ESG factors – Benefits Canada.com https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Thu, 16 Jan 2025 20:41:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Debate about pension fund’s divesting due to ESG issues heats up in Oregon https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/public-equities/debate-about-pension-funds-divesting-due-to-esg-issues-heats-up-in-oregon/ Fri, 26 Nov 2021 14:00:18 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=112319 Oregon’s state employee retirement fund is coming under increased scrutiny as the U.S. state is facing increased calls for divestment from companies that have environmental, social and governance issues. Oregon residents are increasingly pushing for the state to divest from fossil fuel companies and other controversial investments, but the state treasury is resisting and putting […]

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]]> AIMCo focusing on all three legs of ESG stool: report https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/strategies/aimco-focusing-on-all-three-legs-of-esg-stool-report/ Fri, 12 Nov 2021 14:00:27 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=111433 The Alberta Management Investment Co. is focusing on all three legs of the environmental, social and governance stool this year and beyond. The government-owned pension investment manager is addressing a range of ESG issues, from integrating climate risk to building a more diverse workforce to advancing its risk governance in 2021, according to its 11th […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, pension and benefits stories of the week https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-pension-and-benefits-stories-of-the-week-4/ Fri, 22 Oct 2021 13:00:56 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=110050 Our story revealing the employers that took the top spots at the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards was the most-read story over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Who are the winners of the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards? 2. ‘Significant’ wave of terminations coming due to workplace vaccine mandates: lawyer […]

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]]> Expert panel: Climate change putting spotlight on ESG issues for pension plans https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/strategies/expert-panel-climate-change-putting-spotlight-on-esg-issues-for-pension-plans/ Tue, 19 Oct 2021 13:00:27 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=109546 The images of floods, forest fires and heat waves over the past few years is putting climate change front of mind for many, including pension plan sponsors and administrators. It’s become increasingly clear that environmental, social and governance factors are emerging as an important area of concern for pension plan administrators and, by extension, the […]

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]]> Majority of climate-themed equity funds out of alignment with Paris Agreement: report https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/strategies/majority-of-climate-themed-equity-funds-out-of-alignment-with-paris-agreement-report/ Thu, 02 Sep 2021 17:30:21 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=106741 The majority of climate-themed equity funds offer only marginal benefits compared to the broader market, according to a new report by the London-based think tank InfluenceMap. The report scored climate-themed and environmental, social and governance-themed investment funds on the basis of how well-aligned portfolios are with the environmental commitments made by governments, including the Canadian […]

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]]> ESG integration hampered by pension plan sponsors, uncertainty around fiduciary duties: research paper https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/canadian-investment-review/strategies/esg-integration-hampered-by-pension-plan-sponsors-uncertainty-around-fiduciary-duties-research-paper/ Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:00:43 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=106680 Board and executive-level efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance issues into pension plans’ investment strategies are frequently thwarted by unclear guidance from plan sponsors and uncertainty about fiduciary duties, according to a new working paper by the University of Pennsylvania. The paper concluded that efforts to implement ESG criteria in investment decision-making are frequently hamstrung […]

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]]> More standards required for pension funds using ESG data, indices and scores https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/archives_/benefits-canada-archive/how-are-pension-funds-using-esg-data-indices-and-scores/ Fri, 13 Aug 2021 12:54:48 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=105371 Michel Charron has had a front-row seat for the revolution in the Canadian investment industry’s approach to environmental, social and governance issues. Following the foundation of the United Nation’s principles for responsible investment in 2008, his firm, PBI Actuarial Consultants Inc., immediately signed up. But the concept required explanation for some pension plan sponsors, he […]

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]]> Canada’s pension plan sponsors prioritizing governance, but more work to be done: survey https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/pensions/governance-law/canadas-pensions-savings-plans-prioritizing-governance-but-more-work-to-be-done-survey/ Tue, 03 Aug 2021 13:00:57 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=105005 While the majority of Canadian pension and retirement savings plan sponsors view governance as a top priority, 24 per cent said they haven’t conducted a review of their governance policy in the past three years, according to a new survey by Aon. It found 21 per cent of respondents identified “outdated or inefficient plan governance […]

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]]> University Pension Plan tackling ESG issues by joining 30% Club, CCGG and SHARE https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/pensions/defined-benefit-pensions/university-pension-plan-tackling-esg-issues-by-joining-30-club-ccgg-and-share/ Fri, 16 Jul 2021 19:00:40 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=104130 The newly minted University Pension Plan is tackling environmental, social and governance issues head on by partnering with the 30% Club, Canadian Coalition for Good Governance and Shareholder Association for Research and Education. Read: University Pension Plan launches multi-employer DB pension plan Joining the 30% Club will help the UPP make greater representation of women on […]

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]]> ESG investing and human rights: “Ignorance is no longer an excuse” https://uat-cumulus.benefitscanada.com/news/cir-news-news/esg-investing-and-human-rights-ignorance-is-no-longer-an-excuse/ Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:00:36 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=103053 It’s a welcome development that so many pension fund managers are increasingly preoccupied with the ethical implications of their investments and incorporating data to ensure that funds adhere to the environmental, social and governance criteria. Described by Mirza Baig, global head of ESG research and stewardship at Aviva Investors, as the “year ESG came of age,” 2020 saw record sustainable […]

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