POPULARITY
De Europese Commissie wil haar strenge groene regels versoepelen, waarmee Europese bedrijven bijvoorbeeld in de toekomst niet meer volledig aansprakelijk zijn voor milieuschendingen door hun leveranciers. Met deze radicale stap wil Brussel de economie stimuleren, maar critici vrezen dat dit de ambitieuze groene agenda ondermijnt. We vragen Mathijs Schiffers, EU-correspondent voor het Financieel Dagblad, en Maria van der Heide van ShareAction, een belangenorganisatie voor duurzaamheid in Europa, naar de gevolgen van deze koerswijzing. Gazanen vinden alleen ruïnes terug Hamas dreigt te stoppen met praten als Israël niet eerst de beloofde 600 Palestijnen vrijlaat. Israel staakte de vrijlating omdat Hamas van iedere uitruil een enorme openbare show maakt. De impasse brengt opnieuw de broze wapenstilstand in gevaar, die nu al ruim een maand stand houdt. In die periode keerden tienduizenden Palestijnse families, meestal te voet terug naar het noorden van Gaza. Vaak om erachter te komen dat er van hun huizen en straten niets meer is overgebleven. Collega Edwin Koopman sprak met drie Palestijnen en vroeg hen wat ze aantroffen. Presentatie: Eva Koreman
Hear from Catherine Howarth OBE, CEO of ShareAction, as we dive into the world of shareholder activism and how it can be used to guide institutional investors towards sustainable behaviours. Moving away from fossil fuels is unambiguously the most crucial step in the transition to a sustainable net-zero world. And yet, governments and institutional investors worldwide continue to heavily subsidise and invest in the fossil fuel industry. The longer we delay the transition, the greater the risks that we face. So, how can we break this cycle? Today's guest has been focused on this and other sustainability issues throughout her career. That's why in this episode, we'll be exploring her world of shareholder activism, discussing: The toolkit for influencing institutional investors, including naming and shaming the worst performers; The different challenges when engaging with banks, insurers, and asset managers; And how shareholder activism can go beyond climate to create a more sustainable future for us all. To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: climateriskpodcast@garp.com Links from today's discussion: ShareAction's homepage - https://shareaction.org/ Living Wage Foundation's homepage - https://www.livingwage.org.uk/ Speaker's Bio(s) Catherine Howarth OBE, CEO of ShareAction Catherine has been Chief Executive of ShareAction since July 2008. ShareAction is the leading civil society organisation in Europe promoting responsible investment, transparency and good governance by institutional investors. Catherine is a board member of the Scott Trust, owner of the Guardian Media Group, and a member of HM Treasury's task force on asset management. She was a Member Nominated Trustee of The Pensions Trust (the multi-employer pension scheme for the UK's not-for-profit sector) for five years, where she served on the Investment Committee of this £7bn fund. In 2011, Catherine was named a ‘Rising Star of Corporate Governance' by Yale University's Millstein Center, and in 2014 she was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2014. Catherine holds a First Class BA in Modern History from Oxford University and an MSc in Industrial Relations from the London School of Economics.
In this episode of Intelligence Squared's podcast Tides of Transformation, Gavin Bridge from Durham University and Gisa Weszkalnys from the London School of Economics are joined by Andy Samuel, the former Chief Executive of the North Sea Transition Authority, and Catherine Howarth, the CEO of ShareAction for a conversation about licensing and regulation in the oil sector: how policy has developed, and how it should evolve in the face of the climate emergency. Our panelists also explore how activist shareholders can influence oil companies; how much responsibility oil producers currently bear for their emissions – and how much they should; and, the need for an orderly transition in the North Sea, preventing stranded assets and liabilities. Other contributors include former Chair of the Climate Change Committee Lord Deben; co-founder of Extinction Rebellion Gail Bradbrook; and, Head of Oil, Gas and Mining at Carbon Tracker Initiative Mike Coffin. – This episode was recorded the day before the regulator gave approval to the Norwegian energy giant Equinor to develop Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in the UK. The implications of, and response to, this decision is discussed further in Episode Four of Tides of Transformation. – For more information about Tides of Transformation: An Oil Story, please visit: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/tides-of-transformation/. This series was produced in partnership with the Fraying Ties? project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Government has introduced new legislation requiring annual rounds of oil and gas licensing in the North Sea. What is the relationship between licensing policy and the energy transition? In the third instalment of the new podcast series from Intelligence Squared, Tides of Transformation: An Oil Story, produced in partnership with the Fraying Ties? project, Gavin Bridge from Durham University and Gisa Weszkalnys from the London School of Economics are joined by Andy Samuel, the former Chief Executive of the North Sea Transition Authority, and Catherine Howarth, the CEO of ShareAction for a conversation about licensing and regulation in the oil sector – how policy has evolved, and where it's going wrong. Other contributors include former Chair of the Climate Change Committee Lord Deben; co-founder of Extinction Rebellion Gail Bradbrook; and, Head of Oil, Gas and Mining at Carbon Tracker Initiative Mike Coffin. – This episode was recorded on September 26 2023, the day before the regulator gave approval to the Norwegian energy giant Equinor to develop Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in the UK. The implications of, and response to, this decision are discussed further in Episode 4 of Tides of Transformation. Just search ‘Tides of Transformation' wherever you get your podcasts. – For more information about Tides of Transformation: An Oil Story, please visit: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/tides-of-transformation/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Was ist Impact Investing und wo liegen die Unterschiede zum herkömmlichen ESG-Investing?In dieser Folge spricht Gastgeber Niklas Krämer mit Susanne vom Kanal "Investments for Future" über die Möglichkeiten, mit dem eigenen Finanzportfolio wirklich "Impact" zu erreichen und darüber, was für eine Rolle Shareholder Activism in dem Rahmen spielt. Links zur Folge: Lebensmittel retten, mit Sirplus. Mit den Code "F4F10" sicherst du dir 10% Rabatt und unterstützt unseren Podcast Finance 4Future Website: https://www.finance-4future.de Nachhaltige Finanzberatung Wertwende: https://wertwende.de Dachverband Kritische Aktionärinnen und Aktionäre https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de SDK (Schutzgemeinschaft der Kapitalanleger e.V.) https://sdk.org Urgewald: https://www.urgewald.org ShareAction: www.shareaction.org -------------------------- Für mehr zu nachhaltiger Geldanlage und finanzielle Bildung schau vorbei auf www.finance-4future.de oder meld dich direkt bei uns per E-Mail info@finance-4future.de oder unseren Social Media auf Instagram oder LinkedIn. Exklusive Inhalte und die wichtigsten Neuigkeiten gibt's in unserem Newsletter! Hier kannst du dich kostenfrei eintragen.
