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1. ASrIA BRIEFING: ISO14001 - WHAT DO INVESTORS NEED TO KNOW?
26 May, 2005, 4:00pm in Hong Kong, a briefing hosted by ASrIA member Credit Suisse First Boston. Dr Ian Nicholson, Environmental Technical Advisor with the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, will provide a detailed account of what investors need to know about ISO 14001.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1116556164

ASrIA BRIEF ON ISO14001
The international environmental management standard ISO 14001 is increasingly being adopted by organisations worldwide. Not surprisingly it is often quoted by companies as evidence of good environmental performance. However is a simple statement enough to provide assurance about potential environmental risks? This brief is currently freely available to ASrIA members only. Public availability details are on the website.
http://www.asria.org/publications/#iso

2. ASrIA BRIEFING, BENCHMARKING EHS PERFORMANCE WITH CONTOUR
8th July,2005, Hong Kong, an ASrIA briefing with Contour. An explanation and overview of benchmarking corporate environmental, health and safety performance using innovative software developed by the Confederation of British Industry. Mark the diary, details will be posted on our website soon.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1116835887

3. SRI WORLD GROUP AND SUNRISE ADVISORS PARTNER TO OFFER ONEREPORT IN JAPAN
SRI World Group, Inc. and Sunrise Advisors, an ASrIA member, announced today an agreement in which Sunrise Advisors will market and sell SRI World Group's OneReport services in Japan. OneReport is a global electronic reporting network that enables companies to systematically collect, manage, and report their social, environmental, economic, and governance data.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115695001

4. ETHICAL INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES SRI SYMBOL
The Australian EIA has been working for over 18 months to develop an SRI Symbol for the SRI industry. The Symbol will indicate that a product or service offers an investment opportunity that is governed by environmental, social and / or ethical considerations.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1116560013

5. BTS AND YES BANK IDENTIFY MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY INVESTMENTS IN INDIA
BTS Investment Advisors Limited (BTS), a financial services group focused on investment opportunities in India and the newly launched Indian YES Bank Limited announce their collaboration to develop sustainability investments.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115868122/

6. JAPANESE GOVERNMENT PURCHASES ITS FIRST CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM) CREDITS
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment announced on January 28, 2005 that it has accepted a project which will entitle the Japanese to CDM credits. The CDM project aims to generate electric power using rice husks in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The Japanese government will receive CDM credits totaling 18,500 tons of carbon dioxide (2006-2012).
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1114569619

7. JAPANESE CONTAMINATED LAND FUND TO BE INTRODUCED
Green Earth, a Tokyo-based investment company, is preparing to introduce a fund that seeks to help Japan clean up its polluted sites and is aimed at institutions interested in socially responsible investments.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1116833040

8. REEEP DISBURSES €1MN FOR GLOBAL CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) has announced just over €1 million Euros of funding for clean energy projects in Africa, Asia, North America, Latin America and Europe.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115954581

9. AMP CAPITAL RESEARCH SHOWS LINK BETWEEN CR AND STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
AMP Capital Investors has released research showing strong financial performance can be directly linked to good corporate responsibility.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1112758738

10. CHINA POWER & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SUMMIT 2005: LEADING THE TRANSITION TO A CLEAN & EFFICIENT ENERGY SYSTEM
20-21 June, 2005, The Westin Shanghai, China. The China Power & Alternative Energy Summit 2005 aims to be a leading event for addressing the energy issues facing China and to explore best practices. ASrIA is the Official Partner and enrolling through the ASrIA website registration entitles participants to a 20% discount off the conference fee.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1113536172

11. COMMODITY INVESTMENT WORLD ASIA 2005
Date: 21-24 June, 2005, The Conrad, Hong Kong. Asia's first event focussing on commodity investment. Marc Stuart, co-founder of EcoSecurities (named Environmental Finance magazine's leading Greenhouse Gas project advisor for the past four years) is a speaker at the event and is also leading a Masterclass for Asian fund managers dedicated to understanding and benefiting from carbon trading and the CDM.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1114596810

12. RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE ASIA & CARBON MARKETS ASIA
15 - 16 June, 2005, Excelsior Hotel, Hong Kong. An essential networking forum for the financial community to understand the opportunities in financing renewable energy projects in Asia, including one day focussing on Asian Carbon Markets and Emissions Trading. Over 30 specialised experts in sustainable energy finance, from 12 countries, will share their experiences at this pan regional event. ASrIA is one of the official endorsing associations of this event.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1111459182

13. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: DELIVERING VALUE TO YOUR CLIENTS
25 May 2005, FCC, Hong Kong. More and more companies in Hong Kong are talking about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Community Business, an ASrIA member, would like to invite PR practitioners to attend a discussion where Community Business will be drawing on their experience and research conducted in Hong Kong.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1115202376

14. INTERNATIONAL CSR CONFERENCE IN KOREA
7 April, 2005, Seoul, Korea. ERM, an ASrIA member, was cosponsor of an international CSR conference in Korea. The event was hosted by the UNDP and Federation of Korean Industry (FKI), which is the largest business forum in Korea. Over 300 representatives from business, media, government and NGO's attended. A conference summary is available.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1114483074

15. PENSION & INVESTMENT FUNDS SUMMIT ASIA
18-20 April, 2005, Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore. Tessa Tennant, ASrIA Chair spoke on Responsible Investment, Sustainability and Fiduciary Responsibilities, Integrating SRI into Asian Pensions Strategy. Visit the post-conference page for the full presentation.
http://www.asria.org/events/singapore/05april


