![]() ![]() ![]() Each day Wharton Business Daily features top business leaders, innovators, and renowned Wharton faculty discussing topics that really matter and that draw from the School’s unique and deep expertise across its 10 academic areas. Wharton Business Daily covers the latest policy changes, shifts in the markets, tech innovation, retail trends, marketing and advertising, and much more. Those who are concerned about climate change have moved up the ladder from ‘Hey, people, recycle your bottles and cans,’ to “Hey, companies, what are you doing to become more environmentally sustainable?’ to a still higher level and that is, ‘Hey, BlackRock, the largest asset manager in the world, we’re putting pressure on you to use your power to make a difference.’” “It’s been fascinating to me to see the evolution of environmental activists’ strategies. We need environmental experts and activists to continue the pressure and continue educating us all.” What role have environmental activists played in pressuring BlackRock to change its investment policies? “With the pressure on companies to improve on environmental, social, and governance dimensions, there comes a fear that companies will engage in what people are calling ‘greenwashing,’ ‘impact washing,’ or ‘window dressing.’ The companies that BlackRock and others are investing in may be good on some dimensions but lousy on other dimensions. We’re going to create funds that do the following.’ That’s a lot more specific than ‘we need to pay more attention to long-term corporate financial performance.’ That makes me hopeful because this letter will allow people to hold BlackRock accountable.” What worries you about this letter? We’re going to exit from these types of companies. ![]() Fink’s 2020 letter effectively says, ‘We’re going to do the following things. “What makes me hopeful is that there is a greater level of specificity and accountability in this letter than we have seen in Larry Fink’s recent letters to CEOs. So when you think about those three factors - tangible evidence of climate change, intense pressure on BlackRock, and a strong financial argument for considering environmental sustainability – it’s about time.” Will this letter drive investments and business practices to promote environmental sustainability? And, third, the financial performance implications have become increasingly clear that considering environmental sustainability is not only not harmful for your investments but is actually a good idea. Second, there’s been a lot of targeted pressure on BlackRock to change its tune. The very fact that we can all feel it, and see it in the news-see the fires in Australia and see flooding and so on – raises concerns. “There’s a groundswell of interest in climate. Katherine Klein, vice dean of Wharton Social Impact and a Wharton management professor, spoke with host Dan Loney on Wharton Business Dailyabout the impact of BlackRock’s announcement and the future of sustainable investing Interview Highlights Why is this change coming now? Fink’s letter is the latest in a trend of business leaders encouraging companies to take action to address climate change. Last month, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink released his annual letter to CEOs announcing his firm would take environmental sustainability into account when making investment decisions because climate change represents an unprecedented risk to markets. When the world’s largest asset manager makes a bold statement, people pay attention. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |