The Principles for Responsible Investment podcast

In this week's podcast, we look at the social licence of infrastructure investing. Joined by Gwen Colin of Vauban Infrastructure and Antoine Tréboz of ALiS, we explore:

·       How the social licence delivers better infrastructure projects for investors and their stakeholders

·       How to conduct effective stakeholder engagement

Find the transcript here: https://bit.ly/3FQ5sAn

 In this episode, Sebastien Akbik, Corporate Governance Analyst at the PRI spoke with Kiran Aziz, Head of Responsible Investments from KLP and Daniel Mulé, Policy Lead, Extractive Industries Tax and Transparency from Oxfam America. 

They discussed the importance for responsible investors to consider tax both from a risk mitigation and positive impact perspective. The speakers also discussed the increasing momentum on tax, including the shareholder proposals on tax transparency filed by Oxfam America and KLP.  

Find transcript here: https://bit.ly/3YMKuJ8  

What is tech addiction and why should investors be paying attention to the issue?

In this episode, we are joined by Di Rifai, Founder and Chair of the non-profit Creating Future Us, who works with investors to champion sustainable use of technology in business and by Carlota Garcia-Manas, Head of Climate Transition and ESG Engagement at Royal London Asset Management.

Together we discuss:

Find transcript here: https://bit.ly/41QqS9E

In this special episode of the PRI podcast, we take stock of progress in 2022 on the climate and environment, as we discuss:     

·      The biggest achievements for climate and environmental action in 2022, and where we fell short.

·       The importance for investors to consider climate and nature together, and their connection.

·       The key topics and moments where we would expect greater investor climate and nature action and policy environment.

Find transcript here:  COP_27_PT_2.pdf (libsyn.com)

Many governments are turning to labelled sustainable bonds, and Latin American sovereigns have been particularly innovative.

The PRI’s latest podcast delves into the issuer and investor perspective, and the different types of bonds coming to the market.

In this podcast we discuss:

It features Esther Law, who is a Senior Investment Manager in Emerging Market Debt at Amundi and César Arias, the former Director of Public Credit and National Treasury at the Ministry of Finance of Colombia.

Find podcast transcript here : https://bit.ly/3Xx5XGm 

In this episode, the PRI’s head of fixed income, Carmen Nuzzo speaks with Adam Heltzer of Ares Management and Faith Rosenfeld of HPS Investment Partners, to discuss how private debt investors are incorporating ESG into their investment practices.   

With this, they discuss the ESG opportunities for private debt and private equity investors to collaborate and the regulatory implications on reporting with limited partners. 

In this special episode of the PRI podcast, we shine the spotlight on COP27.

Host Liz Barnes speaks with Habib Abdur-Rahman, Head of ESG at Investcorp, and Prudential's Liza Jansen, Head of Responsible Investment at Prudential, and member of the UN-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance.

With just a week to go until the highly anticipated climate conference, they discuss their expectations for COP27, the role of investors in scaling up actions to deliver on a just transition to net zero, and how blended finance can be leveraged to mobilise capital into where finance is needed the most.

In this episode, we take a closer look at what is really happening behind the scenes at major sporting events, bringing to the forefront human rights abuses of migrant workers. With FIFA just around the corner, we discuss what is happening on the ground and what responsible investors can to do to tackle this issue.  

Find the transcript here: https://bit.ly/3FgJ83i 

In this new podcast, an investor and a bank discuss which ESG data they use for securitised product analysis and how it differs from other asset classes.

In the tenth podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Sixtine Dubost (PRI) speaks with Erika Wranegard (Lombard Odier Investment Managers) and Michael Ferguson (S&P Global Ratings) about the ESG information provider landscape and the usefulness of the product and service offering for fixed income investors.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3f3e24d

In this episode of the PRI podcast, Jasper Cox, Investment Practices Analyst at the PRI, speaks with Christian Leveque, Municipal Portfolio Manager and Strategist at Payden & Rygel, and Ruth Ducret, Senior Analyst, Municipal Research at Breckinridge Capital Advisors

State and local governments in the US have a critical role to play in tackling environmental and social challenges.

In turn, the investors who lend to these administrations through buying municipal (muni) bonds can contribute to the solutions. Some muni bond issuers have also started selling labelled bonds that earmark proceeds for green or social projects.

This podcast explores how sustainability outcomes can be factored into muni bond investment decisions, and what the role of labelled bonds is in this market.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3AC6zBh

Join the PRI’s Bonnie Groves and guests John Hoeppner, LGIM America, and Aeisha Mastagni, CalSTRS, in this episode of the PRI podcast.  

John and Aeisha discuss this year’s AGM season and the trends that will shape future proxy seasons. They tackle voting on new and complex shareholder resolutions and the role of universal owners in addressing systemic risks.  Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3JpLi0G

In this new podcast, PRI’s Carmen Nuzzo speaks with an originator and an investor  to discuss the benefits and the challenges of structured products with green or social labels. They are growing rapidly but are not always genuine.

