ASrIA Carbon Disclosure Gateway
The Carbon Disclosure Gateway provides easy to navigate information on the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in Asia, a guide to carbon reporting, as well as investment resources on climate change. Resources are also available in Chinese and Korean.
Solargiga Energy Holdings Limited
The recent IPO of Solargiga Energy Holdings Limited provides an opportunity to focus on key emerging sector issues related to the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry from the perspective of investors interested in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. ASrIA members only.
ASIAN AND GLOBAL NEWS
Asian Entrants on Short-Lists for FT Sustainable Banking Awards
The Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the short-lists for the 2008 FT Sustainable Banking Awards.
IMF to Move Ahead with SWF Guidelines
The IMF’s Executive Board has endorsed further work on best practice guidelines for sovereign wealth funds (SWFs).
GRI Works with Socially Responsible Investment Researchers to Improve Data Comparability
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) announced it has begun working with leading SRI firms to update and simplify the method by which companies can communicate their environmental and social performance. Nine of the world’s leading SRI firms have welcomed the move in a joint statement and GRI is now calling for involvement from others in shaping the process through which companies report on their sustainability performance.
ADB to Establish Five Private Sector Funds to Invest in Clean Energy Projects in Asia
ASrIA member, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is going to help develop clean energy projects in Asia including India. With an initial seed capital of $100 million, ADB will help establish five private sector funds, which are expected to invest around $1.2 billion in such projects across Asia. The funds – MAP Clean Energy Fund, China Environment Fund III, GEF South Asia Clean Energy Fund, Asia Clean Energy Fund, and China Clean Energy Capital – will each receive up to $20 million in capital from ADB.
ADB to Launch New Climate Change Fund
ASrIA member, the ADB is providing an intial $40 million for a new fund, the Climate Change Fund , which will be open for further contributions from countries, other development organizations, foundations, the private sector and other sources.
SRI Fund to be Launched in China by Industrial Fund Management
Shanghai’s Industrial Fund Management Co Ltd is planning to launch a fund investing in shares of “socially responsible” Chinese listed firms.
HSBC Fund Seeks Firms Tackling Climate Change
HSBC Investments launched a climate change fund in Hong Kong which will invest in three areas: producers of low carbon energy including renewables, gas and nuclear; firms with energy-efficient products such as fuel cells and insulation; and companies dealing with water, waste and pollution control.
HSBC Launches Green Credit Card in Hong Kong
HSBC, launches green credit card in Hong Kong, and contributes to greening in the city, discounts at green-oriented retailers and a contribution of user spending to the HSBC Green Roof for Schools program.
MFC Asset Management to Launch Thai SRI Fund
MFC Asset Management Plc plans to introduce the “first socially responsible” fund to be offered in Thailand.
PCM Capital to Launch PCM Green Power Fund
Hong Kong based PCM Capital launched PCM Green Power Fund in April. The Fund – with its Asian focus – is a pioneering Fund of “Green” Funds that invests in environmental and alternative energy related sectors.
International Equity Investments Added to CREF Social Choice Account
ASrIA member, TIAA-CREF, the national financial services organization and leading provider of retirement services in the academic, medical and cultural fields in the US, has announced the addition of international equity investments to its CREF Social Choice variable annuity account.
Systematic Absolute Return Launches Green Fund of Funds with 50% Exposure
Swiss-based fund of hedge funds launched its SAR Environment Fund in January 2008. Approximately one quarter of the underlying hedge funds are based in Asia, and overall exposure for Asian investments will be around 50%.
Impax Launches Environmental Leaders Fund
Retail OEIC will focus on companies with solutions to global environmental problems. In particular the fund will focus on alternative energy and energy efficiency, water treatment and pollution control and waste technologies and resource management.
Calpers to Invest $100 Million in South Korea Fund
CalPERS, the largest U.S. pension fund, plans to contribute US$100 million to Lazard’s Korea Corporate Governance Fund during the first half of 2008.
PGGM Commits Euro 200m of Institutional Investments in Microfinance
PGGM, the Euro 88bn ($139bn) asset manager of Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn, the Dutch healthcare pension fund, is making one of the world’s largest institutional commitments to microfinance
AP Funds Report Engagement Progress with Companies Including Yahoo!,Wal-Mart, PetroChina
Sweden’s AP government pensions buffer funds have published a list of the companies they are in talks with on environmental, human rights and governance, including Walmart, Yahoo and Petro-China.
New Credit Suisse Index Combines SRI and Financial Performance Criteria
Whereas traditional SRI indexes focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues this new index will combine the ESG issues with financial criteria.
Société Générale Index Launches SGI Global Carbon
Société Générale Index (SGI) has launched SGI Global Carbon, an equity index offering exposure to stocks that exhibit the lowest carbon intensity amongst the worldwide Industrial, Utilities, Energy, Capital Goods and Materials sectors.
New Index to Shut Out Investment From ‘Rogue Regimes’
London’s stock exchange index, the FTSE, unveiled a new index to guide American investors away from investing in some 400 major companies doing business with the ‘outlaw’ states of Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea.
CERES Ranking of 40 Leading Banks on Climate Change Strategies
HSBC and other European banks receive top scores in a ranking of 40 leading banks on climate change strategies, in a report released by CERES in January.
Project Kaleidoscope,Supply Chain Labour Conditions Report Released
McDonald’s Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, and a group of organizations working to improve working conditions in company supply chains announced the release of the final report of Project Kaleidoscope, a multi-year collaborative project designed to promote sustained compliance with labor standards mandated by corporate codes of conduct for manufacturers.
KPMG Report: Climate Changes Your Business
Businesses face much bigger climate change costs than they realize concludes a newly published report by KPMG titled Climate Changes Your Business.
PwC: Sustainable Investments for Conservation: The Business Case for Biodiversity
Financing conservation projects with capital from institutional investors will gain importance in the coming years, concludes a report conducted by PwC on behalf of WWF Germany.
Malaysia’s Sharia-Compliant Equities dominate Bursa Malaysia
At the end of 2007, there were 853 sharia-compliant equities, making up 86% of the total listed equities on Bursa Malaysia.