ESG: Building a Sustainable Future
Sustainable investing is the practice of incorporating material environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions and active ownership. It is based on the understanding that material ESG factors play a substantial role in long-term value creation.
Why Should Investors Care About ESG Issues?
Research shows that companies that are managed responsibly deliver better long-term financial results. Additionally, firms that adhere to environmental efficiency, social awareness and high governance standards are well-positioned to withstand emerging risks and capitalise on new opportunities. Also, ESG allows investors to express their specific values in their portfolios if they so wish.
Car companies should have a strategy for ensuring passenger safety, and managing fleet fuel economy and emissions reductions.
Airlines should ensure that their aircraft are fitted with all the highest quality safety features at the time they go to market.
Social media platforms should be aware of — and held accountable for — risks related to data protection and consumer privacy.
Trending
Today, issues like climate change, information security and gender diversity are playing a growing role in company success.
Defining Your ESG Goals
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all areas of our lives and highlights how globally interconnected we are. Encouragingly, the crisis has sharpened the focus of governments, companies and society on tackling the longer term threat of climate change. It has also increased awareness of the significance of ESG issues in general. Amid environmental and societal challenges, and incoming ESG regulations, how can investors build long-term resilience in their portfolios while benefiting from new investment opportunities?
We advise that investors define and develop specific ESG investment objectives and goals, based on their vision, mission and investment goals. Common investor objectives can include alpha generation, risk mitigation, adhering to ESG regulations or aligning the portfolio to the investor’s values. Investment principles can be developed based on these objectives, which will form the ESG investment strategy.
ESG Investment Strategies
ESG Integration
ESG data is available to all teams at State Street, across all asset classes and investment styles. Our active portfolio managers systematically integrate ESG signals and factors into the investment analysis and decision-making process, to mitigate risk and identify opportunities for long-term outperformance
This is a thematic investment approach that aims to align portfolios with the transition to a low carbon economy and a reduction in global warming to well below 2°C.
For investors seeking to align portfolios with the Paris Agreement goals and the transition to a low-carbon economy, we offer a variety of options across equities and fixed income. Our Sustainable Climate Strategies allow investors to benefit from both mitigation of current and future emissions, and adaptation to embedded climate risks.
Data Analytics
We built a transparent, multi-source data architecture to help investors better understand their ESG exposures, takeaction to achieve their investment goals and monitor results.
ESG: Central to Our Investment Philosophy
At State Street, our mission is to invest responsibly to enable economic prosperity and social progress. We believe that identifying and systematically incorporating material ESG issues is integral to our role as fiduciaries of our clients’ capital. As one of the world’s largest asset managers, we can partner with clients to achieve their ESG objectives through our global expertise in ESG research, investment strategy and data analytics, leveraging our top rated* ESG capabilities.
Through strong engagement, voting and thought leadership, we have seen companies respond to our calls to action to enhance diversity at the board level, strengthen board leadership and improve disclosure on their sustainability practices.
Further information on our stewardship approach can be found in our Annual Stewardship Report.
Latest Insights
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has just released a report on the need for radical change in the energy sector and beyond to reach net zero emissions by 2050. In this Q&A, Carlo M. Funk, Head of EMEA ESG Investment Strategy, discusses the report’s key findings and the implications for investors.
Read President & CEO, Cyrus Taraporevala’s, latest piece in the Financial Times on the critical role of investors in holding companies accountable for their climate progress and their plans to get to net zero.
The market is replete with studies that research the relationship of ESG integration and performance. Tracking error is often discussed in conjunction with performance and the issue of tracking error against a strategic benchmark arises in most client conversations around ESG integration.