The ICGN have recently published an update of the ICGN model mandate paper alongside the GISD. This paper is a practical tool for asset owners to incorporate clauses into investment mandates on issues such as climate change, human rights and reporting.

The PRI is fully supportive of this paper. In this session we will explore the paper, how it might be used and how the relationship between asset managers and asset owners has changed since the publication of the original paper in 2012.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3Pmyv0N

In this episode Laura de Ornelas, PRI’s Empowering Asset Owners Director, speaks to Jenny Kvaskova and Tim Manuel from Aon. They explore the insights into Asset Owners’ responsible investment practices, particularly how they differ across geographies and Asset Owner segments.

Jenny shares the methodology and techniques used to bring the PRI’s reporting data to life. Tim Manuel shares from his experience in supporting Asset Owners in their responsible investment journey, explores the challenges they face, and gives insight into how the industry is solving these.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3utVKOc

In this episode of the PRI podcast, Jasper Cox, Investment Practices Analyst at the PRI, speaks with Lupin Rahman, Head of Emerging Markets Sovereign Credit at PIMCO, and Jarrad Linzie, Global Head of Fixed Income Index Research at MSCI.

Indices help shape investment decisions, whether investors track them passively or use them as a benchmark for performance. Therefore, the index providers incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into a growing number of their products are key actors in the responsible investment ecosystem.

When designing ESG indices for government bonds, there are certain differences compared with corporate indices. This podcast explores these distinctions, as well as the purpose of ESG sovereign debt indices and potential areas for future development.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3bAXNcG

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Bringing together sovereign debt investors and index providers: https://www.unpri.org/sovereign-debt/bringing-together-sovereign-debt-investors-and-index-providers/9890.article

In this episode of the PRI podcast, host Ed Baker (PRI’s Head of Climate Policy), speaks with Patrick Arber, Head of International Government Engagement at Aviva and Co-Lead of the UN-convened Asset Owner Alliance Policy Track and Karishma Gulrajani, Engagement Manager at Vivid Economics, on the AOA’s recently published position paper on carbon pricing. 

The transition to net zero hinges on a policy mix consistent with Paris Agreement goals. The escalating global energy security crisis underscores the imperative for an accelerated net zero transition, and carbon pricing provides a broad incentive for decarbonisation, driving emissions where they are most cost-effective. With growing momentum around this policy tool, particularly at the G7 this year, it is important to ensure that carbon pricing schemes are implemented in a robust and effective manner and supported by both enabling and complementary policies.   

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3A6FRRu

In the ninth podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Sixtine Dubost (PRI) speaks with Lisa Abraham (Brown Advisory) and Florian Grandcolas (EthiFinance) about TCFD’s recommended disclosures and their incorporation in credit risk analysis.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3te1A63

In this episode of the PRI podcast, Jasper Cox, Investment Practices Analyst at the PRI, speaks with Camilla Ogunbiyi, Senior Sovereign ESG Analyst at Nordea Asset Management, and James Lockhart Smith, Vice President for Markets at Verisk Maplecroft.

Sovereign nations are the ultimate guarantors of human rights, making the bonds they issue a logical focus for responsible investors. However, investors face unique challenges considering this topic in government debt. This podcast discusses the link between human rights and borrowing costs, how to find and use data on human rights, and engaging with countries on the subject.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3EL5J5Z

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's Head of Private Equity, Peter Dunbar, speaks with Delilah Rothenburg, Executive Director & Co-Founding Partner of The Predistibution Initiative and Tensie Whelan, Director, Center for Sustainable Business, NYU Stern.

Private equity can be a divisive topic. On the one hand, it provides strong financial returns to pension funds and other institutional investors. But, on the other hand, it has a reputation for not always acting responsibly. Delilah and Tensie highlight some of the positive and negative impacts the asset class can have on a range of stakeholders. They also introduce the work they are doing on this topic to better measure those impacts and create improved investment practices that could help create value for all.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3LUjPUH

In the eighth podcast of the series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Carmen Nuzzo, PRI speaks with Barbara Mattos, Moody’s Investors Service and Jod Hsu, NN Investment Partners about deforestation and how it can affect credit risk analysis.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3wTFyIp

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s senior lead in listed equities, Michal Bartek speaks with Steve Lydenberg, a partner at Domini Social Investments.

They reflect on the key developments in responsible investing in decades past, discuss the nature of challenges that listed equity investors currently face and explore what it takes for listed equity asset managers to show leadership.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3iqlrsA

This episode explores the impact of mass incarceration on people and also on their families and communities. It will also look at the involvement of investors and businesses in the prison system, particularly around contracted prison labour in companies’ supply chains and the actions they can take to mitigate negative social outcomes for those most impacted.  

Find the full transcript here: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/pripodcasts/Transcript_form_-_private_prisons.pdf

In this episode of the PRI podcast, PRI’s Betina Vaz Boni, speaks with Timothy Youmans from EOS at Federated Hermes. They discuss what corporate purpose is, what the latest leading research says about the future of the corporation and, why this has become a critical issue for investors.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Enacting Purpose Initiative Report #2: Directors & Investors: Building on Common Ground to Advance Sustainable Capitalism, Miazad, Younger, Eccles & Mayer, July 2021 : https://enactingpurpose.org/assets/epi-report-final.pdf

EOS at Federated Hermes: How to move corporate purpose forward, Youmans, August 2019: https://www.hermes-investment.com/uki/eos-insight/eos/whats-the-purpose-of-business-purpose/

EOS at Federated Hermes: Statement of Purpose Guidance Document, Eccles & Youmans, August 2019: https://www.hermes-investment.com/uki/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/statement-of-purpose-guidance-document-aug-2019.pdf

Harvard Business Review: 3 Ways to Put Your Corporate Purpose Into Action, Eccles Strine & Youmans, May 2020, https://hbr.org/2020/05/3-ways-to-put-your-corporate-purpose-into-action

This podcast explores how the US opioid crisis plays out at the local level, with repercussions not just on lives lost and healthcare costs, but also US municipal bonds and the cost of local authorities’ funding.

Leading the discussion are the PRI’s Carmen Nuzzo, Head of Fixed Income, and Katherine Ng, Head of Research. They’re joined by Eric Friedland, Director of Municipal Research, Lord Abbett, and John Hund, Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Georgia.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Opioid abuse affects municipal access to capital: https://www.unpri.org/pri-blog/opioid-abuse-affects-municipal-access-to-capital/8827.article

Sub-sovereign debt resources: https://www.unpri.org/investment-tools/fixed-income/sub-sovereign-debt

Fixed income resources: https://www.unpri.org/investment-tools/fixed-income

PRI academic research: https://www.unpri.org/sustainability-issues/research

Find the podcast transcript: https://bit.ly/3Iwl4s6 

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Stewardship Specialist, Livia Rossi, speaks with Barbara Davidson from the Carbon Tracker Initiative and Caroline Escott from Railpen about carbon accounting. They discuss the integration of the financial impacts of climate-related matters into companies’ financial statements and explore the results of Carbon Tracker’s report “Flying Blind: The glaring absence of climate-related risks in financial reporting”.

They reflect how better transparency on this systematic issue can help investors understand the extent to which management have considered the effects of the goals of the Paris Agreement, and how Climate Action 100+ will provide information to help investors engage, vote or allocate capital more efficiently and effectively.

Find the podcast transcript: https://bit.ly/3GeSHNc

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s senior lead in listed equities, Michal Bartek speaks with Edris Boey of Maitri Asset Management.

They reflect on the key developments in ESG incorporation in APAC region, discuss what it takes for investment organisations to be or keep up with the leaders in the field.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3AptNJr

In this episode, the PRI’s Simon Whistler talks with Chris Clubb from Convergence and Nadia Nikolova from Allianz Global Investors on the role of blended finance in driving more sustainable investment in emerging markets. They discuss the challenges and opportunities blended finance provides for institutional investors, and why it can be such an important tool delivering more investments that will speed progress towards Net Zero and the SDGs.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3qcd0ow

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s director of Investment Practices, Toby Belsom, speaks with Marcel Jeucken from Sustfin and Daniel Ingram from Wilshire, both co-authors of PRI's recent discussion paper about ESG in Investment Mandates.

In this discussion, our guests explain why integrating ESG and sustainability outcomes into mandates is important from an Asset Owner perspective, and share experiences of working with Asset Owners trying to put this into practice. While segregated mandates are often the preserve of large AOs, the dialogue highlights tools available to smaller AOs who invest in co-mingled or pooled funds.

Find the podcast script here:

https://bit.ly/3IQZa36

PRI CEO, Fiona Reynolds, has a candid conversation with Chloe Horne, Specialist – Stewardship and Vaishnavi Ravishankar, Senior Specialist – Governance about her nearly decade-long leadership of the organisation, her agenda post-PRI and hopes for the future of the responsible investment industry.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/31L32Sc

In this episode of the PRI’s human rights podcast series, the PRI’s Bettina Reinboth speaks to Surya Deva, Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and John Morrison, CEO of the Institute of Human Rights and Business, on the impact of the UNGPs during the last decade since they were established, and what we should expect for the next decade.  

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3Ihzc8K

The PRI’s Jasper Cox discusses how environmental, social and governance issues affect the credit risk of US municipal bonds with PIMCO’s Emily Robare and Breckinridge Capital Advisors’ Andrew Teras.

Find the podcast transcript here:

https://bit.ly/3cXYeey

In this second special episode of the PRI podcast, we shine the spotlight on what happened in Glasgow, at COP26.

Host Liz Barnes speaks with the PRI’s CEO, Fiona Reynolds, to take stock of the conference, looking at some of the key takeaways from COP26, and discussing what needs to be done next.

Find the podcast transcript here: https://bit.ly/3DGbTCZ

In this episode of the PRI podcast, Michal Bartek, senior lead in listed equities from PRI speaks with Peter Michaelis from Liontrust.