Kann man in ETFs investieren und dabei nachhaltig sein? Warum ESG wenig mit dem zu tun hat, was die meisten als Nachhaltigkeit verstehen. Welche Täuschung Themen-ETFs wie Global Clean Energy bergen. Darum geht's in der heutigen Folge im "Laber-Format" mit Moritz und Niklas. Hier sind die Links zu der Folge: Lebensmittel retten, mit unserem Partner Sirplus. Mit den Code "F4F10" sicherst du dir 10% Rabatt und unterstützt unseren Podcast Voting Matters-Report von ShareAction 3,5 % aufs Tagesgeld mit kostenfreiem Girokonto bei der DKB Nachhaltige Fonds bei Cleanvest
Simon Rawson of ShareAction joins Kieran Poole to discuss why the firm is urging major European banks to end the direct financing of new oil and gas fields by the end of 2023, being the first group to file a Living Wage resolution, and his time serving as a British diplomat. Plus, he tells us why we should all be watching Schitt's Creek.
In this week's ‘PAYING FOR GOOD' podcast, I welcome James Coldwell, Head of the Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI) at ShareAction. We talk about the societal and financial needs for transparency on social metrics and how they fit under the ‘S' of ESG.TO GET EACH EPISODE OF THE PODCAST STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.peoplenet.ltd.uk/newsletter/To find out how Responsible Reward, the integration of remuneration (base pay, incentives, benefits and pensions) and sustainability can make you an employer, an investment opportunity or an investor of choice, please email me at client.care@peoplenet.ltd.uk.
Host Chris Adams is joined by Andri Johnston, Digital Sustainable Lead for Cambridge University Press and Assessment as they talk about using DIMPACT to calculate the carbon impact of digital publishing as well as news from the world of green software concerning one acronym; ESG and one portmanteau; LightSwitchOps. They also cover some upcoming events and we learn about Andri's love of books!
Late in 2022, I noticed a BBC News article stating that HSBC – one of the world's largest banks – had committed to end funding for all new oil and gas drilling. The commitment alone was noteworthy, but what really caught my eye, as I was looking to understand what drove such a powerful commitment, was the mention of a small nonprofit group based in the UK called ShareAction. I learned that their investigative work, pressure, and collaboration with financial service firms and other companies are accelerating the climate transition. The secret to their sauce is what's known as shareholder activism, and here to explain it today is Simon Rawson, ShareAction's Director of Corporate Engagement & Deputy CEO. A former British diplomat, Simon helped build the social responsibility practice at McKinsey & Company. He brings real sophistication to his advocacy work, understanding the need for quality data and balancing pressure and collaboration. I learned a lot from this conversation and if you're interested in understanding how the financial system can help accelerate climate action, I think you'll enjoy it. Here we go.In today's episode, we cover:[3:14] ShareAction, how it got started & the problem it's aiming to solve[4:57] Simon's career switch & why his work today is important[6:41] The power of shareholder activism[8:48] The transformation of the financial system[10:56] ShareAction's Voting Matters Report[14:10] Divergence in the US & Europe in relation to ESG backlash[16:22] The importance of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative & Climate Action 100+[18:19] The hyperpolarization of ESG & next steps[19:57] The HSBC commitment & ShareAction's role[21:43] The balance between pushing aggressively & being collaborative[23:33] What's involved in creating a shareholder resolution[26:00] Coalition building & keeping the pressure on[27:25] Climate action & investor returns[30:02] Focusing on the petrochemical industry [32:54] Other focus areas for ShareAction[34:44] What everyday people can do when it comes to shareholder activism[37:05] What the future will look like in 10-15 yearsResources MentionedShareActionShareAction's Voting Matters ReportThe Net Zero Asset Managers InitiativeClimate Action 100+BBC News: HSBC to end funding for new oil and gas fieldsConnect with Simon RawsonConnect with Simon on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In...
In this episode, we welcome Catherine Howarth who has been pioneering systems change for over a decade with ShareAction. ShareAction coordinates civil society activism to promote responsible investment across Europe. We explore the critical role that finance, pension funds, asset managers and big banks have in transitioning to a low carbon future and that there is no space in our carbon budget for further investment in fossil fuels. Catherine talks about their formula for successful campaigning, the need for us to be a movement for change and influence our pension funds and how that can happen and a vision for a sustainable financial system that serves society instead of being so self-serving.You can support the work that ShareAction does by visiting https://shareaction.org/ Who is Catherine Howarth Since 2008, Catherine has been the Chief Executive of ShareAction, an organization that coordinates civil society activism to promote responsible investment across Europe. In addition to her role at ShareAction, Catherine is a board member of the Scott Trust and serves on the HM Treasury's Asset Management Taskforce.She also holds a First Class BA in Modern History from Oxford University and an MSc in Industrial Relations from the London School of Economics. Catherine's expertise in corporate governance has not gone unnoticed, as she was named a 'Rising Star of Corporate Governance' by Yale University's Millstein Center in 2011, and recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2014.When Catherine finds the time for herself, she loves heading up to Scotland to spend some time in the mountains and by the sea.Of course, her two boys keep her occupied at home, but she still manages to sneak in some runs around the East End of London when she can. Where shall we go next, what questions shall we ask? To co-create the podcast with us, connect with fellow change makers in the FuturePlanet community of action, visit www.futureplanet.love to sign in or sign up.
