How institutions and individuals can address complex social, financial, and environmental problems on a systemic level—and invest in a more secure future. Investment today has evolved from the basic, conventional approach of the past. Investors have come to recognize the importance of sustainable investment and are more frequently considering environmental and social factors in their decisions. Yet the complexity of the times forces us to recognize and transition to a third stage of investment practice: system-level investing. In this paradigm-shifting book, William Burckart and Steve Lydenberg show how system-level investors support and enhance the health and stability of the social, financial, and environmental systems on which they depend for long-term returns. They preserve and strengthen these fundamental systems while still generating competitive or otherwise acceptable performance. This book is for those investors who believe in that transition. They may be institutions, large or small, concerned about the long-term stability of the environment and society. They may be individual investors who want their children and grandchildren to inherit a just and sustainable world. Whoever they may be, Burckart and Lydenberg show them the what, why, and how of system-level investment in this book: what it means to manage system-level risks and rewards, why it is imperative to do so now, and how to integrate this new way of thinking into their current practice. “Burckart and Lydenberg are the Wayne Gretzkys of investing: Showing us not where investing is, but where it’s going.” —Jon Lukomnik, Managing Partner, Sinclair Capital; Senior Fellow, High Meadows Institute
From three of the founders of the field of socially responsible investing, and the authors of the pioneering volume Ethical Investing, here is a completely up-to-date guide that teaches you how to create an investment portfolio that makes money without making you sacrifice your principles. Peter D. Kinder, Steven D. Lydenberg, and Amy L. Domini have made careers of identifying investment opportunities that respect clients' social and political interests and have a strong track record that proves you can invest profitably and still respect your conscience. Now they explain their strategies in a book that allows individual investors to guide their own course or better communicate with their own investment counselor. Using their techniques, you can select, research, and screen companies according to a list of criteria that distinguishes publicly traded companies by the soundness of their policies in areas you care about - whether the companies are "green" or have defense contracts, what their employee practices are, if they test products on animals, where their overseas investments go, and much more. Investors will also be able to use these principles and strategies to control and direct their assets, whether they choose to invest in mutual funds, pension funds, or stocks and bonds. Pension fund managers and other institutional investors have discovered socially responsible investing. Investments in socially screened vehicles increased ten-fold to $500 billion in the last eight years. The authors' Domini 400 Social Index fueled some of this demand by offering investors the first broad-based index to track U.S. common stocks. Now, with this new book, everyone has the opportunity to use his or her money wisely and still be responsible to society's needs.
Imagine that you are a responsible investment money manager. One of your clients is asking you to sell her holdings in a company because it has been accused in the press of contracting with suppliers that have abusive labour conditions. You have to evaluate and benchmark the CSR performance of a number of companies from the same industry but among them there are companies, primarily the smallest, that provide little or no CSR information. One of your major clients is asking you to exclude companies involved in nanotechnology What would you do? Responsible investment (RI) - the integration of environmental, societal and governance (ESG) issues into investment decision-making - can be difficult and complex. Including or excluding companies, engaging with companies, partnering with stakeholders, evaluating environmental and societal controversies, defining criteria and, all the while, producing a competitive return for investors can raise multiple questions that cannot be dealt with simply. The practice of RI faces many such dilemmas as it seeks to balance the competing goals of business, society, and finance and to judge how best to reconcile what are often conflicting concerns. Dilemmas in Responsible Investment examines the problems responsible investment practitioners face daily. It emphasises the importance of asking the right questions as well as getting the right answers; and the importance of process as well as product. The authors pay attention to the diversity of opinion and variety of approaches available. They also raise fundamental questions about the very purpose of investment and the responsibilities of investors, both economic and societal. Although dilemmas in RI are not always easily resolved, Louche and Lydenberg believe that they are also a source of valuable and necessary debate about the appropriate role of corporations in society and the ability of the financial markets to appropriately serve the societies in which they operate. Such dilemmas provide a valuable framework for public debate and can encourage the emergence of innovative answers and approaches. Responsible investors join in these debates when they Examine the societal and environmental implications of business activities, actions and behaviour Facilitate dialogue between corporations and their stakeholders Encourage corporate transparency on societal and environmental issues Reward companies that are making genuine efforts towards sustainability Integrate societal and environmental data into financial analysis The book first of all provides a state-of-the-art overview of responsible investment, its history and development, explanations of key terms and a guide to the different actors involved in the field. Second, it presents 12 diverse hypothetical case studies that examine a wide spectrum of the challenges facing RI professionals, raising questions about the relationship between business and society, about the purpose of investment, and about the responsibilities of investors to various segments of society and the environment. The (often interconnected) cases present a dilemma, possible approaches available, variable factors, a variety of quotations and suggested responses from 35 leading professionals in the responsible investment community, real-world examples and comparisons and recommendations. Accessible, vivid and illuminating, Dilemmas in Responsible Investment is the first book specifically written for teaching and professional training in responsible investment. It will be required reading for students, academics and practitioners in the areas of finance, ethics and CSR.
