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?
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.