They reflect on the key developments in responsible investing in decades past, discuss the likely issues in the next decade and explore what it takes for listed equity asset management firms to be among the leaders.

Find a transcript of the episode here: https://bit.ly/3CZIcw8

During this episode, Eline Sleurink, Head of UK and Ireland and Middle East, Dave Gorman, Head of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, University of Edinburgh and Ben Pollard, CEO and Cofounder, Cushon discuss how the University of Edinburgh and Cushon have set a net zero target, the first steps they are taking to achieve this, how they built a business case for net zero internally, and how they are holding themselves accountable.

Find a transcript of the episode here: https://bit.ly/2Y5tDIr

In this quarterly podcast, PRI’s Aiman Zaidi speaks with Marie Luchet, Director of Continental Europe, Signatory relations about the key activities of the PRI from the past quarter and what to expect from the PRI for the remainder of the year about climate mitigation, upcoming events, our human rights work and much more.

Find a transcript of the episode here: https://bit.ly/2ZANW0U

In this special episode of the PRI podcast, we shine the spotlight on COP26. 

Host Liz Barnes speaks with the PRI’s Sagarika Chatterjee, Director of Climate Change, and COP26 High-level Champions Finance Co-Lead.  

With just weeks to go until the highly-anticipated climate conference, they discuss the PRI’s policy expectations for key markets ahead of COP26, how to protect the world’s most vulnerable communities and the good news we’re expecting out of the conference.  

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Race to Zero Campaign: https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign

UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance: https://www.unepfi.org/net-zero-alliance/

Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative: https://www.netzeroassetmanagers.org/ 

Inevitable Policy Response: https://www.unpri.org/inevitable-policy-response/what-is-the-inevitable-policy-response/4787.article

Find a transcript of the episode here: https://bit.ly/2XlVhAq

In this episode of the PRI podcast, PRI’s Director of Policy Margarita Pirovska interviews the co-author of the Legal Framework for Impact, David Rouch from Freshfields.

Find a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3B9WvgV

In the fourth episode of the PRI’s human rights podcast series, Nikolaj Pedersen speaks to biomedical researcher, health rights advocate, and Head of Policy at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, Els Torreele and Peter Hughes, fund manager at AXA Investment Managers about COVID-19 vaccine ownership and distribution and what investors can do to promote fair and equal access.

As of July this year, more than 80% of vaccine doses globally had been given to individuals in high and upper-middle-income countries. Only 1% of people in low-income countries at the time had had at least one dose. 

The United Nations commissioner on human rights has stated that "affordable, non-discriminatory access to the vaccine is a human right" and because of the failure to provide fair and equal access to the vaccine the World Health Organisation has stated that the world "is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure".

The economic consequences are also grave with an estimated $9.2 trillion lost if governments fail to ensure that developing economies have access to COVID-19 vaccines

What is wrong with the current research and development system? Why does ownership of IP, know-how and technology matter? And what can investors do?

Listen to this episode as we explore these questions with our esteemed guests.

Find a trascript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3CqbNhN

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Investors issue urgent call for “fair and equitable” global response to COVID-19: https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/news/investors-issue-urgent-call-for-fair-and-equitable-global-response-to-covid-19

Study shows vaccine nationalism could cost rich countries US$4.5 trillion: https://iccwbo.org/media-wall/news-speeches/study-shows-vaccine-nationalism-could-cost-rich-countries-us4-5-trillion/

Campaigners warn that 9 out of 10 people in poor countries are set to miss out on COVID-19 vaccine next year: https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/campaigners-warn-9-out-10-people-poor-countries-are-set-miss-out-covid-19-vaccine

In this episode of the PRI podcast, PRI CEO Fiona Reynolds speaks with Jon Lukomink and James P. Hawley, co-authors of the recently published book, Moving Beyond Modern Portfolio Theory: Investing That Matters.

They discuss how finance theory can be reframed to break down the barriers between capital markets and the real world, and the notion that we are in the third stage of corporate governance.

Find a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3Ef6Ry3 

In the seventh podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Sixtine Dubost (PRI) speaks with Madeleine King (Legal & General Investment Management) and Elisabeth Rudman (DBRS Morningstar) about governance factors, how they affect the probability of default of an issuer or of a bond issue and why their relevance is increasing.

Find a transcript of this episode here:

https://bit.ly/3tmCwsm

Our guest speakers, Alex Cobham from Tax Justice Network and Ryan Gurule from the FACT Coalition will be sharing their insights on the global tax reforms and implications for investors.

Find a transcript of this episode here:

https://bit.ly/3yuxdrB

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s director of investment practices, Toby Belsom speaks with Alex van der Velden of Ownership Capital.

They discuss Alex’s journey to becoming a leader in the field of ESG integration in listed equity, his views on current practices and how they are evolving, and the challenges and opportunities that remain for investors looking to integrate ESG issues within their listed equity investments.

Find a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3Bgkuei 

Join Carol Jeppesen, Head of US, in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast. In this episode, Carol runs through key updates from the PRI.

