-
Sharif Tarver published Climate Change Risk Threatens 18 U.S. Military Sites, Study Finds in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-08-02 19:48:16 -0400
Climate Change Risk Threatens 18 U.S. Military Sites, Study Finds
Climate Change Risk Threatens 18 U.S. Military Sites, Study Finds | The Huffington PostJuly 27th, 2016Rising sea levels due to hurricanes and tidal flooding intensified by climate change will put military bases along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast at risk, according to a report released on Wednesday. Nonprofit group the Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed 18 military installations that represent more than 120 coastal bases nationwide to weigh the impact of climate change on their operations. By 2050, most of these sites will be hit by more than 10 times the number of floods than at present, the report said, and at least half of them will experience daily floods.
-
Sharif Tarver published NY's PSC Puts Clean Energy Standard on its Monday Agenda in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-08-02 19:46:00 -0400
NY's PSC Puts Clean Energy Standard on its Monday Agenda
NY's PSC Puts Clean Energy Standard on its Monday Agenda | Peekskill Cortlandt PatchJuly 29th, 2016The Public Service Commission has finalized the agenda for its Monday meeting and top on the list is a proceeding on motion of the commission to implement a large-scale renewable program and a clean energy standard for New York state.
-
Sharif Tarver published Williams College Steps In To Power Town Solar Project in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-08-02 19:42:26 -0400
Williams College Steps In To Power Town Solar Project
July 28th, 2016Williams College has stepped in to help complete a solar array project that has deteriorated in Williamstown. Under the agreement with the town, Williams College will invest about $6 million to construct a 1.9-megawatt solar array on a capped landfill.
-
Sharif Tarver published NYC Pension Funds Begin to Craft a Fossil-Fuel Divestment Path in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-08-02 19:40:38 -0400
NYC Pension Funds Begin to Craft a Fossil-Fuel Divestment Path
July 25th, 2016NYC Pension Funds Begin to Craft a Fossil-Fuel Divestment Path by IEEFA. A certain recent RFP from the New York City comptroller on behalf of the city’s pension funds could be the beginning of something big. It calls for a carbon footprint analysis of the funds’ holdings and advertises an opening for a climate-risk investment-strategy consultant. While the RFP is shrouded in pension-speak, its aim is clear: to introduce a series of asset-allocation decisions that will minimize fossil fuel risk and optimize portfolio returns.
-
Sharif Tarver published Durham University outlines plan to review issue of divestment in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-08-02 19:37:46 -0400
Durham University outlines plan to review issue of divestment
Durham University outlines plan to review issue of divestment | Palatinate, Durham UniversityJuly 22nd, 2016Following a University-wide consultation on whether they should divest in fossil fuels, Durham University have released a statement outlining plans to review their investments and the consequences of divestment.
-
Sharif Tarver published Among Foundations Who is The Biggest Impact Investor in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-08-02 19:33:43 -0400
Among Foundations Who is The Biggest Impact Investor
Among Foundations Who is The Biggest Impact Investor? | Inside PhilanthropyJuly 28th, 2016Figuring out which foundations engage in the most impact investing is not so easy. While some reports have gauged how widespread this practice has become in foundations, actual dollar amounts are still hard to come by unlike annual grantmaking tallies, which are readily available. That makes it difficult to compare institutions on impact investing or otherwise track a growing stream of foundation dollars.
-
Sharif Tarver published INGOs thinking about impact investing? Consider this in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-29 01:13:10 -0400
INGOs thinking about impact investing? Consider this
INGOs thinking about impact investing? Consider this | Devex ImpactJuly, 26th, 2016Over the past six months, the number of INGOs involved in impact investing has risen considerably. One group, the INGO Impact Investing Network — launched last winter to bring together INGOs working in or considering impact investing — has doubled in size. Already, INGO-managed or founded impact investing funds control $545.1 million in assets, according to a newly released report by the network.
