ESG Investing 

Designed for maximum impact, our stewardship activities are intended to promote long-term sustainable returns on behalf of our investors. We take a multi-faceted approach to stewardship in global capital markets that’s designed make an impact through thought leadership, engagement, proxy voting, and client disclosures.

We believe companies embracing ESG best practices

• Embrace a strong, effective, and independent board of directors, and
• Incorporate sustainability into their long-term business strategy.

Learn more about asset stewardship at SSGA.

Availability of financially material, consistently reported, and comparable ESG data is one of the biggest challenges facing investors. That’s why we’ve built R-Factor, an ESG scoring system that leverages multiple data sources and aligns them to widely accepted, transparent materiality frameworks to generate a unique ESG score for listed companies. We draw on the materiality framework of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and national/investor-created corporate governance frameworks. R-Factor was built to solve for the data quality challenges in the market, and to remove opaqueness around ESG materiality in the scoring process. It is the only score that is backed by a strong stewardship commitment from an asset manager and is designed to put companies in the driver seat to help create sustainable markets.

We offer multiple choices for clients to invest based on their values and preferences.  Our next generation solutions help clients invest in companies adapting to material ESG factors, such as climate change, cybersecurity, and water management.  Robust reporting accompanies all of our strategies in order to help clients understand ESG performance of the portfolio against their desired objectives.

Having honed our indexing expertise over the past 40 years, we effectively align portfolios with the preferences and beliefs of clients by excluding certain companies, countries, or sectors. Our exclusionary screening capabilities include:

• Values-based exclusionary screening, which avoids companies or controversial industries
• Climate-based solutions, which avoids high greenhouse gas-producing companies and industries
• Portfolios that align with international regulations and norms by excluding companies that could conflict with the UN Global Compact or other international treaties

We offer a variety of solutions built with our research acumen and transparent, multi-source data architecture to tilt portfolios toward companies solving for specific ESG themes. These include:

• Climate-based investing which seeks companies mitigating and adapting their businesses to the effects of climate change, and
• Gender-based investing which seeks companies with a higher percentage of women in senior leadership.

Our portfolio managers incorporate ESG data as part of their investment process. Using a combination of ESG signals and factors as part of the overall investment process, our goal is to mitigate risk and identify opportunities for long-term performance potential.

Active and index-based strategies whereby we use our voice and vote as a large shareholder to mitigate ESG risks by voting shares and engaging with companies on a variety of material issues. Our goal is to effect changes in behavior or company practices and policies in order to drive long-term performance.

Learn more about SSGA’s asset stewardship and how our efforts with Fearless Girl have driven change.

For nearly four decades, State Street Global Advisors has been committed to helping our clients, and those who rely on them, achieve their investment objectives. We partner with many of the world’s largest, most sophisticated investors and financial intermediaries to help them reach their goals through a rigorous, research-driven investment process spanning both indexing and active disciplines. With trillions* in assets under management, our scale and global reach offer clients access to markets, geographies and asset classes, and allow us to deliver thoughtful insights and innovative solutions.

For inquires regarding our ESG Investment Strategies, please contact us at ESG@ssga.com.

We offer a variety of solutions built with our research acumen and transparent, multi-source data architecture to tilt portfolios toward companies solving for specific ESG themes. These include:

• Climate-based investing which seeks companies mitigating and adapting their businesses to the effects of climate change
• Climate-based investing which seeks companies mitigating and adapting their businesses to the effects of climate change, and
• Gender-based investing which seeks companies with a higher percentage of women in senior leadership.

R-Factor^TM Reinventing ESG Investing Through a Transparent Scoring System

The lack of a consistent and commonly accepted materiality framework, and opaque ESG scoring methodologies of existing data providers are two key data challenges facing ESG investors today. Learn how State Street Global Advisors leverages stewardship and investment expertise to create a transparent scoring methodology that we believe will become an integral part of the financial system.  Read more>

The ESG Data Challenge

Quality data is the lifeblood of investment analysis. While “quality” can be defined in several ways, most investors agree that consistency and comparability in the availability of data across companies are essential elements of an effective data set. Learn more about considerations that asset owners should incorporate into their evaluation of ESG data providers. Read more>

Five Trends Changing the ESG Investing Landscape in 2019

The field of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing has undergone rapid changes in recent years. Learn more about five trends we’re seeing in the space, and what they mean for investors in 2019. Read More >

ESG Investing Combining Performance and Impact in Fixed Income

While ESG is at the top of many institutional investors’ agendas today, the focus has primarily been on the equity portion of their investments; but this is changing. Investors are now putting more thought into how to successfully embed ESG into their fixed income investments. Learn more about the approaches investors can take to integrate ESG into fixed income investments, what the challenges are and how State Street Global Advisors can help. Read more >

Fearless Girl

State Street Global Advisors takes action to celebrate the power of women in leadership and to urge greater gender diversity on corporate boards. Learn More >

Boards Lag on Climate Risk

Planning for climate risk needs to start at the top—with company boards. But planning is often lacking, even in sectors where risk is most pronounced. Read More > 

Effective Climate-Risk Disclosure in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors through the Lens of the TCFD