Beneficiaries are increasingly interested in how their money is managed, and the demand for investors to take heed of this is growing.

Join the PRI’s Emmet McNamee and special guests Xander den Uyl, Trustee, ABP (and PRI board member), and Marion Maloney, Head of Responsible Investment, Environment Agency Pension Fund in this episode of the PRI podcast.

Xander and Marion discuss how they have gone about understanding the sustainability preferences of their pension scheme members and the changes in practices member feedback has led to. They discuss how to balance beneficiaries’ preferences with fiduciary duty, and how to approach the costs of undertaking beneficiary engagement.

Further resources:

Understanding and aligning with beneficiaries’ sustainability preferences: https://www.unpri.org/strategy-policy-and-strategic-asset-allocation/understanding-and-aligning-with-beneficiaries-sustainability-preferences/7497.article

Beneficiary survey template: https://www.unpri.org/download?ac=13335

In the third episode of the PRI’s human rights podcast series, the PRI’s Elena Espinoza speaks to two members of Grenfell United, a group of survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell Tower fire, and Simon Whistler, real assets lead at the PRI. 

The Grenfell Tower fire occurred early in the morning of Wednesday 14 June 2017 in North Kensington, London. It spread quickly through the tower block’s 24 stories, taking the lives of 72 people and injuring many more.

After the disaster, it emerged that the cladding that was put on the tower during its refurbishment fuelled the fire.

As a result of mounting pressure from bereaved families, investors have been selling shares in Grenfell Tower cladding firm Kingspan.  

In this episode, Grenfell United speak about the ways in which they raised concerns before the fire and how they have engaged with investors who are tied to companies linked with the tragedy.

The PRI's Simon Whistler then reflects on Grenfell United’s testimony, outlining how investors can strengthen their due diligence processes and describing the lessons that investors internationally can learn.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Grenfell United

Investors sell of shares in Grenfell Tower insultation firm Kingspan

US judge allows lawsuit against Grenfell Tower cladding firm

Drawing on insights from 2021’s AGM season, this PRI podcast episode dives into the subject of achieving meaningful outcomes through investor stewardship, particularly in the context of climate action and decarbonisation. The guest speakers share both academic and practical insights on the stewardship tools and practices at investors’ disposal when considering climate action as a systemic issue and from a universal ownership perspective.

With only four months to go until COP26 in Glasgow, our last major opportunity to get back on track with the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C, investor action on climate has never been more critical.

In this podcast we will explore the steps Wellington Management are taking to help lead the charge, as one of the of the first asset management firms to make a net-zero carbon emissions pledge.

In the sixth podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Sixtine Dubost (PRI) focusses with Barbara Cohen (Scope Ratings) and Shawn Keegan (Alliance Bernstein) on social factors, how they affect the probability of default of an issuer or of a bond issue and why their relevance is increasing.

What does investing with an outcomes approach mean and what does it entail? In this podcast, PRI CEO Fiona Reynolds and William Burckart, President and COO of TIIP discuss the role of data and measurement to support investment decision-making.

PRI’s Jasper Cox speaks with Joanna Woods and Susan Burns about how climate change affects sovereign bonds through both physical risk and transition risk, and how investors can measure this.

Market practitioners discuss the reasons why, despite lagging compared to other fixed income sub-asset classes, investors in securitised products are sharpening their focus on ESG consideration. From regional differences between the US and European markets to the emerging of new ESG-labelled products, the podcast explores the drivers behind growing interest as well as the challenges that investors encounter as they begin to incorporate more systematically ESG factors in the evaluations of this sophisticated asset class.

In this episode of the PRI’s human rights podcast series, the PRI’s Nabylah Abo Dehman speaks to Jennifer Bates, an Amazon worker who played a key role in organising the union drive in Bessemer, Alabama and Corey Klemmer, Director of Engagement at Domini Impact Investments.  

In this episode, Ms Bates reflects on her experiences of working for Amazon, the recent union drive and the result of the vote. In the second part of the podcast, Ms Klemmer shares her reaction to Ms Bates’ testimony, the allegations of union-busting at Amazon and describes how investors can engage with Amazon on current practices.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Ohman and Folksam letter to Amazon

CWC Statement for Investors on the Union Election At Amazon’s Facility in Bessemer, AL

Union Files NLRB Election Objections

NBC New Report on Amazon Union Avoidance

All expressions of opinion of Ms. Klemmer reflect her judgement as of the date of this podcast and are subject to change. They do not constitute any form of investment advice. Domini Impact Investments does not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. None of her comments should be considered a recommendation concerning the merits of any noted company, or an offer of sale or solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any such company.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, our real assets lead, Simon Whistler, talks to Rick Alsop from WSP about climate risks and opportunities for real assets investors.

In this podcast, the PRI’s Chloe Horne speaks with Susheela Peres da Costa, Head of Advisory at Regnan and Jake Barnett, Director of Sustainable Investment Services at Wespath about the PRI’s recently published paper – Making Voting Count - on how principle-based voting on shareholder resolutions can contribute to clear, effective and accountable stewardship.