This week, Sophie Lawrence, Stewardship and Engagement Lead at Rathbone Greenbank Investments is our guest presenter. She was one of the guests who spoke at The Food Foundation's Investor Summit, Putting Money on the Menu, which was the first of its kind to explore how the investment community can transform the UK food system.Following the UN Food Systems Summit and the release of the National Food Strategy in 2021, an Investor Coalition on Food Policy was created, initially set up by Rathbone Greenbank, with support from Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation and the Food Foundation. The Coalition, which now represents over 20 investors with over £6 trillion in assets under management is focused on the UK to begin with and exists to harness the power of the investment community to engage with policymakers on food policy. Sophie finds out what investors could mean to the future of the food system, with Tim Benton from the Environment and Society Programme at Chatham House, Jessica Attard from ShareAction, Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, Secretary-General at the Vegetarian Society of Denmark and Director of Policy Initiatives at the International Vegetarian Union, Morten Fenger of Organic Plant Protein in Denmark and Stuart Lendrum, head of product and process at Iceland. To find out more about the Coalition, click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the ‘PAYING FOR GOOD' podcast, I welcome Simon Rawson, Director of Corporate Engagement at UK non-profit ShareAction. Simon works with institutional investors and companies primarily in the UK and Europe. His mission at ShareAction is to build an investment system that is responsible for its impacts on people and the planet. He works on issues like climate change, nature, health, and decent work. My conversation with him focuses on the latter, with a look at living wages in the grocery retail sector. TO GET EACH EPISODE OF MY PODCAST STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.peoplenet.ltd.uk/newsletter/To find out more about Responsible Reward, the integration of remuneration and sustainability, please email me at client.care@peoplenet.ltd.uk.
Michael talks with ShareAction's Senior Campaigns Manager, Michael Kind, all about the power of investments to save the planet. Michael breaks down how financial institutions work, and where your money goes. He explains investments, and divestments, and makes a case for having shares in fossil fuel companies. He covers the importance of pensions, the limits of growth in the investing world, and why co-filing a resolution is the most exciting way to get involved in environmental change. Lastly, Michael offers steps for you to take action when it comes to your money having the biggest impact. ShareActionIn Over My Head Website
The new edie podcast episode is brought to you live from our Sustainability Leaders Forum in London - our flagship event that is uniting sustainability and energy leaders on the shared mission to make the 2020s the decade of delivery for climate action. The team bring you four exclusive interviews from expert speakers at Beauty Kitchen, ShareAction, Green Angel Syndicate and CDP, before recapping on a jam-packed three days.
The little guy is using leverage on one of the largest public companies in the world. UK company Unilever has agreed to publish more rigorous data on fat, sugar and salt in their products after a minor shareholder forced a resolution. Shareaction, a Ginger Group charity, got enough shareholder backing to force the changes after a review found that only 17% of Unilever's food and drink sales were of high nutritional standards, compared to the 61% they claimed. Director of Corporate Campaigns at Shareaction Simon Rawson joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The little guy is using leverage on one of the largest public companies in the world. UK company Unilever has agreed to publish more rigorous data on fat, sugar and salt in their products after a minor shareholder forced a resolution. Shareaction, a Ginger Group charity, got enough shareholder backing to force the changes after a review found that only 17% of Unilever's food and drink sales were of high nutritional standards, compared to the 61% they claimed. Director of Corporate Campaigns at Shareaction Simon Rawson joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join the Dots is a series of podcasts, events and articles by Maddyness and Curation designed to equip your business with the knowledge to navigate and understand the complexities of ESG. In episode 3 we spoke to Jessica Attard about the S in ESG. Jessica Attard is head of health programme development at ShareAction, a charity that promotes responsible investment. Read Join the Dots: What significance does health have in responsible investment?
This week we're talking about something that often goes underappreciated – voting. Voting by asset managers, on behalf of their asset owner clients at company Annual General Meetings (AGM's). We're talking to the author of an influential research piece benchmarking the voting activity of a huge chunk of the asset management industry, Shareaction's Sonia Hierzig.
Those of us working in health often focus on the government as the main agent to get things done, especially when it comes to public health. But think of all the others out there with power, particularly commercial and investment power. There are signs that businesses and institutional investors do seem to be getting more interested in health, with some businesses starting to consider their impact on health in their environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting. Are we now at a turning point? Or is interest in health temporary? If businesses and investors really want to improve health, how do they best move forward? And can government do more to support them? Our Chief Executive Dr Jennifer Dixon discusses this with expert guests: Catherine Howarth joined ShareAction as Chief Executive in 2008. ShareAction coordinates civil society activism to promote responsible investment across Europe. Catherine also serves on HM Treasury's Asset Management Taskforce. John Godfrey joined Legal & General in 2006 and is now Director of Corporate Affairs. John has worked in the City of London for over 30 years and from 2016-17 worked at Number Ten Downing Street as Head of Policy for Prime Minister Theresa May. Show notes APPG on Longevity, Levelling up health, (April 2021) British Academy: The Future of the Corporation programme and reports Policy & Practice for Purposeful Business (2021), Principles for Purposeful Business (2019) and Reforming business for the 21st century (2018) Business for Health, Business Framework for Health: Supporting businesses and employers in their role to enhance and level up the health of the nation (October 2021) Health Foundation, Using economic development to improve health and reduce health inequalities (2020) Institute of Health Equity, Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On (2020) ShareAction, Health: An Untapped Asset – How investors can strengthen returns by improving health outcomes (September 2021)
'Net zero' was a buzzword in the sustainability world in 2021, but big questions remain about what this term really means. In this episode of ESG Insider, we'll hear how the Science Based Targets initiative, or SBTi, is defining net zero in its newly released corporate standard. And to understand the challenges the financial sector faces in defining and achieving net zero targets, we talk to Curtis Ravenel, who is senior adviser to Mark Carney — the former Bank of England Governor who now acts as U.N. special envoy on climate finance. We'll also hear from Jeanne Martin, senior campaign manager at U.K.-based investor activist group ShareAction, about where European banks stand and why they need to make significant progress toward their net zero goals by 2030. To learn more about the extent to which big corporations in multiple sectors are setting net zero targets, read an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/path-to-net-zero-stakeholders-demand-action-on-ambitions-as-pledges-swell-67951124 Photo credit: Getty Images
This week: Andrew Wallis, CEO of UK-based trafficking and modern slavery organisation Unseen, talks about where the modern slavery and forced labour hotspots are right now, and the impacts of climate change on forced migration. He also outlines what Fifa should be thinking about ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Plus: Walmart's new supply chain finance programme with CDP and HSBC; how HSBC plans to exit coal, and why ShareAction isn't impressed; and, the European Commission outlines new carbon removal proposals for the EU, in the news digest. Host: Ian Welsh
As COP26 comes to a close, there has been a flurry of commitments to invest trillions of dollars in green technologies and carbon neutral projects. That is the core of ESG investing (or is it?).ESG investing has grown exponentially since the famous 2015 Marc Carney's speech "Breaking the Tragedy of the Horizon" and the 2020 Blackrock letter “Because capital markets pull future risk forward, we will see changes in capital allocation more quickly than we see changes to the climate itself”. Numbers are dizzying. ESG investment has almost trebled over the last five years, reaching $50 trillion in assets in 2021.At the same time, ESG investing seems to be victim of its own success with inflated claims not met by facts. With more than 600 ratings and 5,000 metrics, ESG has become a maze where investors are drowned in an “alphabet soup” of standards while some financial institutions seem to be more focused on fees than purpose. At last, the regulators - whether the EU Commission or the SEC - are starting to intervene to create standards.To try to understand the dynamics of ESG investing, its challenges, effectiveness, and possible solutions, we have invited Catherine Howarth, CEO of Shareaction. Shareaction is a NGO working to assess the quality of sustainability practice of the world's largest institutional investors, and to hold investors accountable on the gap between their sustainability claims and actions. We exchange candidly with Catherine on ESG ratings, shareholders' activism, the divestment movement, and the role of regulators.ReferencesShareaction: https://shareaction.org/ Quilter on ESG: https://media.quilter.com/search/greenwashing-tops-investors-concerns-around-esg-products-new-research-finds/Talking Responsibly: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/talking-responsibly/id1547007524DivestInvest: https://www.divestinvest.org/“Doing Good or Feeling Good” by EDHEC: https://energycentral.com/c/ec/doing-good-or-feeling-good-detecting-greenwashing-climate-investing-edhecEU Taxonomy: https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/sustainable-finance/eu-taxonomy-sustainable-activities_enDWS (Deutsche Bank) rocked by $1trillion SEC greenwashing probe: https://www.internationalinvestment.net/news/4036306/dws-rocked-usd1trillion-sec-greenwashing-probe-reportsBank of International Settlements: “A taxonomy of taxonomies” https://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap118.pdf
In this episode of Hymans Robertson On... our host Ben Farmer presents the latest instalment in our Investment series on stewardship and the significance of supply chains. Ben welcomes Martin Buttle, Head of Good Work at ShareAction, and Caoimhe Bain, Responsible Investment Specialist at Hymans Robertson. During the episode we discuss the importance of stewardship among asset owners and managers, a case study on supply chains highlighting the potential impact of poor ESG practices, and draw out some actions that trustees can take to exercise their stewardship responsibilities effectively. You can find links to the content referenced in this episode's show notes at www.hymans.co.uk/hymans-robertson-on along with other episodes in the series.
This week: Xavier Roussel, sustainability and marketing director at Dole Foods, talks with Innovation Forum's Toby Webb about how technology is changing how brands can engage with their consumers. Virtual reality and interactivity are to the fore as consumers become better informed, and increasingly expect to know where products come from and how they're grown. Plus an update about the upcoming sustainable commodities and landscapes conference. And, many COP26 delegates yet to get their UK government covid-19 vaccinations; palm oil's stranded assets; Europe's banks too slow on decarbonising, says ShareAction; and, Mondelez International's new €2bn green bond, in the news digest. Host: Ian Welsh
Josina Kamerling introduces us to Simon Rawson from ShareAction, an UK-based charity that advocates for responsible investment. They discuss the impact of Covid-19 on stakeholder engagement in firms, and specifically the role of Annual General Meetings (AGMs) in shaping business conduct.
How does individual shareholder activism work? How does personal agency and systems change work together in a theory of change? How do we become change makers? What did Catherine's mother teach me? Catherine is Chief Executive of ShareAction. She coordinates civil society activism to promote responsible investment Catherine was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2014. ShareAction campaigns have significantly altered corporate strategy and government policy. For instance, on HSBC establishing environmental targets and Tesco making healthy food commitments. We chat about Catherine's journey into activism and the theories of change that have influenced her. We discuss how poetry, Ursula Le Guin and feminism have impacted us. How to convince open minded skeptics to your cause. Transcript and video available here. Topics covered: -Catherine's activism journey -Catherine on community and theory of change -ShareAction theory of change -Healthy eating campaign, ideas on fiduciary duty -How to decide on campaign topics -Converting skeptics -What poetry taught me dividual agency at National Express What poetry taught me -Questions on individual pension investors vote -Maximising the well being of people -Responsible Investment Bill idea, maximising welfare -Better growth not degrowth -Problems of vaccine nationalism -Underrated/overrated: art, cycling, carbon tax, voting, remote work, having children -Catherines advice to young people
Hello! In February the Supreme Court ruled against Uber in a major case on the rights of its drivers. Could it prompt a shift in working conditions in the gig economy? Former Uber driver and co-claimant in the recent case James Farrar tells us about his legal victory, Kelle Howson from Fairwork talks about what it could mean more widely, then Martin Buttle from ShareAction talks us through the investor response to Deliveroo’s recent IPO. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Catherine Howarth, chief executive at ShareAction, talks to the Green Finance Institute's Ryan Jude and Helen Avery about her journey into the world of responsible investing, the role asset managers play in influencing companies to be more environmentally and socially-responsible, and the importance of using shareholder voting rights to enact positive change.
Emma Howard Boyd is one of the leading voices in the UK’s Environment scene. As the Chair of the Environment Agency, she is at the forefront of the current environment agenda. This week, Michael and Emma will discuss everything from recent flooding in the UK to the unique UWC schooling experience. Bio Emma Howard Boyd has been the chair of the UK’s Environment Agency since 2016. The Agency is a public body responsible for the protection and enhancement of the environment in England. She’s also the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation, an Ex officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and an Advisor to the Board of Trade. Emma, with a background in finance, is a board member or advisor to many companies which include The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project, the European Climate Foundation, and Menhaden PLC. Before becoming the Chair of the Agency in September 2016, she served as its Board member since 2009. Her other past roles include being the Chair of Trustees at ShareAction from 2015 to 2018, Vice-Chair of the Future Cities Capital from 2013 and 2018, and acting as a Non-Executive Director at the Aldersgate Group between (2012 -2018) Triodos Renewables (2004-2012). Before that, she held various executive roles at Jupiter Asset Management. She was also Chair of UKSIF (the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association), a member of the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance, and the Green Finance Taskforce. Emma Howard Boyd attended Lester B Pearson College, United World College (UWC) in Canada. She read Law and Economics at St John’s College at the University of Durham. Links Government bio https://www.gov.uk/government/people/emma-howard-boyd Environment Agency website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency Encouraging locally-led climate change adaptation (January 2021) https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/encouraging-locally-led-climate-change-adaptation Storm Christoph (January 2021) https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/gallery/2021/jan/20/storm-christoph-hits-the-uk-in-pictures Emma Howard Boyd, Green Summit speech (September 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/emma-howard-boyd-green-summit-speech The importance of disclosure in the climate emergency (June 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-importance-of-disclosure-in-the-climate-emergency The Prime Minister visits Didsbury following Storm Christoph (January 2021) https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2021/01/21/the-prime-minister-visits-didsbury-following-storm-christoph/ Flood and coastal resilience innovation programme https://www.gov.uk/government/news/communities-at-risk-of-flooding-urged-to-apply-for-a-share-of-200m-resilience-programme Emma Howard Boyd - UK Environment Agency - Adaptation Week (December 2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBX_h8ORpoA Letter to The Times from Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency (February 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/letter-to-the-times-from-emma-howard-boyd-chair-of-the-environment-agency ShareAction https://shareaction.org/ Menhaden Capital PLC https://www.menhaden.com/ Global Centre for Adaptation https://gca.org/ The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project https://www.accountingforsustainability.org/en/index.html Green Finance Institute https://www.greenfinanceinstitute.co.uk/ Thrive Renewables https://www.triodos.com/ Climate Adaptation Summit 2021 https://www.cas2021.com/ Race to Zero https://racetozero.unfccc.int/race-to-resilience/ About Cleaning Up: Once a week Michael Liebreich has a conversation (and a drink) with a leader in clean energy, mobility, climate finance, or sustainable development. Each episode covers the technical ground on some aspect of the low-carbon transition – but it also delves into the nature of leadership in the climate transition: whether to be optimistic or pessimistic; how to communicate in order to inspire change; personal credos; and so on. And it should be fun – most of the guests are Michael’s friends. Follow Cleaning Up on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLCleaningUp Follow Cleaning Up on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clea... Follow Cleaning Up on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MLCleaningUp Links to other Podcast Platforms: https://www.cleaningup.live
Peter Uhlenbruch, the Head of Investor Standards at ShareAction, discusses the points of no return when it comes to setting the standards for responsible investing.
Research from ‘Make my Money Matter' has shown that moving towards more sustainable funds can have many times more impact in reducing your carbon footprint than giving up flying and becoming vegan combined. Joining me today is Alice Ross, Deputy News Editor for the Financial Times and author of the new book Investing To Save The Planet: How Your Money Can Make a Difference - her mission is to highlight the action that every investor, at any level, can take to build a greener future. In this episode, Alice gives an introduction to sustainable investing, so what does it mean when we talk about green or sustainable investing, we break down some of the terminology and jargon used in the industry, and discuss the tools available to help avoid greenwashing. Investing To Save The Planet: How Your Money Can Make a Difference: https://www.bookdepository.com/Investing-Save-Planet-Alice-Ross/9780241457238You can follow and connect with Alice at: Twitter: www.twitter.com/aliceemrossFinancial Times: https://www.ft.com/stream/89bc219c-f119-4b45-bdbe-aacb7e897eed Alice shared some great resources in this episode. All the links are below:ShareAction: https://shareaction.org/Explained: The Future of Meat on Netflix London Stock Exchange, Navigating the green finance landscape report (2019)IMF, Chapter 6 Sustainable Finance (2019)European Commission, Factsheet: Financing sustainable growth - A new European regime on sustainability-related disclosures that will come into force from March 2021You can learn more about Vestpod and subscribe to our newsletter here: https://www.vestpod.com. You can follow us on Instagram @vestpod and join our Facebook group. My book is available to purchase from Amazon and your favourite bookshop.*Remember: the value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Always do your own research - and note that what we discussed in the podcast is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment.** Please note that we are not certified, financial advisers! The articles and information made available on Vestpod and this podcast are provided for information and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. You are advised to consult with an independent financial advisor for advice on your specific circumstances.* See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Catherine Howarth, CEO of Share Action talks about using AGMs to “nudge” companies to become more sustainable and how ranking investors on climate change, biodiversity and human rights can encourage them to lift their game.
The Island Social Club was created to fill the void of what was once London’s thriving Caribbean social scene. Chef, writer and co-founder Marie Mitchell explores Caribbean food and culture while creating a space for second and third generation British people of Caribbean descent to connect with their heritage. Marie talks abut food and identity and shows us how to Cook the Perfect Roti, one of the cornerstones of Caribbean cuisine. After a difficult first term of online tuition, lockdowns and social distancing it’s been a University experience like no other for young people.. The Government has issued guidelines about how they plan to get students home in time for Christmas which include a mass testing programme on campuses to reduce risk of infection. NUS President Larissa Kennedy joins Nicola to discuss university life in the time of Covid and the testing strategy. Audrey Hepburn was a legendary star of Hollywood’s Golden Age – infamous for her acting, as well as her style. But what do we know about the real woman behind the image? We hear from Helena Coan the director of a new film Audrey which features never before seen footage of her life, and Audrey’s granddaughter Emma Ferrer. The Woman’s Hour Power List: Our Planet has highlighted the breadth of work that goes into helping the environment, and today we feature two women in the finance sector. Caroline Mason is no. 16 on the List and is the CEO of the Esmée Fairbain Foundation, which finances lots of environmental and social projects. Catherine Howarth is no.21 and is the CEO of ShareAction, which persuades investors to think more sustainably. Presenter Nicola Beckford Producer Beverley Purcell
An ACCA led panel discussion at the 2020 UK Labour Party Conference with former Labour Leader and current Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Industrial Strategy and Energy, Ed Miliband MP on green recovery post-Covid-19. Chaired by ACCA's Head of Sustainability Jimmy Greer, guest speakers included ACCA Corporate Reporting and Tax expert, Yen-Pei Chen, Chief Executive, ShareAction, Catherine Howarth and Director of Research and Advocacy, Miriam Brett.
An ACCA led panel discussion at the 2020 UK Labour Party Conference with former Labour Leader and current Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Industrial Strategy and Energy, Ed Miliband MP on green recovery post-Covid-19. Chaired by ACCA's Head of Sustainability Jimmy Greer, guest speakers included ACCA Corporate Reporting and Tax expert, Yen-Pei Chen, Chief Executive, ShareAction, Catherine Howarth and Director of Research and Advocacy, Miriam Brett.
An ACCA led panel discussion at the 2020 UK Labour Party Conference with former Labour Leader and current Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Industrial Strategy and Energy, Ed Miliband MP on green recovery post-Covid-19. Chaired by ACCA's Head of Sustainability Jimmy Greer, guest speakers included ACCA Corporate Reporting and Tax expert, Yen-Pei Chen, Chief Executive, ShareAction, Catherine Howarth and Director of Research and Advocacy, Miriam Brett.
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
Mick McAteer is an informed and friendly critic of UK financial services and how it handles its customers and the financially excluded. In this webinar he will share his views on the many circumstances from at least 2007, including things such as payment protection insurance (PPI), RBS Global Restructuring Group, Brexit, and now Covid-19, and their effect on the state of UK financial services. He will look at the nature of government support and the changing relationship between government and financial services. Mick will draw upon his career defending consumers to explore recovery and renewal, with a special emphasis on using covid-19 initiatives for reform. Speaker: Mick McAteer is a campaigner for economic and social justice with long experience of representing consumers at UK and EU level with a focus on financial markets and public policy. He is founder and co-director of The Financial Inclusion Centre, a UK not-for-profit policy and research group (www.inclusioncentre.org.uk). The Centre's mission is to promote financial markets that work for society. He is also Chair of the anti-poverty charity Z2K, Chair of Registry Trust, and Deputy Chair of the General Consumer Council of Northern Ireland. Previously, he was on the boards of: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and its predecessor the Financial Services Authority (FSA); the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC) Professional Oversight Board; The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS); and ShareAction (the movement for Responsible Investment). At Which? (the largest consumer group in Europe, formerly known as Consumers' Association), he led the work on exposing major scandals such as pensions, mortgage endowment, and PPI mis-selling, and work on reform of pensions, insurance and banking industries. Prior to this, he worked for five years for two major fund management firms in London. Interested in watching our webinars live, or taking part in the production of our research? Join our community at: https://bit.ly/3sXPpb5
We’re going behind the scenes of a new and fast growing niche for climate activism. What happens when an NGO takes on one of the world’s biggest banks through its own boardroom to ask the question: “Please stop lending to oil and coal companies?”Unlike classic environmental campaigns which rely on mass mobilization to exert pressure, shareholder activism is invisible to the public eye - everything happens behind the scenes. I talked to Wolfgang Kuhn of ShareAction, the London-based charity which coordinated a recent campaign at Barclays Bank. The story of that campaign reads like a play in five acts: filled with unexpected twists, conflict, struggle and, ultimately, resolution. What's remarkable is how a small, determined actor from civil society can lead a dance with a major global bank that ultimately changes the rules of the game as well as the bank’s policy on climate change. Subscribe at thezeroist.substack.com
Based in the UK, ShareAction recently released its 2019 Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI) signed by 137 investors with over $15 trillion in assets under management. Broadly, these investors are calling for transparency from companies on how they mange workers. In this episode, we sit down with Aine Clarke, Investment Engagement Manager at WDI, to discuss the survey's findings and the future of workforce governance.
Patrick Jenkins and guests discuss the pressure Barclays has come under to curb fossil fuel financing, a radical plan to overhaul regional banking in Japan, and the latest US bank results. With special guest Christian Wilson from ShareAction. Contributors: Patrick Jenkins, financial editor, David Crow, banking editor, Robin Harding, Tokyo bureau chief, and Laura Noonan, US banking editor. Producer: Fiona Symon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Today we’re going to take an inside look at responsible investment, with our friends at BMO Global Asset Management in the UK. Our first guest is Sustainability Leaders host, David Sneyd, Vice President, Analyst, Responsible Investment at BMO GAM. David talks about how a responsible investment team works, and how they engage with their investments. Later in the episode, David will host a conversation with James Coldwell from ShareAction, an NGO in the UK that collaborates with David’s team on a number of ESG issues including the Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI) which promotes better labour standards through investment engagement. For full show notes and links mentioned in this episode, visit http://bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders
Paul Dickinson founded CDP in 2000 with an ambition of creating a global economic system that operates within sustainable environmental boundaries and prevents dangerous climate change. CDP represents over 650 investors with assets of over $80 trillion, and it uses this authority combined with the buying power of over 110 large corporations with annual purchases of over $2.5 trillion, to persuade over 7,000 large companies to report on their greenhouse gas emissions as well as strategy on climate change, water use and the drivers of deforestation. CDP makes most of this data available to the public and service providers like Bloomberg, MSCI and many others. In addition, over 600 large cities and 100 states and regions with aggregate over 1 billion inhabitants report annually on their environmental performance through CDP, which is a charitable organisation operating in 80 counties from nine offices around the world. Paul Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: The corporate sustainability movement and the trends we are seeing in GHG emission reporting How CDP has integrated new frameworks such as TCFD and science based targets into the CDP reporting program The evolution of CDP and what the future may hold Advice and recommendations for sustainability leaders Interview Highlights: CDP, the largest climate change focused data collection and assessment program, really has changed the game on corporate emission reporting and municipality emission reporting. Can you give us a little overview of the state of greenhouse gas emission reporting right now? Are we seeing increases in the numbers that are reporting or decreases? Are we seeing more transparency or more ambitious goals? Just give us a high level overview. Sure. I'll just step a little bit into the way we collect data because it's part of the story. We collect data by representing investors, a very large group of investors - 650 investors with around $90 trillion. So, companies are reporting to their investors through us, or they're reporting to their customers through us, because we have a big supply chain business. The reason I mentioned that is because one of the things that's happening in reporting is it's getting bigger and bigger and more and more normal. At CDP, we're in our 15th annual year of global reporting from corporations. So, one of the trends is you have a big increase in reporting and it's been supported very much by Mark Carney and Michael Bloomberg, who together chaired the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), which was also set up in response to an invitation from the Financial Stability Board representing the G20 central banks and regulators. So, the TCFD has provided improved guidance on how companies should report on climate change. CDP redesigned itself completely around TCFD so that thousands of companies are now reporting on TCFD through the CDP platform. You asked me if emissions are going up. They were kind of plateauing and then unfortunately we had some radical changes in government. The previous US administration was really working hard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and was