Impact Update: Getting Oil, Gas, and Mining on Board with...
Impact Update Intentionally Designed Endowments Making a Difference March 2019: Getting the Oil, Gas, and Mining Sector On Board with Climate Action
2019 Proxy Voting Season Kicks Off
Last week a team of experts launched the Proxy Preview 2019 guide, providing institutional investors with a key tool for shareholder engagement on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.
CFA Institute Releases New Position on ESG Integration
In January 2019, the CFA Institute endorsed ESG integration in investment analysis. As noted in the position statement's release, "Key points in the new Statement include the duty of CFA charterholders to factor in all material information, including material ESG factors into investment analysis, unless contrary to client wishes. The Statement notes that such factoring is consistent with an investment manager’s fiduciary duty."
2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit: Reflecti...
By: Georges Dyer, Co-Founder and Principal, The Intentional Endowments Network and Timothy Carter, President, Second Nature After a year of alarming evidence on the urgency of climate change – from direct experience with extreme weather events to the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – over 300 cross-sector leaders convened in Tempe, Arizona, February 10-12 for the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit. This year’s gathering, co-convened by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), was an interactive, outcome-oriented Summit, focused on the theme of “Local Action. Global Impact.”
College and University Presidents Announce Call to Action...
Boston, MA (February 12, 2019) — Today in Tempe, Arizona, higher education leaders announced a Call to Action: Guiding Principles for Accelerating Equitable and Just Climate Solutions in response to the recent scientific reports that strongly advise unprecedented action in the next decade to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Institutions are signaling for ambitious cross-sector climate solutions that advance just and equitable sustainability practices on campuses and their surrounding communities. Developed in coordination with presidents, chancellors, and trustees from higher education institutions of the Climate Leadership Network, the joint declaration took place at the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, an annual event hosted by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN). The call provides nine guiding...
Addressing Climate Change Through a Private Equity Lens, ...
“Climate change is an existential threat to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable,” Jim Yong Kim, former president of the World Bank Group, recently said. The World Bank Group is not alone in focusing on a more climate resilient future. Climate change remains the most significant ESG issue for asset managers, who have more than doubled their investments to nearly $3 trillion into the space over the last two years, according to the U.S. SIF Foundation's biennial Report on U.S. Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact Investing Trends. Moreover, the report found that private equity and venture capital ESG assets under management more than doubled to $283 billion with 565 funds. Given these investment trends, Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) talked with industry experts to...
Impact Investing Leaders Introduce Opportunity Zones Repo...
The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance and Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University collaborate to create a shared framework to guide best practices in the Opportunity Zones market NEW YORK, NY, February 6, 2019 -- The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance (“USIIA”) and the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University (“Beeck Center”) today released a set of principles and a detailed impact measurement framework to help guide the development of the Opportunity Zones market. The Opportunity Zones Reporting Framework, a voluntary guideline, is designed to define best practices for Opportunity Fund managers seeking to invest in designated Opportunity Zones around the country. Market participants will be encouraged to abide by these best practices and...
Higher Education Endowments and the Climate Crisis
By: Anthony D. Cortese, Sc.D., Co-founder of Second Nature, and Co-Founder and Senior Fellow of The Intentional Endowments Network Humanity is at a crossroads without historical precedent. Current economic, social, and environmental trends are not sustainable. Challenges related to climate change, water, food, economic inequality, poverty, and social unrest pose an existential threat to society. Witness the October UN Report on Climate Change and the National Climate Assessment released last month. We need a transformative shift in the way we think and act individually and collectively and higher education must lead the way in our role to provide the knowledge and the educated citizenry for a thriving civil society for the long term. Society looks to higher education to identify solutions...
The Power & Impact Of Community Investing
“Decent affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without basic shelter, everything falls apart,” Matthew Desmond wrote in his book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Many endowments and experts focused on Community Investing would agree. While affordable housing serves as one aspect of Community Investing, such investment programs tend to catalyze local innovation and stimulate the economy by way of job creation and education. Further, for some investors, Community Investing tends to hit the bottom line twice: invigorating local economies while boosting returns. The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) approached specialists within the Community Investing space to get their perspectives on the value of Community Investing, understanding how to...
Tony Cortese Named as AASHE Lifetime Achievement Award Wi...
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has named Dr. Tony Cortese as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements and progress toward sustainability. With over 3 decades of leadership, Dr. Cortese played an essential role in the formation of many of the key organizations and frameworks in the higher education sustainability space - including the Talloires Declaration, Second Nature, AASHE, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, and the Intentional Endowments Network - that have guided the evolution of the movement for sustainability by and in higher education. “The 2018 award winners demonstrate an inspiring passion for solving some of the world’s most complex challenges. They are truly pioneering the...