There has recently been increasing focus on the social side of the SRI equation in Asia, with particular interest in supply-chain labour related issues. Growing pressure on companies and workers operating in China is beginning to stimulate more disclosure about supply chain realities and a much needed re-evaluation of strategies for addressing workplace abuses. The coming two months will provide opportunities to refocus on environmental issues however. ASrIA has published an SRI investor 'Brief' on the environmental management standards, ISO14000 (see news item Asian News 1), focusing on it’s relevance to Asian investors. We are following this up with an afternoon briefing for our Hong Kong members and subscribers, to be hosted by ASrIA member Credit Suisse First Boston later this week (Asian News 1). Another ASrIA briefing on Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) will take place in July (Asian News 2). In addition, ASrIA is an official partner of two environment related events in June, the Renewable Energy Finance Asia event in Hong Kong (Asian News 12) and the China Power & Alternative Energy Summit in Shanghai (Asian News 10) - both of which are featuring practical information on carbon-linked strategies. Please note that a 20% discount off the registration fee is available to all our members and e-bulletin subscribers for the Shanghai event.
IN THIS ISSUE:
ASIAN SRI NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
ASrIA briefing & ASrIA publication on ISO14001 - what do investors need to know? ASrIA briefing, benchmarking EHS performance with Contour SRI World Group & Sunrise Advisors partner to offer Onereport in Japan Ethical Investment Association launches SRI symbol BTS & Yes Bank identify market opportunities for sustainability investments in India Japanese Government purchases its first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) credits Japanese contaminated land fund to be introduced REEEP disburses €1mn for global clean energy projects AMP Capital research shows link between CR and strong financial performance China Power & Alternative Energy Summit 2005 Commodity Investment World Asia 2005 Renewable Energy Finance Asia & Carbon Markets Asia Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & public relations International CSR conference in Korea Pension & Investment Funds Summit Asia
GLOBAL SRI NEWS
Calvert launches two new asset allocation funds EIRIS research to support new SRI hedge fund Dow Jones Sustainability Index tops 3 billion Euros Long-term performance of 15 year-old Domini 400 Social Index helps validate SRI Denmark's National Pension Fund to invest ethically FTSE launch the new corporate governance Indices New toolkit will enable charity trustees to invest responsibly Pricewaterhousecoopers' corporate responsibility report BASF sustainable development newsletter The future of corporate responsibility codes, standards and frameworks Assurance standards briefing report Less can be more...a new approach to SRI research The Shell Foundation, enterprise solutions to poverty report Socially Responsible Investment practices becoming mainstream Mercer survey finds Moskowitz Research Prize: call for papers Business for Social Responsibility Annual Conference Canadian Socially Responsible Investment Conference Climate Change & Investment, Asset Allocation in a Carbon-Constrained World 2nd Middle East Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit, Dubai Ethical Corporation Europe 2005 - Power, Purpose, Personality & Performance
	ASIAN SRI NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
	1. ASrIA BRIEFING: ISO14001 - WHAT DO INVESTORS NEED TO KNOW? 26 May, 2005, 4:00pm in Hong Kong, a briefing hosted by ASrIA member Credit Suisse First Boston. Dr Ian Nicholson, Environmental Technical Advisor with the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, will provide a detailed account of what investors need to know about ISO 14001. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1116556164 ASrIA BRIEF ON ISO14001 The international environmental management standard ISO 14001 is increasingly being adopted by organisations worldwide. Not surprisingly it is often quoted by companies as evidence of good environmental performance. However is a simple statement enough to provide assurance about potential environmental risks? This brief is currently freely available to ASrIA members only. Public availability details are on the website. http://www.asria.org/publications/#iso 2. ASrIA BRIEFING, BENCHMARKING EHS PERFORMANCE WITH CONTOUR 8th July,2005, Hong Kong, an ASrIA briefing with Contour. An explanation and overview of benchmarking corporate environmental, health and safety performance using innovative software developed by the Confederation of British Industry. Mark the diary, details will be posted on our website soon. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1116835887 3. SRI WORLD GROUP AND SUNRISE ADVISORS PARTNER TO OFFER ONEREPORT IN JAPAN SRI World Group, Inc. and Sunrise Advisors, an ASrIA member, announced today an agreement in which Sunrise Advisors will market and sell SRI World Group's OneReport services in Japan. OneReport is a global electronic reporting network that enables companies to systematically collect, manage, and report their social, environmental, economic, and governance data. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115695001 4. ETHICAL INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES SRI SYMBOL The Australian EIA has been working for over 18 months to develop an SRI Symbol for the SRI industry. The Symbol will indicate that a product or service offers an investment opportunity that is governed by environmental, social and / or ethical considerations. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1116560013 5. BTS AND YES BANK IDENTIFY MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY INVESTMENTS IN INDIA BTS Investment Advisors Limited (BTS), a financial services group focused on investment opportunities in India and the newly launched Indian YES Bank Limited announce their collaboration to develop sustainability investments. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115868122/ 6. JAPANESE GOVERNMENT PURCHASES ITS FIRST CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM) CREDITS The Japanese Ministry of the Environment announced on January 28, 2005 that it has accepted a project which will entitle the Japanese to CDM credits. The CDM project aims to generate electric power using rice husks in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The Japanese government will receive CDM credits totaling 18,500 tons of carbon dioxide (2006-2012). http://www.asria.org/news/press/1114569619 7. JAPANESE CONTAMINATED LAND FUND TO BE INTRODUCED Green Earth, a Tokyo-based investment company, is preparing to introduce a fund that seeks to help Japan clean up its polluted sites and is aimed at institutions interested in socially responsible investments. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1116833040 8. REEEP DISBURSES €1MN FOR GLOBAL CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) has announced just over €1 million Euros of funding for clean energy projects in Africa, Asia, North America, Latin America and Europe. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115954581 9. AMP CAPITAL RESEARCH SHOWS LINK BETWEEN CR AND STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AMP Capital Investors has released research showing strong financial performance can be directly linked to good corporate responsibility. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1112758738 10. CHINA POWER & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SUMMIT 2005: LEADING THE TRANSITION TO A CLEAN & EFFICIENT ENERGY SYSTEM 20-21 June, 2005, The Westin Shanghai, China. The China Power & Alternative Energy Summit 2005 aims to be a leading event for addressing the energy issues facing China and to explore best practices. ASrIA is the Official Partner and enrolling through the ASrIA website registration entitles participants to a 20% discount off the conference fee. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1113536172 11. COMMODITY INVESTMENT WORLD ASIA 2005 Date: 21-24 June, 2005, The Conrad, Hong Kong. Asia's first event focussing on commodity investment. Marc Stuart, co-founder of EcoSecurities (named Environmental Finance magazine's leading Greenhouse Gas project advisor for the past four years) is a speaker at the event and is also leading a Masterclass for Asian fund managers dedicated to understanding and benefiting from carbon trading and the CDM. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1114596810 12. RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE ASIA & CARBON MARKETS ASIA 15 - 16 June, 2005, Excelsior Hotel, Hong Kong. An essential networking forum for the financial community to understand the opportunities in financing renewable energy projects in Asia, including one day focussing on Asian Carbon Markets and Emissions Trading. Over 30 specialised experts in sustainable energy finance, from 12 countries, will share their experiences at this pan regional event. ASrIA is one of the official endorsing associations of this event. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1111459182 13. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: DELIVERING VALUE TO YOUR CLIENTS 25 May 2005, FCC, Hong Kong. More and more companies in Hong Kong are talking about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Community Business, an ASrIA member, would like to invite PR practitioners to attend a discussion where Community Business will be drawing on their experience and research conducted in Hong Kong. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1115202376 14. INTERNATIONAL CSR CONFERENCE IN KOREA 7 April, 2005, Seoul, Korea. ERM, an ASrIA member, was cosponsor of an international CSR conference in Korea. The event was hosted by the UNDP and Federation of Korean Industry (FKI), which is the largest business forum in Korea. Over 300 representatives from business, media, government and NGO's attended. A conference summary is available. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1114483074 15. PENSION & INVESTMENT FUNDS SUMMIT ASIA 18-20 April, 2005, Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore. Tessa Tennant, ASrIA Chair spoke on Responsible Investment, Sustainability and Fiduciary Responsibilities, Integrating SRI into Asian Pensions Strategy. Visit the post-conference page for the full presentation. http://www.asria.org/events/singapore/05april
	GLOBAL SRI NEWS
	1. CALVERT LAUNCHES TWO NEW ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS Calvert, an ASrIA member, announced the launch of two new asset allocation funds. These Funds of Funds provide a one-stop asset allocation solution for investors seeking diversified exposure to socially responsible investing. The Funds invest exclusively in up to eleven underlying Calvert mutual funds. http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/3850.html & http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115626762 2. EIRIS RESEARCH TO SUPPORT NEW SRI HEDGE FUND Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS), an ASrIA member, are pleased to have been chosen by Strategus to provide social, environmental and other ethical (SEE) research for a new SRI hedge fund which is to be launched by Armajaro Asset Management LLP later this summer. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1116469728 3. DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY INDEX TOPS 3 BILLION EUROS SAM Group, an ASrIA member, has announced that in March 2005 assets managed against the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes crossed the 3 billion Euro mark. Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes track the market performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1116832565 4. LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE OF 15 YEAR-OLD DOMINI 400 SOCIAL INDEX HELPS VALIDATE SRI Since its 1990 inception, the DSI has outperformed the S&P 500. With a 15-year track record the index provides a valuable perspective on the competitiveness of SRI investment over the longer term. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115626394 5. DENMARK'S NATIONAL PENSION FUND TO INVEST ETHICALLY ATP, the Danish labour market public authority pension fund, is to use new research from ASrIA member, SRI research house EIRIS in order to aid the implementation of its socially responsible policy. