By: Elysabeth Alfano and Kubra Koldemir
May 5, 2022
Forget The Race To Space: We’re In a Race for food and water
Food is not only nourishing and vital for our survival, but it also conjures up some of our most cherished memories. As the world contemplates food insecurity issues brought on by climate change, the inefficiency of our food supply system and political tensions, investing in a safe and secure food future resonates with all of us, governments and individuals alike.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world’s leading producer of sunflower seeds, the sixth producer of corn, and the ninth producer of wheat and soy, shows us, in addition to the devastation of the Ukraine war, that our food supply systems are fragile.
READ MORETirthankar Patneik, Paul Smith, Kubra Koldemir and Ayse Kasikci
This article has exclusively been written for Financial Times/Sustainable Views and for The Banker.
https://www.esg-specialist.com/should-developing-markets-take-a-carrot-or-a-stick-approach-to-esg-regulation/March 24, 2022
Should developing markets take a carrot or a stick approach to ESG regulation?
As European regulation exposes the challenges in addressing environmental, social and governance factors, developing markets, such as India, may wish to take a flexible approach.
ESG investing is big business, amassing $35tn last year. In some cases, however, it has also led to misrepresentation and greenwashing.
Usman Hayat and Paul Smith
This article first appeared on IPE International Publishers.
https://www.ipe.com/guest-viewpoint-women-in-corporate-workforce/10058586.articleMarch 11, 2022
While diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce may mean different things in different societies, gender diversity has the same meaning across the world
If what gets measured gets managed, what gets disclosed gets discussed. And what gets discussed, gets something done about, or so we hope.
With that in mind, shouldn’t regulators require companies to disclose data on women in the workforce? While diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workforce may mean different things in different societies, gender diversity has the same meaning across the world.
READ MORECaroline Codsi, Kubra Koldemir, Paul Smith and Andrea Webster
This article has exclusively been written for Financial Times/Sustainable Views and for The Banker.
https://www.esg-specialist.com/how-regenerative-farming-policy-will-change-markets/February 11, 2022
As governments revise agricultural rules and supermarkets look at more sustainable supply chains, new opportunities emerge for investors
Agriculture is often identified as one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change; ironically, it is also one of the largest net carbon-emitting sectors.
Our existing food systems are currently responsible for about one-third of global emissions, while of all food production, around 80 per cent is dedicated to pasture or crops for animal feed.
Andrea Webster, Paul Smith and Kubra Koldemir
This article was first published at CFA Institute Enterprising Investor.
https://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2022/01/28/the-elephant-in-the-room-the-esg-contradiction/February 4, 2022
We all agree that finance has a key role to play in getting us to net zero. But we can’t ignore the elephant in the room: the inherent conflict between the “E,” the “S,” and the “G” in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. As much as we might wish otherwise, the goals embedded in […]
READ MOREPaul Smith, Kubra Koldemir and Andrea Webster
This article was first published at CFA Institute Enterprising Investor.
January 6, 2022
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Vegetarian and Vegan Investing
Our diets are addictive. While our bodies require nutrition, Big Food designs products with precise combinations of sugar, salt, fat, and other additives that may be as habit-forming as tobacco or alcohol. Indeed, the food supply chain has some parallels with that of prescription opioids during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The OxyContin drug scandal in the US provides a useful comparison to the food supply chain.
READ MORENouriel Roubini, Paul Smith and Kübra Koldemir
This article has exclusively been written for Financial Times/Sustainable Views and for The Banker.
https://www.esg-specialist.com/the-cost-of-empty-esg-promises/December 1, 2021
Do your words have meaning? Do they hold true value? Is there an implied truth that adds weight to them or are your words just for effect without any meaning for tomorrow? Greenwashing is becoming a major problem in the corporate world and is inhibiting investment in new technologies and companies. In society, we try to protect commitments that have been made to us with contracts, laws, agreements and enforcement.
READ MOREBy Usman Hayat, CFA and Kübra Koldemir
November 10, 2021
ESG Disclosure: Four Ways External Assurance Can Build Trust
Sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting is also undergoing external assurance in order to nurture trust. Ninety-one percent of 1,400 companies across 22 jurisdictions report some level of sustainability information and 51% offer some level of assurance. That’s according to “The State of Play in Sustainability Assurance,” a recent report from the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
READ MORENouriel Roubini, Kübra Koldemir and Paul Smith
This article has exclusively been written for The Banker.
September 13, 2021
Imagine a modern-day family, where parents were about to send their children to school. There would
be no question that most parents would try to send their children to the best school and encourage
them to speak their minds openly, no matter their gender. These parents would be highly insulted if it
was suggested that they would behave otherwise.
Despite this, the same cannot always be said for company culture.
Define the Why
Within asset management, the story of recent years has been the emergence of sustainability or ESG tainted products. Redecorating existing funds to create a ESG look-and-feel has been a new trend on the back of substantial flows into ESG products. Yet many investors and clients are very smart and they are developing the skills to be able to tell very easily if an investment strategy is genuinely authentic. Besides, regulators also have started paying attention, especially in Europe, to the issue of funds which use pretended or misinforming names.
READ MORE Dr. Nouriel Roubini, Anand Ramachandran, CFA
Contributors: Paul Smith, CFA, Kubra Koldemir
This article has exclusively been written for Reuters Events Sustainable Business.
July 17, 2021
We must rise to the biggest economic challenge of our times: creating good jobs for everyone
What type of a society do we want to live in? Do we want a world where every human being is able to live in dignity or a world that continues to be ruled by rising imbalances?
READ MOREIt is British philosopher Alain de Botton who said: ‘’we become fully human only through education’’. We expect education to be accessible, free and compulsory everywhere in the world; but in reality, according to the United Nations, there are still 260 million children out of school!
READ MOREThe need for corporate purpose and the question of “why” companies do what they do is becoming ever more important. For a corporation articulating an inspiring purpose to all the stakeholders and especially to the employees is just a first step. Next comes the challenge of how to walk the talk?
READ MOREPaul Smith, CFA, Anand Ramachandran, CFA, Dr. Yılmaz Argüden and Kübra Koldemir
September 27, 2020
From Why to Why Not: What Should Corporations Do to Manage ESG?
Previously in our Blog, we have explored the need for corporate purpose and to ask the question “why” companies do what they do. We emphasized the significance of an inspiring purpose articulated in the form of a mission statement in ensuring durable, high quality relationships with stakeholders.
READ MOREThere are different ways an organization can attract and engage its various stakeholders. Having an inspiring purpose articulated in form of a mission statement may be one of the most effective ways. An even simpler concept is presented by Simon Sinek, the British-American author, who offers “WHY” as an influential notion in his impactful book “Start with why”.
READ MORE“Trust is the essence of good governance and the foundation for sustainable development.” Trust is very fragile. It takes special attention to detail to build and even more to protect it. As Warren Buffet says “It takes years to build a reputation and seconds to ruin it.”
READ MORE