In this podcast, the PRI’s Carmen Nuzzo speaks with Farah Imrana Hussain who is Senior Financial Officer and works on Financial Products & Client Solutions at the World Bank Treasury.

They discuss how sovereign bondholder engagement with debt management offices (DMOs) is evolving as a result of fixed income investor increasing focus on ESG topics.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Felix Soellner, Senior Analyst and lead author in the PRI's SAM guides speaks with Moya Yip of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme.

They discuss the crucial role asset owners have with their investment managers and how LGS has integrated ESG considerations in both their manager selection and ongoing monitoring practices. Moya also discusses LGS’s approach to active ownership through strong external investment manager partnerships.

In the fifth podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, PRI's Sixtine Dubost speaks with with Judy Wesalo Temel from Fiera Capital and Patrick Welch from KBRA about environmental factors and how they affect the probability of default of an issuer or a bond issue and why their relevance is increasing 

This podcast highlights the global investor perspective on the US re-joining the Paris Agreement.  It covers priorities for the Paris Agreement and for net zero investor action. 

The podcast features:

Join the PRI’s Matthew McAdam in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast. In this episode, Matthew runs through key updates from the PRI from the last quarter of 2020.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Asset owner technical guides: selection, appointment and monitoring

Why and how investors should act on human rights

Race to Zero campaign

The Inevitable Policy Response under Biden’s climate plan

ESG engagement for sovereign debt investors

Whistleblowing: why and how to engage with your investee companies

How policymakers can implement reforms for a sustainable financial system

The California responsible investment roadmap

In this episode, the PRI’s Rebecca Chapman speaks with Michiel De Smet, Finance Initiative Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. They discuss the findings from a report released last year by the Foundation called ‘Financing the Circular Economy’, including the relevance of the Circular Economy for investors and how investors can support a transition to a more circular future.   

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

‘Financing the Circular Economy’, Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2020) https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/finance

RI’s work on Plastics: https://www.unpri.org/sustainability-issues/environmental-social-and-governance-issues/environmental-issues/plastics

In this episode PRI’s CEO, Fiona Reynolds, speaks with Eric Usher, Head of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). They discuss its newest initiative, the Principles for Responsible Banking. Just over one year on from its launch, they explore why it was developed, what the initiative has achieved so far and ambitions for the future. 

In the fourth podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Carmen Nuzzo (Head of Fixed Income, PRI) speaks to Naresh Aggarwal (Associate Director, Policy and Technical, The Association of Corporate Treasurers) and Rhys Petheram (Fund Manager, Fixed Income, Jupiter Asset Management), bringing the corporate and asset manager perspectives on ESG credit relevant data disclosure and engagement.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Simon Whistler talks to Rick Walters from GRESB. They talk about the state of play of ESG data and performance in infrastructure, how better ESG data can drive stronger long-term thinking and performance, and explore whether too much of a focus on data can distract from the real world elements of infrastructure investing.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Nikolaj Halkjaer Pedersen engages in a dynamic human rights focused conversation with Chris Newton, Executive Director of Responsible Investment at IFM Investors and

Akiko Sato, Human Rights Lawyer and Japan Programme Coordinator at the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.

The podcast begins by grounding an investor’s understanding of human rights through analysing what human rights are, where they exist in relation to fiduciary duty and how they can be integrated into ESG considerations. It then explores the ways in which human rights are regulated across different geographies, how human rights considerations can be incorporated across asset classes and the importance of investor responsibility to enable and provide access to remedy. It concludes with the guests expressing their hopes and desires for the future of human rights in institutional investment.

Read the PRI's flagship paper, Why and how investors should act on human rights

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds speaks with Dr Bronwyn King AO, Founder, Director and CEO of Tobacco-Free Portfolios. They discuss the Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge, the progress the initiative has made since its launch, the impact of COVID-19, links between human rights and tobacco, big issues on the horizon and more.

In this podcast, the PRI's Nathan Fabian introduces the new EU Platform on Sustainable Finance, explains the Platform’s purpose, activities and what signatories can expect in the months and years ahead.

We need a decisive decade of action on climate change, incorporating a sustainable recovery from COVID-19 and actions towards net zero by 2050.

A leading group of asset owners, the UN-convened Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance has committed to aligning their portfolios with net zero by 2050, and published how they will get there – through a draft target-setting protocol.

This podcast seeks to assist asset owners, asset managers and their service providers to:

Join the PRI's Sagarika Chatterjee and Swiss Re's Claudia Bolli as they discuss just that.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Find out about the draft target-setting protocol

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Nabylah Abo Dehman speaks with Sam Hepher from the Living Wage Foundation and ShareAction’s Rachel Hargreaves.

