCO and IASB) should take to improve the quality and consistency of ESG disclosures across markets.
Sudip Hazra (Kepler Cheuvreux) joins the PRI's Valeria Piani to discuss why inequality matters to global businesses and their shareholders.
Jeremy Coller (Coller Capital) joins the PRI's Valeria Piani to discuss factory farming and FAIRR (Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return), an investor initiative that aims to put the issue on the ESG agenda.
Charlie Bradshaw (Matrix APA) joins the PRI's Felicitas Weber to discuss how to address poor labour conditions in global supply chains, looking at the supplier perspective. The PRI are also re-launching their collaborative engagement on labour practices in agricultural supply chains, with an investor expectations statement open for all signatories to sign.
Scott Zdrazil (New York City Comptroller) joins the PRI's Olivia Mooney to discuss the development of proxy access in the USA. This includes an overview of the Boardroom Accountability Project, the company response so far and advice for investors on how to engage on the issue.
Paul Cox (NEST), Tim Tookey (Nationwide) and Bess Joffe (TIAA) join Schroders' Jessica Ground to discuss the action that investors can take to help improve the culture and conduct within the banking sector. Originally recorded as a webinar (1hr)
Recorded on 6th Jan - Mikhail Zverev and Rebecca Maclean (Standard Life Investments) join the PRI's Valeria Piani to discuss the implications of the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal for the automotive industry.
Phil Bloomer, Executive Director of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, joins the PRI's Felicitas Weber to discuss the the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and it's implications for companies and investors.
Willemijn Verdegaal (MN) and Karsten Löffler (Allianz SE) join the PRI's Paul Chandler to discuss the outcomes from COP21, which concluded in Paris last week.