-
Sharif Tarver published Harvard University endowment chief Stephen Blyth resigns in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-28 08:39:31 -0400
Harvard University endowment chief Stephen Blyth resigns
July 27th, 2016Stephen Blyth, who was previously appointed to oversee Harvard University's endowment only 18 months ago, has resigned, the Ivy League school said on Wednesday, creating further uncertainty about the management of its $37.6 billion pool of funds.
-
Sharif Tarver published Positive Organizational Leadership and Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Phenomenon of Institutional Fossil Fuel Divestment in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-27 12:27:37 -0400
Positive Organizational Leadership and Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Phenomenon of Institutional Fossil Fuel Divestment
July 27th, 2016Climate change is one of the most significant dynamics of our time. The predominant contributor to climate change is combustion of fossil fuels by humans. This study deepened understanding of organizational leaders’ role in enacting one approach to addressing climate change: institutional fossil fuel divestment.
-
Sharif Tarver published CalSTRS moving toward low-carbon diet in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-27 12:12:49 -0400
CalSTRS moving toward low-carbon diet
CalSTRS moving toward low-carbon diet | Pensions & InvestmentsJuly 25th, 2016The California State Teachers' Retirement System's commitment to invest $2.5 billion in a low-carbon index strategy is part of a larger plan to invest its stock portfolio in companies with more sustainable business practices.
-
Sharif Tarver published Newcastle's biggest university says no to coal's in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-27 11:58:41 -0400
Newcastle's biggest university says no to coal's
July 26th, 2016A city built on coal wealth is turning away from the fossil fuel. Or at least, its biggest university is.Newcastle University has become the most recent UK university pledging to divest from fossil fuels. The university joins a growing number of UK schools that have moved toward investments in alternative energy solutions.
-
Leslie E. Wong
Leslie E. Wong, President, San Fransisco State University
Dr. Leslie E. Wong serves as president of San Francisco State University, one of the nation’s premier urban comprehensive universities offering baccalaureate degrees in 123 academic areas; 27 credential programs; 35 certificate programs; 62 master’s degrees; and 4 doctoral degrees. He leads more than 3,000 faculty and staff as they serve a student population of over 30,000.
Dr. Wong is committed to providing SF State students with an exceptional educational experience forged in the intellectual energy of one of the world’s most innovative cities and fostered by the diversity, creativity and dedication of SF State’s faculty, staff, students and alumni. SF State graduates approximately 8,000 students per year and boasts a Gator alumni family that is more than 200,000 strong. SF State’s distinguished alums can be found in virtually every walk of life. Their accomplishments include 10 Pulitzer prizes, 15 Oscars, the invention of the microprocessor, and (jointly with SF State faculty) the discovery of the first exo-planets beyond the solar system.
Dr. Wong is devoted to moving San Francisco State forward to achieve its full potential. He co-chaired the recently completed strategic planning process that produced a value driven roadmap to advance the university’s goals. He also launched SF State’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign to provide the resources necessary to support the needs of SF State students in the 21st century as well as the innovative research and creative projects of SF State students and faculty. Early campaign success contributed to new scholarship funds, the renovation of the SF State gym and the revitalization of the athletics program.
Dr. Wong serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s Division II President’s Council. He is a member of the California State University’s Ethnic Studies Task Force and he is an active Board member of both the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the Bay Area Council. Dr. Wong received the 2014 Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) President's Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions to the field of higher education.
Prior to his appointment at San Francisco State in 2012, Dr. Wong served as President of Northern Michigan University. Earlier in his career he held executive leadership positions at Valley City State University, the University of Southern Colorado and Evergreen State College.
Dr. Wong holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gonzaga University, a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Eastern Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Washington State University. He maintains research interests in educational technology, academic assessment and the role of underrepresented minorities in the academy.
-
Sharif Tarver published Global X Launches ESG equity ETF in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:46:51 -0400
Global X Launches ESG equity ETF
Global X Launches ESG equity ETF | ETF StrategyJuly 18th, 2016New York-based exchange traded fund provider Global X Funds has launched the Global X Conscious Companies ETF (NASDAQ: KRMA), which tracks the equities of US listed companies that achieve financial performance in a sustainable responsible manner, exhibiting positive ESG characteristics.