Tony Cortese Named as AASHE Lifetime Achievement Award Wi...
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has named Dr. Tony Cortese as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements and progress toward sustainability. With over 3 decades of leadership, Dr. Cortese played an essential role in the formation of many of the key organizations and frameworks in the higher education sustainability space - including the Talloires Declaration, Second Nature, AASHE, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, and the Intentional Endowments Network - that have guided the evolution of the movement for sustainability by and in higher education. “The 2018 award winners demonstrate an inspiring passion for solving some of the world’s most complex challenges. They are truly pioneering the...
The Power & Impact Of Community Investing
“Decent affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without basic shelter, everything falls apart,” Matthew Desmond wrote in his book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Many endowments and experts focused on Community Investing would agree. While affordable housing serves as one aspect of Community Investing, such investment programs tend to catalyze local innovation and stimulate the economy by way of job creation and education. Further, for some investors, Community Investing tends to hit the bottom line twice: invigorating local economies while boosting returns. The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) approached specialists within the Community Investing space to get their perspectives on the value of Community Investing, understanding how to...
Higher Education Endowments and the Climate Crisis
By: Anthony D. Cortese, Sc.D., Co-founder of Second Nature, and Co-Founder and Senior Fellow of The Intentional Endowments Network Humanity is at a crossroads without historical precedent. Current economic, social, and environmental trends are not sustainable. Challenges related to climate change, water, food, economic inequality, poverty, and social unrest pose an existential threat to society. Witness the October UN Report on Climate Change and the National Climate Assessment released last month. We need a transformative shift in the way we think and act individually and collectively and higher education must lead the way in our role to provide the knowledge and the educated citizenry for a thriving civil society for the long term. Society looks to higher education to identify solutions...
Impact Investing Leaders Introduce Opportunity Zones Repo...
The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance and Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University collaborate to create a shared framework to guide best practices in the Opportunity Zones market NEW YORK, NY, February 6, 2019 -- The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance (“USIIA”) and the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University (“Beeck Center”) today released a set of principles and a detailed impact measurement framework to help guide the development of the Opportunity Zones market. The Opportunity Zones Reporting Framework, a voluntary guideline, is designed to define best practices for Opportunity Fund managers seeking to invest in designated Opportunity Zones around the country. Market participants will be encouraged to abide by these best practices and...
Addressing Climate Change Through a Private Equity Lens, ...
“Climate change is an existential threat to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable,” Jim Yong Kim, former president of the World Bank Group, recently said. The World Bank Group is not alone in focusing on a more climate resilient future. Climate change remains the most significant ESG issue for asset managers, who have more than doubled their investments to nearly $3 trillion into the space over the last two years, according to the U.S. SIF Foundation's biennial Report on U.S. Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact Investing Trends. Moreover, the report found that private equity and venture capital ESG assets under management more than doubled to $283 billion with 565 funds. Given these investment trends, Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) talked with industry experts to...
College and University Presidents Announce Call to Action...
Boston, MA (February 12, 2019) — Today in Tempe, Arizona, higher education leaders announced a Call to Action: Guiding Principles for Accelerating Equitable and Just Climate Solutions in response to the recent scientific reports that strongly advise unprecedented action in the next decade to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Institutions are signaling for ambitious cross-sector climate solutions that advance just and equitable sustainability practices on campuses and their surrounding communities. Developed in coordination with presidents, chancellors, and trustees from higher education institutions of the Climate Leadership Network, the joint declaration took place at the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, an annual event hosted by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN). The call provides nine guiding...
2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit: Reflecti...
By: Georges Dyer, Co-Founder and Principal, The Intentional Endowments Network and Timothy Carter, President, Second Nature After a year of alarming evidence on the urgency of climate change – from direct experience with extreme weather events to the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – over 300 cross-sector leaders convened in Tempe, Arizona, February 10-12 for the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit. This year’s gathering, co-convened by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), was an interactive, outcome-oriented Summit, focused on the theme of “Local Action. Global Impact.”
CFA Institute Releases New Position on ESG Integration
In January 2019, the CFA Institute endorsed ESG integration in investment analysis. As noted in the position statement's release, "Key points in the new Statement include the duty of CFA charterholders to factor in all material information, including material ESG factors into investment analysis, unless contrary to client wishes. The Statement notes that such factoring is consistent with an investment manager’s fiduciary duty."
2019 Proxy Voting Season Kicks Off
Last week a team of experts launched the Proxy Preview 2019 guide, providing institutional investors with a key tool for shareholder engagement on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.
Impact Update: Getting Oil, Gas, and Mining on Board with...
Impact Update Intentionally Designed Endowments Making a Difference March 2019: Getting the Oil, Gas, and Mining Sector On Board with Climate Action
2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit: Reflecti...