They discuss the investor toolkit for the living wage recently launched in collaboration between their two organisations, why the living wage matters, and the practical steps investors can take to further this agenda.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Living wage investor toolkit

Joint the PRI’s Anastasia Guha in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast. In this episode, Anastasia runs through key updates from the PRI.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Sustainable and inclusive: COVID-19 recovery and reform

COVID-19 resources page

Blog: Top four takeaways from the PRI’s first year of mandatory TCFD-based reporting

Bridging the gap: how infrastructure investors can contribute to SDG outcomes

In search of sustainability: private retirement systems in the Australia, the UK and the US

Investor action on biodiversity: discussion paper

Impacts of the Inevitable Policy Response across asset classes

Response to Department of Labor’s proposed rule for ERISA fiduciaries

Understanding how climate risk could play out is of central importance to investors’ response to the climate challenge. A key approach is the use of scenario analysis to test the resilience of the portfolio to a number of future states. This can further be developed for financial analysis. This podcast seeks to assist asset owners, asset managers and their service providers to:

Join Sagarika Chatterjee, Director of Climate Change, PRI and COP26 Champions – Finance Lead, and Mark Fulton, Head of Research, CarbonTracker and advisor to the PRI on The Inevitable Policy Response for the discussion. 

In this third podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, Carmen Nuzzo (PRI), Andrew Steel (Fitch Ratings) and Wayne Seaton (Sustainalytics) bring the producers’ perspective to the difference between ESG in credit ratings and ESG evaluations.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Nabylah Abo Dehman speaks with Naeem Badat, director at Differential Capital.

They discuss unsecured lending practices in South Africa and the devastating impacts these latter are having on consumers and the broader society. They discuss the state of the industry, the profile of both consumers and lenders and the scale of the issue.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, Gail Whiteman, Professor of Sustainability, University of Exeter & Founder, Arctic Basecamp speaks with Peter Bakker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the PRI’s CEO, Fiona Reynolds. They discuss WBCSD and the PRI’s new collaboration created to redesign engagement between corporates and investors and to drive sustainability outcomes and value creation. The podcast explores the rationale behind this critical and unique collaboration and what it aims to achieve. 

In this PRI podcast, the PRI’s Paul Chandler talks to Fredrick Alexander and Jennifer Warden of The Shareholder Commons – a new organisation set up to encourage a re-think of how our investment system functions.

They discuss The Shareholder Commons’ history and approach, introduce the concept of universal ownership and discuss its implications for stewardship.

Hand washing and access to clean water play an essential role in preventing the transmission of COVID-19.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s Gemma James is joined by Marc Robert, Partner and COO, Water Asset Management, Chair of Board for WaterAid America, and Maher Abdullah Al - CEO and Head of Business, Fakir Fashion. They discuss the importance of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) during COVID-19 for businesses based in developing countries, as well as the role investors can play.

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the head of the PRI's infrastructure workstream, Simon Whistler, speaks to Stanley Kwong from Aviva Investors’ real assets business about how they integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into their investment process.

Join Lorenzo Saa, the PRI’s Chief Signatory Relations Officer, in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast.

In this episode, Lorenzo runs through key updates from the PRI over the past quarter.

Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?

COVID-19 resources page

Investing with SDG outcomes: a five-part framework

UN-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance

Climate Action 100+

The Inevitable Policy Response

Engaging on cyber security: results of the PRI collaborative engagement 2017 - 2019

Investor priorities for the EU Green Deal

From farm to table: ensuring fair labour practices in agricultural supply chains

Are infrastructure plans SDG-aligned, and how can investors play their part?

Technical guide: ESG incorporation in hedge funds

An introduction to responsible investment: screening

The connection between investors and policymakers is not working as it should if the recovery from COVID-19 is to be sustainable and inclusive with concrete reforms. This podcast explores the role investors have in elevating climate and human rights as part of the COVID-19 recovery, and how they can work with policy makers to achieve on key goals.

Futher resources:

Sustainable and inclusive: COVID-19 recovery and reform

In this episode of the PRI podcast, and the second to feature A Legal Framework for Impact, the PRI’s Oliva Mooney hosts Martin Jonasson, General Counsel of AP2, and Elodie Feller, Investment Lead at United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).

They discuss what investing for sustainability impact means and why it is important. They also dig deeper with specific examples of investor approaches to managing for impact, how it goes beyond niche impact investing, the evolution in EU benchmarks, and balancing the appropriate level of returns and real-world impact.

Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast? A Legal Framework for Impact

A Legal Framework for Impact: in conversation with David Blood, Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Generation Investment Management

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI policy team discusses the latest policy developments in the EU, US, China and internationally, such as:

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's Director of Climate Change, Sagarika Chatterjee, speaks with Julian Poulter of Energy Transition Advisors. They discuss the Inevitable Policy Response (IPR), research from the PRI, Vivid Economics and Energy Transition Advisors, through an asset owner lens. They discuss how IPR can help the PRI's asset owner signatories to act on climate risk, and the actions asset owners can take today to use IPR. Interested in the resources discussed in this episode? The Inevitable Policy Response

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI’s head of corporate governance, Athanasia Karananou speaks with Sacha Sadan of Legal and General Investment Management.