Two experienced and visionary authors show how institutions and individuals can go beyond conventional and sustainable investing to address complex problems such as income inequality and climate change on a deep, systemic level. It's time for a new way to think about investing, one that can contend with the complex challenges we face in the 21st century. Investment today has evolved from the basic, conventional approach of the 1950s. Investors have since recognized the importance of sustainable investment and have begun considering environmental and social factors. Yet the complexity of the times forces us to recognize and transition to a third stage of investment practice: system-level investing. In this paradigm-shifting book, William Burckart and Steve Lydenberg show how system-level investors support and enhance the health and stability of the social, financial, and environmental systems on which they depend for long-term returns. They preserve and strengthen these fundamental systems while still generating competitive or otherwise acceptable performance. This book is for those investors who believe in that transition. They may be institutions, large or small, concerned about the long-term stability of the environment and society. They may be individual investors who want their children and grandchildren to inherit a just and sustainable world. Whoever they may be, Burckart and Lydenberg show them the what, why, and how of system-level investment in this book: what it means to manage system-level risks and rewards, why it is imperative to do so now, and how to integrate this new way of thinking into their current practice.
A complete guide to sustainability policy at the federal, state,and local levels Sustainability Policy: Hastening the Transition to a CleanerEconomy is a fundamental guide for public sector professionalsnew to sustainability policy development, implementation, strategy,and practice. Featuring detailed cases highlighting innovativesustainability initiatives, this book explores the elements thatconstitute effective policy, and the factors that can help orhinder implementation and adoption. Readers gain insight intopolicies in effect at the federal, state, and local levels, in theareas of water, energy, material use, and waste management, and thereasons why local policies are often the most innovative andsuccessful. Discussion surrounding monitoring and measurementaddresses the lack of standardization, as well as the government'scritical role in leading the field toward generally acceptedsustainability metrics, while outlining the reasons why certainpolicies are more feasible than others. This book is an introductory resource, written in non-technicallanguage, and organized in a coherent manner that establishesfoundational knowledge before introducing more complex issues. Evenreaders with little background in sustainability will gain insightinto the current state of the field and the issues at hand. Understand sustainability in public and private enterprises,including the role of government and public policy Learn the current standing federal, state, and local policiessurrounding sustainability Discover what makes an effective sustainability policy,including measurement and evaluation metrics Explore the politics and future of sustainability, and thebarriers to change Sustainability is a hot topic in both the public and privatesector, with vocal advocates on both sides of every issue, sodeveloping effective policy is crucial. For public sectorprofessionals entering the sustainability field, Introduction toSustainability Policy & Management is a valuableresource.
From three of the founders of the field of socially responsible investing, and the authors of the pioneering volume Ethical Investing, here is a completely up-to-date guide that teaches you how to create an investment portfolio that makes money without making you sacrifice your principles. Peter D. Kinder, Steven D. Lydenberg, and Amy L. Domini have made careers of identifying investment opportunities that respect clients' social and political interests and have a strong track record that proves you can invest profitably and still respect your conscience. Now they explain their strategies in a book that allows individual investors to guide their own course or better communicate with their own investment counselor. Using their techniques, you can select, research, and screen companies according to a list of criteria that distinguishes publicly traded companies by the soundness of their policies in areas you care about - whether the companies are "green" or have defense contracts, what their employee practices are, if they test products on animals, where their overseas investments go, and much more. Investors will also be able to use these principles and strategies to control and direct their assets, whether they choose to invest in mutual funds, pension funds, or stocks and bonds. Pension fund managers and other institutional investors have discovered socially responsible investing. Investments in socially screened vehicles increased ten-fold to $500 billion in the last eight years. The authors' Domini 400 Social Index fueled some of this demand by offering investors the first broad-based index to track U.S. common stocks. Now, with this new book, everyone has the opportunity to use his or her money wisely and still be responsible to society's needs.
Market-based development strategies designed to help the worldÕs poor receive significant support from advocates, academics, governments, and the media, yet frequently the perceived success of these programs rests on carefully selected examples and one-sided, enthusiastic accounts. In practice, these approaches are often poorly defined and executed, with little balanced, comparative analysis of their true strengths and weaknesses. This book is the first to assess emerging market-based social change approaches comparatively, focusing specifically on social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, fair trade, and private sustainable development. Steven G. Anderson begins by identifying the problems these programs address and then describes their core, shared principles. He follows with a general framework for defining and evaluating these and other development approaches. Separate chapters provide background on the historical development and application of each approach, as well as interpretations of the processes for implementation and the underlying behavioral assumptions related to successful outcomes. A final chapter compares each approach across a set of important program development dimensions and analyzes the utility of market-based approaches as part of a general consideration of social development strategies for the developing world.
This book provides a multi-perspective approach to sustainability and value chains to allow understanding from a variety of disciplines and professional backgrounds. Some of the key features of this book include: Short vignettes of important trends along with relevant management issues; Evidence-based management examples from leading multinational companies, as well as small and medium enterprises spanning supply chains; References to appropriate tools, emerging technology, and practices; Chapter action items for the reader to take a deeper look at integration opportunities involving sustainability and supply chain management; An action-learning approach to applying concepts and tools so readers from any functional perspective can implement and manage sustainability projects; and guidelines on how to move forward with your supply chain sustainability initiative.
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