-
Sharif Tarver published Michigan Endowment Adds to Bets on Private Equity, Real Estate in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:44:08 -0400
Michigan Endowment Adds to Bets on Private Equity, Real Estate
Michigan Endowment Adds to Bets on Private Equity, Real Estate | Bloomberg L.P.july 18th, 2016The University of Michigan’s $10 billion endowment added to its investments in venture capital, private equity and real estate as it struggles to recover from losses.Michigan invested $177 million in commitments mostly to the private funds, with $45 million going to two energy pools, according to the Board of Regents agenda for its meeting Thursday. The marketable securities portfolio, which makes up 58 percent of the endowment, lost 2.7 percent in the fiscal year through May 31.
-
Sharif Tarver published The Structural (and Possibly Abrupt) Decline of Fossil Fuels in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:42:14 -0400
The Structural (and Possibly Abrupt) Decline of Fossil Fuels
July 22nd, 2016 (Date accessed)Green Alpha founder Garvin Jabusch believes that fossil fuels are in the early stages (perhaps not so early in the case of coal) of a structural decline in demand that will ultimately result in coal, oil and gas no longer representing a meaningful percentage of the global economy’s energy mix by 2050, with investment and growth in the sector reversing long before that.
-
Sharif Tarver published Global Temperatures Are on Course for Another Record This Year in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:38:01 -0400
Global Temperatures Are on Course for Another Record This Year
July 19th, 2016The world is on pace to set another high temperature benchmark, with 2016 becoming the third year in a row of record heat. NASA scientists announced on Tuesday that global temperatures so far this year were much higher than in the first half of 2015.
-
Sharif Tarver published Could Climate risk cause the next financial crisis? in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:35:42 -0400
Could Climate risk cause the next financial crisis?
Could climate risk cause the next financial crisis? | Business GreenJuly 21, 2016New report claims the insurance industry is failing to protect its portfolios from climate risk, an oversight it predicts could have 'catastrophic effects' on the wider economy.
-
Sharif Tarver published Former Treasury Chiefs Tell SEC to Crack Down on Climate in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:33:02 -0400
Former Treasury Chiefs Tell SEC to Crack Down on Climate
Former Treasury Chiefs Tell SEC to Crack Down on Climate | Scientific AmericanJuly 22nd, 2016Three former secretaries of the U.S. Treasury forcefully urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to manage financial disclosures related to climate change. In a letter to the SEC, the bipartisan trio of secretaries Henry Paulson (R), Robert Rubin (D) and George Shultz (R) applauded the agency for issuing in 2010 a blueprint to help businesses explain how climate change affects them. But, they said, that measure isn't enough.
-
Sharif Tarver published Elon Musk’s Vision Includes New Cars, Car Sharing, and Solar City Deal in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:30:35 -0400
Elon Musk’s Vision Includes New Cars, Car Sharing, and Solar City Deal
July 20th, 2016Entrepreneur and Billionaire Elon Musk describes his 'master plan' for the future of Tesla Vehicles and announces an acquisition of solar city for $2.86 billion. This acquisition is essential to efficiently manufacturing and selling solar panels and batteries. These sustainable developments are coupled with achieving the goal of ending the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and delivering sustainable energy.
-
Sharif Tarver published ESG Factors Can Illuminate Due Diligence Processes in Weekly News Round-Ups 2016-07-22 20:27:17 -0400
ESG Factors Can Illuminate Due Diligence Processes
ESG Factors Can Illuminate Due Diligence Processes | PlansponsorJuly 19th, 2016According to Cerulli’s third quarter 2016 issue of The Cerulli Edge – U.S. Institutional Edition, a growing percentage of asset managers proactively consider ESG factors in conjunction with traditional financial analysis to identify risks and opportunity when investing in companies and evaluating their business practices.