PRI in Person coverage round up

PRI in Person 2015 ended at the weekend, having gathered 1,100 delegates for its main programme. The keynote webcasts are now available with PowerPoint presentations from the sessions to follow shortly. Here we round up the trending coverage from the week and the days after.

There are currently 1,382 signatories (197 in the UK) to the principles. These are the six principles:

1: We will incorporate ESG (Environmental, Social and corporate Governance) issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
3: We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

The 2015 event was clearly a huge success with Sarah Rundell of Top1000Funds.com doing most of the editorial heavy lifting. What is most disappointing and frustrating is the lack of coverage in the mainstream media such as the Financial Times, City AM and Evening Standard. Even The Guardian which has recently run a high profile campaign on fossil fuels divestment didn’t give the event any coverage. Nor did it appear on the BBC.

– B&GT: PRI in Person: Where the global responsible investment community meets – Read more here

“The United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Initiative is an international network of investors working together to put the six voluntary Principles for Responsible Investment into practice. Its goal is to understand the implications of sustainability for investors and support signatories to incorporate these issues into their investment decision making and ownership practices. In implementing the Principles, signatories contribute to the development of a more sustainable global financial system.”

– Social Investing: PRI in Person – The Latest in Responsible Investing – Read more here

“Among the topics included the release of a landmark new report on Fiduciary Duty entitled “Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century” making the case that investor responsibility is “not an obstacle to asset owner action on ESG factors” and looks at eight markets (US, Canada, UK, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Japan and South Africa).”

– JustMeans: Old Mutual Group Is The Gold Sponsor At The 2015 PRI In Person Conferenece – Read more here

“Old Mutual is the Gold Sponsor at the PRI in Person conference being held at the London Excel Conference Centre this week, from 8 to 10 September 2015. Convened by the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), this annual conference is one of the most significant responsible investment conferences, globally.”

– Top1000Funds: Asset owners step up battle against climate change – Read more here

“Spurred on by its vocal student body and a rich ESG precedent it’s no surprise that the $91 billion University of California is leading on climate change investment.”

– IPE: Investors ‘bedevilled’ by false god of relative performance – CalPERS – Read more here

“Asset owners benchmarking their carbon footprint against market indices risk measuring themselves “against going to hell in a handcart”, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has warned. “

– Top1000Funds: Culture is key in the ESG journey – Read more here

“Renosi Mokate, board member at Africa’s largest pension fund South Africa’s Government Employee Pension Fund, GEPF, believes that one reason the R1 trillion ($107 billion) fund so comfortably embraces ESG principles stems from South Africa’s own turbulent history.”

– eFinancialNews: Exchange status just the start for IEX Group – Read more here

Paywall

– PRI in Person on Twitter – Read more here

With the UK’s Good Money Week 2015 just round the corner, those interested in sustainable and responsible investment need to redouble their effort to get the message across in the mainstream media.

PRI in Person 2016 dates will take place on 6-8 September at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore.