The community around ESG, sustainability and impact, from companies to universities to NGOs, is incredibly engaged, open and giving. What follows are resources and links that we turn to when we are looking for insight and expertise. This list is far from exhaustive but will continue to grow so check back regularly for additions.
The Global Impact Investing Network — The GIIN drives thought leadership on a variety of key topics and themes within the impact investing industry. Recent campaigns have served to direct attention to the complexities of a growing industry, as well as the role of impact investing in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to go further to end all forms of poverty. The new Goals are unique in that they call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment — The six Principles for Responsible Investment are a voluntary and aspirational set of investment principles that offer a menu of possible actions for incorporating ESG issues into investment practice. The Principles were developed by investors, for investors. In implementing them, signatories contribute to developing a more sustainable global financial system. They have more than 3,000 signatories globally representing approximately US$103 trillion.
United Nations Global Compact — The UN Global Compact aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. To make this happen, the UN Global Compact supports companies to do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.
Sustainable Accounting Standards Board — the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is the independent standards-setting organization for sustainability accounting standards that meet the needs of investors by fostering high-quality disclosure of material sustainability information. The standards focus on known trends and uncertainties that are reasonably likely to affect the financial condition or operating performance of a company and therefore would be considered material under Regulation S-K. The standards are designed to improve the effectiveness and comparability of corporate disclosure on material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in SEC filings such as Forms 8-K,10-K, 20- F, and 40-F.
The Investment Integration Project — TIIP helps institutional investors understand the big picture, or “systems-level,” context of their portfolio-level decisions. This is important because “systems-level” events, such as economic crises, ecosystems under stress, and societies in turmoil can disrupt the best-laid plans of investors and cost them dearly. TIIP designs, provides and maintains data and tools that enable institutional investors to make this important connection between portfolio-level decisions and systems-level considerations. TIIP’s research portal and database of investor profiles, market analysis, and practical guidance provides a way to better match investors, benchmark systems strategies, and optimize program development. Investors leverage TIIP’s data and tools to solve program inefficiencies, enhance impact measurement, and boost absolute returns.
Future Capital — RIS is gratified to be involved at the deepest levels with the Future Capital Initiative, including our CEO Mark Sloss serving as Executive Director. Our planet and our civilization can no longer sustain human behavior based primarily on growth and accrual. Future Capital is working to catalyze a transition from extractive to regenerative economies based on justice, equity, access, inclusion, and above all sufficiency. They seek to do this by convening global leaders in systems-based thinking across all countries, regions, cultures, philosophies and traditions to chart the course to a new form of capitalism for one people, one planet — A community of global systems thinkers who share, interact, challenge, amplify, leverage and scale work to catalyze myriad efforts to achieve the first 16 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by manifesting #17, Partnership for the Goals.
US SIF – The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment — US SIF is an industry membership-driven organization which champions the shift in investment practices towards sustainability, focusing on long-term investment and the generation of positive social and environmental impacts. The organization comprises asset managers, wealth managers, academics, and individuals who collaborate to move the industry, society and government forward on ESG and impact factors where the flow of capital can create consequential positive outcomes.