Investors now use extremely sophisticated tools to assess sustainability performance and risk exposure, according to responsible investment expert Pablo Berrutti.
ANZ has refused requests to finance several coal-fired power plants and a major infrastructure project in the past year because they didn't meet its environmental criteria, says its sustainability report released today.
A new survey shows a dramatic increase in the importance that institutional investors put on environmental disclosures, and the result should prompt companies to rethink how they report, says consultancy EY.
BP has acceded to shareholder demands for greater disclosure of its carbon risks, while an Australian super fund has backed efforts to secure a US investigation of reporting by Chevron and ExxonMobil.
Major Australian companies are making progress in managing supply-chain water risk but still have a long way to go, according to a survey report released today.
Corporate sustainability managers should be aware that institutional investors are taking a close interest in sustainability risks, even if broking analysts often don't ask about them, says the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors.
Global investors with more than $3 trillion under management have asked 45 companies - including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, BP and Xstrata - to explain how they are planning for an 80% reduction in fossil fuel emissions by 2050.
Companies will be under more pressure to inform investors of their environmental risk management strategies, under proposed changes to ASX corporate governance guidelines.