Cobalt ESG Risks Threaten Electric Vehicle Supply Chain
Transport electrification is at the forefront of the international climate transition agenda. Because of this, global demand for cobalt is projected to grow fourfold by 2030, which raises the question, are mineral supply chains robust enough to fuel a sustainable EV revolution?
How Europe’s Energy Crisis Impacts the Clean Energy Transition
Europe is facing two major crises—an energy crisis, worsened by Russian energy supply disruptions and the challenge of tackling climate change. Renewables have the potential to accelerate EU's energy independence and reduce emissions. Still, there is also an urgent need to secure an adequate energy supply, especially in the coming winter months when heating demand increases. In the short-term, many EU countries are turning to other fossil fuel producers in the Middle East OPEC+ and the US, as well as domestic coal production. For firms deciding which energy projects to invest in, they face a complex question: are energy supply disruptions advancing the EU’s transition to a lower-carbon economy and its energy independence or furthering the continent’s dependence on fossil fuels?
Correlation of Business Ethics and Corporate Culture - 5 Lessons from the Banking Industry
To protect a company’s reputation and economic position, its employees play an essential part in organisational risk mitigation strategy by demonstrating consideration for systemic business risk, taking accountability, and being willing to escalate concerns. Companies with a strong, ethical corporate culture have much to gain—improved employee performance, morale, and retention, and in the long run, bolstering the bottom line.
Governance in Brief – July 7, 2022
Microsoft and Cisco Systems have come under shareholder pressure to bring their tax disclosure in line with the Global Reporting Initiative’s GRI 207 tax transparency standard, which requires granular country-by-country disclosure on non-U.S. profits and tax payments, as well as other financial data relating to tax risk appetite
Sustainable Investment Calculations Under MiFID II and SFDR Remain Perplexing for ESG Investors
The various interpretations of the sustainable investment definition introduced by the SFDR and leveraged in MiFID II leave many market participants unsettled, having to decide between approaches that have different benefits and limitations in the short to medium term.
The Governance of Autonomous Weapons: What Investors Should Know
The ethical implications of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), often referred to by their dramatic moniker ‘killer robots’, have long been a topic of interest. Until recently, debates about LAWS were relegated as hypothetical, with the technology assumed to be under development and out of reach. Such assumptions may be due for reevaluation, and while a firm conclusion is yet to be drawn, it is worthwhile presenting them to the ESG investment community.
Governance in Brief – June 30, 2022
Glencore subsidiary admits to bribery in UK trial Glencore Energy, a subsidiary of Glencore PLC, has pleaded guilty to all counts of bribery brought against it by UK authorities. The company admitted to paying bribes amounting to USD 28 million for access to unduly favourable oil deals in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan. Sentencing is expected at the beginning of November.
What's Happening in Sustainable Finance: Whether War Could Spur Adoption of Renewables, Thoughts on Just Adaptation, and More
In this month’s round-up of the sustainable finance market, we discuss how geopolitical conflicts could spur the adoption of renewables, considerations for a just adaptation, and much more.
ESG Implications of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine on the Automotive Industry
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has put more pressure on a sector that was already constrained by the disrupted supply chains, brought about by pandemic-induced congestions and shortages. Additionally, the surge in fuel price is already affecting customers, although it may accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as a side effect. However, the scarcity of minerals, which are necessary for semiconductor manufacturing, may further exacerbate the chip shortage that has afflicted the automotive industry since 2020.
Mapping Pay to Performance: ESG-Linked Compensation Around the World
In this infographic, we examine the state of ESG pay-links, including their adoption in long-term incentives and short-term incentives, in five regions: Europe, the United States and Canada, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.