They discuss the AGM season and other governance topics, including the role of investors, through the lens of COVID-19. They discuss whether boards have risen to the challenge presented by the pandemic, which capital allocation decisions are acceptable, and the increased expectations around tax fairness and lobbying practices during the current crisis.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

In this second podcast of a series on the ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative, the PRI’s Head of Fixed Income Carmen Nuzzo discusses with Alessia Falsarone from PineBridge Investments and Mike Wilkins from S&P Global Ratings the difference between ESG in credit ratings and ESG evaluations.

Interested in the resources from this episode?

Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative 

In this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's Tom Barron and Nicole Martens are joined by special guests, David Geral, Head of Banking and Financial Services Regulation, Bowmans, and Sibonelo Mdluli, Senior Associate, also at Bowmans. 

In this podcast they discuss the recent report completed by Bowmans, commissioned by PRI, on acting in concert and collaborative shareholder engagement. They highlight the importance of collaborative engagement in South Africa, provide an overview of the contents of the report, and challenge the view that there is a significant legal barrier to collaborative engagement in South Africa.

Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?

Acting in concert and collaborative shareholder engagement in South Africa

Recorded during the global COVID-19 pandemic, in this episode of the PRI podcast, the PRI's CEO, Fiona Reynolds, speaks to Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

They discuss the role investors can play to support the health and safety of workers during this time; how investors can mitigate negative impacts on workers in the gig economy; and how we can ensure the rights of women and vulnerable groups are considered during the crisis. 

Want more investor resources on COVID-19?

Visit our COVID-19 landing page

Join the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds for this episode of the PRI podcast as she speaks with special guest, David Blood, Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Generation Investment Management.

Along with The Generation Foundation and UNEP FI, the PRI recently launched the project A Legal Framework for Impact, which aims to make the consideration of sustainability impact in investor decision making a core part of investment activity within the decade.

In this episode, Fiona and David discuss the crucial role of investors in considering the real-world impacts of their investments.

Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?

A Legal Framework for Impact

Join the PRI's Head of Fixed Income Carmen Nuzzo for the first podcast of a series on ESG in credit, risk and ratings.

In this episode, Carmen is joined by Yasmina Serghini of Moody’s Investors Service and William Vaughan of Brandywine Global.

They discuss:

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Credit Risk and Ratings Initiative

Published on Earth Day 2020, in this episode, the PRI's Director of Climate Change, Sagarika Chatterjee, and Jason Eis, Executive Director of Vivid Economics, discuss a pioneering piece of research from the PRI, Vivid Economics and Energy Transition Advisors: the Inevitable Policy Response to climate change.

They discuss what exactly the Inevitable Policy Response is; the potential impact on asset classes such as equities of not acting now on climate change; and what PRI signatories can do to integrate IPR thinking into their investments.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

Read about the Inevitable Policy Response here

Please note this episode was recorded before the Covid-19 outbreak in Europe

Join the PRI's Chief Operating Officer, Graeme Griffiths, in this quarterly update episode of the PRI podcast.

Graeme is joined by the PRI's Director of Policy and Research, Will Martindale, and the PRI's Director of ESG and the SDGs, Shelagh Whitley. Together they run through the key updates from the organisation over the past three months.

Interested in the resources discussed in this episode?

COVID-19 practical bulletin

Short-term participation group

Long-term participation group

Investing with SDG outcomes, available until 24 April

EU taxonomy final report

EU consultation on renewed sustainable finance strategy

Legal Framework for Impact

UN-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance

TCFD for private equity general partners

Corporate tax transparency

ESG and alpha in China

Passive investment survey results

PRI Awards

In this academic episode of the PRI podcast, Mikael Homanen, the PRI's Senior Specialist, Research, is joined by Caroline Flammer, Associate Professor and Dean’s Research Scholar at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.

Caroline and Mikael discuss how CSR can contribute to company competitiveness; why companies don't engage more extensively on CSR; and whether CSR can ever constrain competitiveness.

Find out about the research here.

Following the launch of the Investor Year of Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at Davos, the PRI's CEO Fiona Reynolds, sat down with Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Together they discuss what AMR is, why it should be on everyone’s radar and critically, the role investors can play in making change happen.

This episode was recorded prior to the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. While a separate matter to AMR, Covid-19 is another issue we must act now on. 

In the last episode in our series of modern slavery podcasts, the PRI's Head of Social Issues, Bettina Reinboth speaks with Anders Stromblad, Head of Alternative Investments and External Management at AP2.

There are currently 40.3 million people in modern slavery today.

To bring this number close to zero by 2030, and reach the Sustainable Development Goal target 8.7, we would need to reduce the number of individuals affected by 10,000 a day.   

The risks of modern slavery are increasing due to changes such as climate change, automation and migration, as they disrupt global labour markets and value chains.  

In this episode, Bettina and Anders discuss how AP2 is addressing modern slavery and human trafficking across its investments, and what private equity investors can do to tackle the issue.

Interested in the resources discussed in this podcast?

Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking: https://www.unpri.org/social-issues/a-blueprint-for-mobilizing-finance-against-slavery-and-trafficking/5156.article