By: Georges Dyer, Co-Founder and Principal, The Intentional Endowments Network and Timothy Carter, President, Second Nature After a year of alarming evidence on the urgency of climate change – from direct experience with extreme weather events to the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – over 300 cross-sector leaders convened in Tempe, Arizona, February 10-12 for the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit. This year’s gathering, co-convened by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), was an interactive, outcome-oriented Summit, focused on the theme of “Local Action. Global Impact.”
2019 Proxy Voting Season Kicks Off
Last week a team of experts launched the Proxy Preview 2019 guide, providing institutional investors with a key tool for shareholder engagement on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.
Addressing Climate Change Through a Private Equity Lens, ...
“Climate change is an existential threat to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable,” Jim Yong Kim, former president of the World Bank Group, recently said. The World Bank Group is not alone in focusing on a more climate resilient future. Climate change remains the most significant ESG issue for asset managers, who have more than doubled their investments to nearly $3 trillion into the space over the last two years, according to the U.S. SIF Foundation's biennial Report on U.S. Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact Investing Trends. Moreover, the report found that private equity and venture capital ESG assets under management more than doubled to $283 billion with 565 funds. Given these investment trends, Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) talked with industry experts to...
CFA Institute Releases New Position on ESG Integration
In January 2019, the CFA Institute endorsed ESG integration in investment analysis. As noted in the position statement's release, "Key points in the new Statement include the duty of CFA charterholders to factor in all material information, including material ESG factors into investment analysis, unless contrary to client wishes. The Statement notes that such factoring is consistent with an investment manager’s fiduciary duty."
College and University Presidents Announce Call to Action...
Boston, MA (February 12, 2019) — Today in Tempe, Arizona, higher education leaders announced a Call to Action: Guiding Principles for Accelerating Equitable and Just Climate Solutions in response to the recent scientific reports that strongly advise unprecedented action in the next decade to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Institutions are signaling for ambitious cross-sector climate solutions that advance just and equitable sustainability practices on campuses and their surrounding communities. Developed in coordination with presidents, chancellors, and trustees from higher education institutions of the Climate Leadership Network, the joint declaration took place at the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, an annual event hosted by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN). The call provides nine guiding...
Higher Education Endowments and the Climate Crisis
By: Anthony D. Cortese, Sc.D., Co-founder of Second Nature, and Co-Founder and Senior Fellow of The Intentional Endowments Network Humanity is at a crossroads without historical precedent. Current economic, social, and environmental trends are not sustainable. Challenges related to climate change, water, food, economic inequality, poverty, and social unrest pose an existential threat to society. Witness the October UN Report on Climate Change and the National Climate Assessment released last month. We need a transformative shift in the way we think and act individually and collectively and higher education must lead the way in our role to provide the knowledge and the educated citizenry for a thriving civil society for the long term. Society looks to higher education to identify solutions...
Impact Investing Leaders Introduce Opportunity Zones Repo...
The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance and Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University collaborate to create a shared framework to guide best practices in the Opportunity Zones market NEW YORK, NY, February 6, 2019 -- The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance (“USIIA”) and the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University (“Beeck Center”) today released a set of principles and a detailed impact measurement framework to help guide the development of the Opportunity Zones market. The Opportunity Zones Reporting Framework, a voluntary guideline, is designed to define best practices for Opportunity Fund managers seeking to invest in designated Opportunity Zones around the country. Market participants will be encouraged to abide by these best practices and...
Impact Update: Getting Oil, Gas, and Mining on Board with...
Impact Update Intentionally Designed Endowments Making a Difference March 2019: Getting the Oil, Gas, and Mining Sector On Board with Climate Action
The Power & Impact Of Community Investing
“Decent affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without basic shelter, everything falls apart,” Matthew Desmond wrote in his book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Many endowments and experts focused on Community Investing would agree. While affordable housing serves as one aspect of Community Investing, such investment programs tend to catalyze local innovation and stimulate the economy by way of job creation and education. Further, for some investors, Community Investing tends to hit the bottom line twice: invigorating local economies while boosting returns. The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) approached specialists within the Community Investing space to get their perspectives on the value of Community Investing, understanding how to...
Tony Cortese Named as AASHE Lifetime Achievement Award Wi...
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has named Dr. Tony Cortese as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements and progress toward sustainability. With over 3 decades of leadership, Dr. Cortese played an essential role in the formation of many of the key organizations and frameworks in the higher education sustainability space - including the Talloires Declaration, Second Nature, AASHE, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, and the Intentional Endowments Network - that have guided the evolution of the movement for sustainability by and in higher education. “The 2018 award winners demonstrate an inspiring passion for solving some of the world’s most complex challenges. They are truly pioneering the...