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ASrIA
ASrIA E-Bulletin 

July 21, 2006

The Association for Sustainable
& Responsible Investment in Asia

  

 


The SRI industry is continuing to develop in Japan, as was evidenced by the recent SRI conference in Tokyo (Conference News 8) and the announcement by Shinko ITM and KLD of plans to launch a new environmental index fund (Asian News 3). However there is also growing evidence that more SRI funds and products are coming onto the market elsewhere around the region. The launch by the Bank of China of a sustainable growth equity fund in China (Asian News 4) is one of a number of recent examples, and it is likely that this trend will continue to gather pace. The launch of major defining initiatives for the finance sector has also been a recent trend, with the launch of the Principles for Responsible Investment (Global News 1) and the launch of the revised Equator Principles (Global News 2). The revised Equator Principles are themselves partly based on the recently revised International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Performance Standards. The public launch of the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI's) revised G3 Guidelines will also take place at the Amsterdam Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency in October (Conference News 5). These initiatives taken together provide a valuable frame-work for financial institutions and investors to progress sustainable finance and sustainable investment. In terms of driving regulatory standards, Europe is continuing as a sustainability leader, with the recent requirement for German banks to include sustainability indicators in their annual financial reporting, as opposed to separate sustainability reports (Global News 11). Finally, HSBC is to be congratulated on winning the Sustainable Bank Award at the recent FT Sustainable Banking Awards (Global News 3).
IN THIS ISSUE:


Asian SRI News & Activities
Global SRI News & Activities
Conferences & Events

ASIAN SRI NEWS & ACTIVITIES


    1. ASrIA launches Climate Change Portal for investors
    2. Competitive Business Advantage Training Workshop, Hong Kong
    3. SHINKO ITM and KLD announce plans to launch environmental index fund in Japan
    4. BOCIIM launches sustainable growth equity fund

    GLOBAL SRI NEWS & ACTIVITIES
      1. Kofi Annan launches principles for responsible investment
      2. Financial institutions announce revision of equator principles
      3. Winners of FT Sustainable Banking Awards announced
      4. New clean energy index launched
      5. Shareholder network launched to curtail toxics in products
      6. Winslow and Jupiter launch global green fund using only positive environmental criteria
      7. New tool from EIRIS allows investors to analyse the sustainability of sovereign bonds
      8. UNEP FI and partner investment companies publish report, "Show Me The Money"
      9. Socially responsible investment analysts find more large U.S. companies reporting on social and environmental issues
      10. The implications for investors of measuring corporate carbon footprints
      11. German companies must report sustainability "Key Performance Indicators" in annual financial reports
      12. Responsibilities of banks to mitigate climate change: A study into climate change best practices amongst banks
      13. World Resources Institute and Citigroup team up to report on solutions to climate change
      14. ICMM launches blueprint for biodiversity good practice
      15. Confirming the CalPERS Effect: Academic study links shareowner activism to financial gain
    CONFERENCES & EVENTS

      1. TBLI Europe 2006
      2. SRI in the Rockies
      3. Clear Profit Event: Corporate Responsibility and Democracy
      4. Eco6 Conference, Zurich
      5. The Amsterdam Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency
      6. EIA International SRI Conference
      7. 2nd AustralAsian Cleantech Finance & Investment Forum
      8. SRI Fund Management Conference 2006, Japan
     
    ASIAN SRI NEWS & ACTIVITIES
     


    1. ASrIA LAUNCHES CLIMATE CHANGE PORTAL FOR INVESTORS
    Climate Change and carbon finance have caught the attention of finance institutions and investors worldwide, as a potential investment risk and also as an investment opportunity. Carbon markets in particular have taken off, with an estimated Euro 9.4 billion of trades globally in 2005. To provide some insight on these developments and the resources available, ASrIA has developed this climate change portal with a particular focus on resources which should be useful to Asia-based users. It's intended to provide easy access to a growing universe of web-based resources with an emphasis on the finance community.
    http://www.asria.org/portal

    2. COMPETITIVE BUSINESS ADVANTAGE TRAINING WORKSHOP, HONG KONG
    The IFC and ASrIA delivered a Sustainable Finance training event in Hong Kong in June to a mix of financial and financial services participants. The IFC is also scheduling a CBA training in Shanghai later in the year.
    http://www.asria.org/events/hongkong/06june

    3. SHINKO ITM AND KLD ANNOUNCE PLANS TO LAUNCH ENVIRONMENT INDEX FUND IN JAPAN
    Shinko Investment Trust Management Co and KLD Research & Analytics have announced plans to launch an environmental index fund for socially responsible investors in Japan.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1148355505
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1148529267

    4. BOCIIM LAUNCHES SUSTAINABLE GROWTH EQUITY FUND
    The BOC fund combines quantitative screening with qualitative assessment on issues such as corporate governance and social responsibility. Wu Jun, BOC's International Investment Manager, and Head of Sustainable Investment noted that "the fund emphasizes not only financial performance and earnings growth, but also sustainability of the business model, corporate governance, corporate strategy, and attitude toward social responsibility." The fund benchmarks its performance predominantly to the MSCI China "A" Shares Index. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1150096432

     
    GLOBAL SRI NEWS & ACTIVITIES
     


    1. KOFI ANNAN LAUNCHES PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
    A group of the world's largest institutional investors joined Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, at the US Stock Exchange on 28th April to officially launch the Principles for Responsible Investment. The heads of leading institutions from 16 countries, representing more than $2 trillion in assets owned, officially signed the Principles at the special launch event.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1146540203

    2. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ANNOUNCE REVISION OF EQUATOR PRINCIPLES
    The Equator Principles Financial Institutions (EPFIs) have announced the launch of the revised Equator Principles. The principles provide a common set of best practices to manage social and environmental risks related to project financing. The principles also reflect the recent revisions to the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Performance Standards, upon which the Equator Principles are in part based.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1152600979

    3. WINNERS OF FT SUSTAINABLE BANKING AWARDS ANNOUNCED
    HSBC won the Sustainable Bank of the Year award at the FT Sustainable Banking Awards presentation. The awards were launched in association with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group and have helped set benchmarks on how banks can adapt to meet social, environmental, and financial goals.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1151377663

    4. NEW CLEAN ENERGY INDEX LAUNCHED
    The NASDAQ Clean Edge US Index joins several other recently launched clean energy indexes tracking solar photovoltaic, biofuel, wind, and fuel cell companies.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1147839453

    5. SHAREHOLDER NETWORK LAUNCHED TO CURTAIL TOXICS IN PRODUCTS
    Seventeen investing organizations collectively representing more than $22 billion in assets under management have issued a joint statement calling for better disclosure regarding the risks of toxics in products.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1149127562

    6. WINSLOW AND JUPITER LAUNCH GLOBAL GREEN FUND USING ONLY POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
    The Jupiter Green Investment Trust pioneers cross-continent collaboration and evolution from negative screening to positive sustainability criteria.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1150184259

    7. NEW TOOL FROM EIRIS ALLOWS INVESTORS TO ANALYSE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SOVEREIGN BONDS
    EIRIS has launched a country sustainability rating service to meet the needs of socially responsible investment managers wishing to invest in sovereign fixed income securities.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1153362162

    8. UNEP AND PARTNER INVESTMENT COMPANIES PUBLISH REPORT, "SHOW ME THE MONEY"
    Fourteen investment companies have launched a report for the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). The report outlines the growing importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns to the global investment industry.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1153119384

    9. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT ANALYSTS FIND MORE LARGE U.S. COMPANIES REPORTING ON SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
    A growing number of the largest publicly traded U.S. companies are reporting on their environmental and social performance, according to a new study by the Social Investment Research Analysts Network (SIRAN) conducted by the independent investment research firm KLD Research & Analytics.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1153119104

    10. THE IMPLICATIONS FOR INVESTORS OF MEASURING CORPORATE CARBON FOOTPRINTS
    Trucost ranks the carbon intensity in UK portfolios, arguing for over-weighting companies with lower carbon footprints to reduce ecological impact while maintaining performance.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1152000411