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1113363416 6. FTSE LAUNCH THE NEW CORPORATE GOVERNANCE INDICES FTSE Group, an ASrIA member, in partnership with Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has launched the FTSE ISS Corporate Governance Index Series constituent product. The series provides a valuable tool for investors to assess and evaluating corporate governance risk and performance across their portfolios. FTSE have also released a free report: Measuring the Impact of Corporate Governance on Global Portfolios. News release: http://www.asria.org/news/press/1113794067 Report: http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115954952 7. NEW TOOLKIT WILL ENABLE CHARITY TRUSTEES TO INVEST RESPONSIBLY EIRIS, an ASrIA member is a joint author of a new guide, Investing Responsibly: A Practical Guide for Charity Trustees has been published to assist the increasing number of trustees who are adopting or updating responsible investment strategies on behalf of their organisations. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1115869232 8. PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS' CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), an ASrIA member, publishes the second issue of its Corporate Responsibility Report covering a range of topics including the complexities of managing risks in a global supply chain; corporate responsibility in the Oil and Gas sector; the successes and future challenges of the United Nations Global Compact; the structure of climate change transactions and much more. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1113533596 9. BASF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER BASF, an ASrIA corporate member, has posted online its latest Sustainable Development newsletter, which carries news on developments inside the company. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1113879909 10. THE FUTURE OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY CODES, STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORKS The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and AccountAbility have published a new Executive Briefing on the future of corporate responsibility codes, standards and frameworks. The Executive Briefing demystifies the confusion surrounding the various tools on offer to companies. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1114139361 11.ASSURANCE STANDARDS BRIEFING REPORT AccountAbility and KMPG Sustainability The Netherlands have published a report on the two international assurance standards - AA1000AS and ISAE3000, concluding that they are not in conflict and are not substitutes, but rather complementary in terms of providing a comprehensive and robust assurance process which should satisfy the needs of both management and stakeholders. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1113879186 12.LESS CAN BE MORE...A NEW APPROACH TO SRI RESEARCH A study just released by Geneva-based private bank Pictet & Cie takes aim at what it describes as the bloating of socially responsible investment (SRI) research, and recommends more focus on fewer key issues. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1114506664 13. THE SHELL FOUNDATION ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY REPORT 'Required reading in Downing Street' was how The Times described Enterprise Solutions to Poverty, a new report published by the Shell Foundation. Using a series of case studies in Africa and India, the Shell Foundation explains how multinationals operating in developing countries can apply non-financial assets - such as their convening power, networks and inherent business savvy - to the problems of poverty and in doing so move beyond traditional forms of CSR and social investment. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1116299405 14. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT PRACTICES BECOMING MAINSTREAM MERCER SURVEY FINDS The majority of investment managers worldwide expect that socially responsible investing (SRI) practices will become a common component of mainstream investment processes within 10 years, according to a survey by Mercer Investment Consulting (Mercer IC). http://www.asria.org/news/press/1112929950 15. MOSKOWITZ RESEARCH PRIZE: CALL FOR PAPERS Papers are now being solicited for the 2005 Moskowitz Prize Competition for outstanding research in the field of socially and environmentally responsible investing, to be awarded at the SRI in the Rockies conference in September. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1112757603 16. BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1-4 November, 2005, San Francisco, California, USA. "Questioning Assumptions - Changing Frameworks". Representatives from leading global companies will assemble to discuss the role and contributions of business when it comes to issues ranging from corporate governance to environmental supply chain management. http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/3852.html 17. CANADIAN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT CONFERENCE 12-14 June, 2005, Toronto, Canada. The Social Investment Organization (SIO) has now launched the full conference program for the June 12-14 Canadian Socially Responsible Investment Conference to be held in Toronto. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1110854290 18. CLIMATE CHANGE & INVESTMENT, ASSET ALLOCATION IN A CARBON-CONSTRAINED WORLD 6 - 7 June, 2005, London, United Kingdom. This conference from Environmental Finance Publications, will provide an update on how the current intense focus on global warming is affecting institutional investors and the companies in which they invest. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1112931553 19. 2ND MIDDLE EAST CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) SUMMIT, DUBAI 5 - 8 June, 2005, Dubai. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its importance for the region's growth and long-term development will be the focus of attention for Middle East business leaders at the 2nd Middle East Corporate Social Responsibility Summit. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1112932601 20. ETHICAL CORPORATION EUROPE 2005 - POWER, PURPOSE, PERSONALITY & PERFORMANCE 1-2 June, 2005, London, UK. Ethical Corporation is running a major ethical business conference, focusing on the key challenges for business in society, Power, Purpose, Personality and Performance. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1108459570
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	ASrIA E-Bulletin May 24, 2005 The Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia