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:
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:
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:
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