    11. GERMAN COMPANIES MUST REPORT SUSTAINABILITY "KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS" IN ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS
    In 2006, German companies have to disclose material non-financial sustainability "Key Performance Indicators" (KPIs) for the first time in their financial reports for the financial year 2005.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1151375896

    12. RESPONSIBILITIES OF BANKS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE: A STUDY INTO CLIMATE CHANGE BEST PRACTICES AMONGST BANKS
    SiRi Company network partner Dutch Sustainability Research (DSR) has published a report with best practice guidelines for commercial banks to mitigate climate change.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1150711697

    13. WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE AND CITIGROUP TEAM UP TO REPORT ON SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    The report, entitled "Investing in Solutions to Climate Change", identifies twelve companies set to benefit from global warming by offering products and services in four areas of climate change mitigation.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1150708028

    14. ICMM LAUNCHES BLUEPRINT FOR BIODIVERSITY GOOD PRACTICE
    Mining companies seeking to improve their biodiversity performance can now do so with the help of a new 142-page guide which has been published by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).
    http://www.csrwire.com/PressRelease.php?id=5842

    15. CONFIRMING THE CALPERS EFFECT: ACADEMIC STUDY LINKS SHAREOWNER ACTIVISM TO FINANCIAL GAIN
    Examining companies targeted for governance reform by the CalPERS Focus List, the study presents data correlating activism to increasing shareowner value.
    http://www.asria.org/news/press/1147846488

    Back to Index

     
    CONFERENCES & EVENTS
     


    1. TBLI EUROPE 2006
    Paris, France, November 9-10 2006: TBLI is the major annual conference for the socially responsible investment industry in Europe.
    http://www.asria.org/news/events/1142477435

    2. SRI IN THE ROCKIES
    Colorado Springs, US, October 28-31 2006: SRI in the Rockies is the major annual gathering of the socially responsible investment industry in the United States.
    http://www.asria.org/news/events/1148959414

    3. CLEAR PROFIT EVENT: CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND DEMOCRACY
    London, UK, October 19 2006: A chance to explore the contribution corporate and investor responsibility make to democratic governance.
    http://www.asria.org/news/events/1151463874

    4. ECO6 CONFERENCE, ZURICH
    Zurich, Switzerland, October 9-10 2006: Organised by Economie, the conference will focus on the relationship between SRI and CSR. Conference themes are "SRI - Just Another Marketing Ploy?" and "CSR - Fact or Fiction".
    http://www.asria.org/news/events/1153364357

    5. THE AMSTERDAM GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
    Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October 4-6 2006: Titled, "Reporting: A Measure of Sustainability", and featuring the public launch of GRI's G3 Guidelines
    http://www.asria.org/news/events/1144655777

    6. EIA INTERNATIONAL SRI CONFERENCE
    Sydney, Australia, September 21-22 2006: "Ready, Set, GO!" is the EIA's fifth International Conference. The conference, which is held once every two years, provides a major gathering of SRI professionals in Australia, New Zealand as well as the wider Asian region. ASrIA is a "Supporting Organisation" of the event.
    http://www.asria.org/news/events/1144306380

    7. 2ND AUSTRALASIAN CLEANTECH FINANCE& INVESTMENT FORUM
    Melbourne, Australia, August 22 2006: The 2nd AustralAsian Cleantech Finance & Investment Forum builds on the success of the 1st Cleantech Finance & Investment Forum 2005 which was attended by 130 senior finance and Cleantech leaders. The overall themes of the Cleantech Forum 2006 are "Building Australia's Cleantech Future" and positioning the Australian Cleantech network of investors and companies for success in a global market.
    http://www.asria.org/news/events/1148454914

    8. SRI FUND MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2006, JAPAN
    Tokyo, Japan, July 13-14 2006: The "SRI Fund Management Conference 2006, Responsible Investing: New Trends and Innovations" recently took place in Tokyo. The conference focused on two themes, firstly the role of SRI in solving the ever-increasing danger of global warming and secondly, whether pension funds can act as a driving force to reform society.
    http://www.sunrise-advisors.jp/conference2006

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