State Street Global Advisors provides perspective on the current state of climate-related disclosure in the agricultural and forestry sectors, as well as our recommendations for how companies can enhance their climate-related reporting and disclosure.  Read More >

Climate Investing: Moving from Conversation to Action

Physical, economic, and regulatory risks posed by climate change could mean significant losses for investors. State Street Global Advisors  discusses a range of approaches to address climate change within an investment portfolio.   Read More >

Turning Up the Heat on Climate Investing

Advancements in European regulations mean now is the time for investors to incorporate climate risks into their portfolios. Read More > 

Effective Climate-Risk Disclosure in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors through the Lens of the TCFD

State Street Global Advisors provides perspective on the current state of climate-related disclosure in the agricultural and forestry sectors, as well as our recommendations for how companies can enhance their climate-related reporting and disclosure.  Read More >

R-Factor^TM Reinventing ESG Investing Through a Transparent Scoring System

The lack of a consistent and commonly accepted materiality framework, and opaque ESG scoring methodologies of existing data providers are two key data challenges facing ESG investors today. Learn how State Street Global Advisors leverages stewardship and investment expertise to create a transparent scoring methodology that we believe will become an integral part of the financial system.  Read more>

The ESG Data Challenge

Quality data is the lifeblood of investment analysis. While “quality” can be defined in several ways, most investors agree that consistency and comparability in the availability of data across companies are essential elements of an effective data set. Learn more about considerations that asset owners should incorporate into their evaluation of ESG data providers. Read more>

Five Trends Changing the ESG Investing Landscape in 2019

The field of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing has undergone rapid changes in recent years. Learn more about five trends we’re seeing in the space, and what they mean for investors in 2019. Read More >

Harnessing ESG as an Alpha Source in AQE

How our Active Quantitative Equities team uses ESG factors to seek additional portfolio returns. Read More > 

A Core With a Conscience: Integrating Smart Beta and ESG

Innovations in both Smart Beta and ESG investing are helping investors address the challenge of meeting their return objectives without taking on too much risk or incurring significant costs. Read More >

Index Funds Must Be Activists to Serve Investors

State Street Global Advisors President and CEO Cyrus Taraporevala pens op-ed in Financial Times reiterating our commitment to long-term value creation on behalf of clients. Read More > 

Understanding & Comparing ESG Terminology

A practical framework for identifying the ESG strategy that is right for you. Read More > 

Performing for the Future

Performance characteristics are a key driver of interest in ESG for many investors. Find out more about their motivations and challenges in our latest survey of global institutional investors. Read More > 

Next Generation ESG for Better Alpha

SSGA’s quants describe the more tailored approach they are taking to ESG metrics for specific sectors in order to create uncorrelated alpha signals for their active equity strategies. Read More > 

ESG Investing Combining Performance and Impact in Fixed Income

While ESG is at the top of many institutional investors’ agendas today, the focus has primarily been on the equity portion of their investments; but this is changing. Investors are now putting more thought into how to successfully embed ESG into their fixed income investments. Learn more about the approaches investors can take to integrate ESG into fixed income investments, what the challenges are and how State Street Global Advisors can help. Read more >

Fearless Girl

State Street Global Advisors takes action to celebrate the power of women in leadership and to urge greater gender diversity on corporate boards. Learn More > 

Climate Risk: From Measuring to Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Cyrus Taraporevala highlighted the important role asset managers and owners play in promoting sustainability at the Investor Summit on Climate Risk at the UN headquarters in NYC. Read More > 

Boards Lag on Climate Risk

Planning for climate risk needs to start at the top—with company boards. But planning is often lacking, even in sectors where risk is most pronounced. Read More > 

State Street Global Advisors' Alignment with One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Framework

State Street Global Advisors is a strong supporter of the principles embodied in the One Planet Sovereign Fund Framework. Learn about our approach to supporting the principles, methodologies, and indicators of the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Framework. Read More > 

Effective Climate-Risk Disclosure in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors through the Lens of the TCFD

State Street Global Advisors provides perspective on the current state of climate-related disclosure in the agricultural and forestry sectors, as well as our recommendations for how companies can enhance their climate-related reporting and disclosure.  Read More >

Climate Investing: Moving from Conversation to Action

Physical, economic, and regulatory risks posed by climate change could mean significant losses for investors. State Street Global Advisors  discusses a range of approaches to address climate change within an investment portfolio.  Read More > 

Turning Up the Heat on Climate Investing

Advancements in European regulations mean now is the time for investors to incorporate climate risks into their portfolios. Read More > 

Climate Risk: From Measuring to Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Cyrus Taraporevala highlights the important role asset managers and owners play in promoting sustainability at the Investor Summit on Climate Risk at the UN headquarters in NYC. Read More >

Boards Lag on Climate Risk

Planning for climate risk needs to start at the top—with company boards. But planning is often lacking, even in sectors where risk is most pronounced. Read More >

Effective Climate-Risk Disclosure in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors through the Lens of the TCFD

State Street Global Advisors provides perspective on the current state of climate-related disclosure in the agricultural and forestry sectors, as well as our recommendations for how companies can enhance their climate-related reporting and disclosure.  Read More >