being quite successful. The Trump administration has gone in a crazy opposite direction. After the Paris Agreement of 2015, which was very much a creation of the United States and global diplomacy, the Trump administration has indicated it intends to pull out of the Paris agreement, although it won't actually be able to unless they win a second term. So, we've definitely had some setbacks from some crazy removal of regulation, which is allowing greenhouse gas emissions to rise again. My 19 years working full time climate change has taught me that you get these crazy setbacks often when industries that are suffering want to lobby a bit, but we get over it and then we get back on track because we have no choice. You can't argue with the science. You mentioned the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and how more investors want to know the climate related risks of the companies they invest in. Can you talk a little bit more about how CDP is incorporating that into your program and other aspects of TCFD like climate scenario analysis? It might be helpful for our listeners to understand the difference between CDP and a lot of other things that are out there. We really respect TCFD and we think it's great. TCFD is guidance for how a company should report on climate related risks, presumably through the annual report. You have organizations like the GRI who provide guidance for how you should report on various issues through your annual report or your sustainability report. SASB provides guidance on how you should report in your annual report or sustainability report, and how you should evaluate performance. We have a subsidiary called CDSB which is committed to advancing and aligning the global mainstream corporate reporting model to equate natural capital with financial capital. So, there's a lot of guidance out there about how you should report. The difference with CDP is that we are a specific reporting platform. We run large scale information technology in multiple languages globally. So, we run a kind of parallel mechanism to the annual report or the CSR report. If you think about it, a big US corporation like Microsoft will have to report to the SEC on its financial results. Or, A big German company like BMW will have to report to the German government on its financial results. Or, a big Japanese company like Toyota will have to report to the Japanese government on its financial results. CDP provides the same thing as those different governments, but a single global platform where corporations, and as you observed also some 600 cities and 100 states and regions, report annually on their environmental performance into our databases. That data then goes out to the Bloomberg Network, MSEI and various other places. So, what we did with TCFD is we took the guidance of TCFD and we turned that into the specific questions we ask corporations. There are hundreds and hundreds of companies that have adopted TCFD and are putting that advice into their annual reports. But thousands of companies are answering the specific TCFD questions into the CDP databases and then we make that available to the market. Another trend of course are science based targets. The IPCC latest reports say the objective should be to limit the global warming to one and a half degrees above pre-industrial and companies now or are adopting the science based targets for their operations and doing what's necessary to help meet that that global goal. Is CDP also incorporating science based targets or maybe giving the higher letter grades to companies or organizations that are using these science based targets? You have it exactly right. That's exactly what we're doing. First of all, we absolutely love science based targets and CDP strategy is very much designed around the massive implementation of science based targets. We are very proud members of a broader consortium, including WRI and many other NGOs developing ever improving methodology for setting science based targets. For those who don't know what science based targets mean, it's like the end of incrementalism. In the early parts of my career at CDP, big companies with huge emissions would say, "Oh, we're recycling our paper." Well there's nothing wrong with recycling your paper, but if you've got 10 or 15 million tons of CO2 coming out of your operations, that's a much bigger issue. Science based targets mean that you can be confident that the company is reducing its emissions in line with what is required to keep us below 2 degrees, and in due course, changing that trajectory to make sure we stay below one and a half degrees. I just also want to mention that, yes it's true, CDP scoring reflects improved scoring for compliance with the science based targets. But interestingly, we've been working with the French government and others on something called ACT, which means Assessing the low-Carbon Transition. Really, you've got two methodologies to think about: 1) the methodology the company needs to follow to deliver on its science based targets and 2) the methodology the investor needs to use to evaluate how well the company is complying with that objective. What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? Authority is taken and not given. We in the sustainability community are on the winning side of a very long and protracted argument. Stay close to marketing. Recognize that you can add value margin and market share by using sustainability marketing. Also, give orders in your organization politely, effectively and seductively. Achieve the necessary outcome, but recognize that it is not enough to say you're doing your best. You have to actually succeed in doing what is necessary. What are you most excited about right now in the world of sustainability? I'm excited by the public demonstration of passion and enthusiasm for sustainability. I'm going to answer your question by sticking to my core passion. Before I actually got involved in climate change 20 years ago, I was kind of involved in the early days of the information and communications technology revolution. I do in fact delight in fiber optic cable and the capabilities of video telephones. When are we going to have a broadband video telephone with eye contact. We're still a long way away from getting that. Where I'm going with this long rambling answer is the concept of dematerialization. We need to dematerialize economic growth and information and communication technology can help us do it. What we need is our big friends in Google, AT&T, Apple, Microsoft, Sony to recognize that they are part of the solution, not part of the problem. The future is going to be moving electrons and not assets. What is one book you'd recommend sustainability leaders read? I would strongly recommend you read the book Dark Money by Jane Mayer. It's a New York Times investigation into the manipulation of public debate on sustainability by certain private companies. It helps frame the level of the problem of why the public is not always so receptive as you might expect to putting money behind their own survival. It gives an indication of what to avoid in terms of sustainability bad instead of sustainability good. It's just a forensic political analysis which will help people to understand aspects of contemporary politics, which they might otherwise find difficult to understand. What are some of your favorite resources or tools that really help you in your work? Well, the number one has got to be CDP website. Please go to cdp.net. That's a great resource where you can see what thousands of companies are doing. I would also encourage people to check out another UK based NGO called ShareAction: https://shareaction.org/. Beyond that, there's so many different ways to answer the question. Have a think about tuning into a new podcast called Outrage and Optimism, which I've had the privilege to launch with my colleagues. We have our first interview with David Attenborough, who's got a new series on Netflix. Where can people go to learn more about you and your work at CDP? cdp.net. Please also have a look ShareAction, this other NGO that I mentioned in the UK. If you're in the UK, download GIKI, which is the company that I'm the director of which I'm very, very fond of. Have a look at Influence Map, which is an NGO I'm involved with. Have a look at the Findhorn Ecovillage in Scotland where I convene events. But at the end of all of that, my primary job where I work 80% of the week is at CDP. I would really welcome anyone listening to this podcast to go to cdp.net. About Sustridge Sustridge is a sustainability consulting firm providing consulting in sustainability strategy development, GHG emissions calculating and management, zero waste planning and guidance in TRUE Zero Waste, B Corp, LEED and Carbon Neutral certification.
Hello! Do you know where your pension is being invested? The divestment movement has a simple idea: persuade pension funds and others to get out of fossil fuels to meet the climate emergency. Its grown from a student campus campaign to one involving trillions of dollars worth of assets. We discuss divestment and shareholder engagement with Adam Matthews, Director of Ethics Engagement for the Church of England Pensions Board, Yossi Cadan, Global Senior Divestment Campaigner at 350.org and Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive of ShareAction who explains how you can be part of this global movement.ANDBeatboxing comedian Beardyman wants to reset the Earth, change up democracy... and get Ed and Geoff beatboxing See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sarah Corbett is an award-winning activist, campaign consultant, Ashoka Changemakers fellow and founder of Craftivist Collective who has helped change government laws, business policies, hearts and minds. Sarah discovered Craftivism (a term coined by American writer and crafter Betsy Greer in 2003) but with no other projects or groups available to join in with she began creating her own Craftivism projects which led to her founding Craftivist Collective in 2009 after people around the world wanted to join in. ‘Gentle protest’ is a term and campaigning approach that Sarah and the Craftivist Collective have become known for. When we think of activism we often think of confrontation and aggression. Not something beautiful and heartwarming. ‘Gentle protest’ reminds us to be that which you want to see in the world. Compassion, empathy, kindness and love as well as thoughtful campaign strategies are used to create beautiful messages that can open people’s hearts and minds to affect positive change. One of Sarah’s guiding mantra’s (that she has tattooed on her shoulder) is ‘A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart’ from Martin Luther King’s 1959 sermon. This reminds us that although what we are trying to achieve may be a difficult, painful or heart wrenching we must approach people with love and have a strong strategy to be most effective in achieving the change we want to see. The fashion industry has seen the impact of the Craftivist Collective through their Mini Fashion Statements which are ‘shop dropped’ in the pockets of garments in fashion shops around the world, anytime of the year supporting the campaign organisation Fashion Revolution. Scrolls, tied with a pretty bow and featuring an invitation to “please open me”, are used as reminders of the role we can play as consumers. Designed to make us think about how the clothes we buy and wear are made, and how we might be able to help tackle problems like poor conditions for workers or the use of materials that are damaging to the environment. One of our nation’s best-loved shops Marks and Spencer (M&S) has also felt the power of ‘gentle protest’. Asked by the CEO of the charity ShareAction, Craftivist Collective created a campaign encouraging M&S to pay staff the real Living Wage. Carefully selected Craftivists across the UK hand-stitched bespoke messages onto M&S handkerchiefs as bespoke gifts for the board members and its largest shareholder companies, encouraging them to not ‘blow it’ but use their power for good governance and lead the way in the retail sector. These were delivered to the board during the company’s 2015 AGM. Following a series of discussions, in April 2016 M&S announced they would pay current Living Wages to the 50,0000 staff who were paid the national minimum wage. They are still working to make M&S an accredited Living Wage Employer. Most of us have a fear of the consequences of speaking out in some way. The idea that troublemakers don’t get on in life is something that we can be confronted with. However dialogue is changing and we are beginning to realise it’s the people who think differently, and speak up gently and thoughtfully that can often make things change for the better. Listening to Sarah’s story makes us realise that we could all have a little more of a ‘gentle protest’ approach to life. www.craftivist-collective.com www.blackneondigital.com
Sarah Corbett is an award-winning activist, campaign consultant, Ashoka Changemakers fellow and founder of Craftivist Collective who has helped change government laws, business policies, hearts and minds. Sarah discovered Craftivism (a term coined by American writer and crafter Betsy Greer in 2003) but with no other projects or groups available to join in with she began creating her own Craftivism projects which led to her founding Craftivist Collective in 2009 after people around the world wanted to join in. ‘Gentle protest’ is a term and campaigning approach that Sarah and the Craftivist Collective have become known for. When we think of activism we often think of confrontation and aggression. Not something beautiful and heartwarming. ‘Gentle protest’ reminds us to be that which you want to see in the world. Compassion, empathy, kindness and love as well as thoughtful campaign strategies are used to create beautiful messages that can open people’s hearts and minds to affect positive change. One of Sarah’s guiding mantra’s (that she has tattooed on her shoulder) is ‘A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart’ from Martin Luther King’s 1959 sermon. This reminds us that although what we are trying to achieve may be a difficult, painful or heart wrenching we must approach people with love and have a strong strategy to be most effective in achieving the change we want to see. The fashion industry has seen the impact of the Craftivist Collective through their Mini Fashion Statements which are ‘shop dropped’ in the pockets of garments in fashion shops around the world, anytime of the year supporting the campaign organisation Fashion Revolution. Scrolls, tied with a pretty bow and featuring an invitation to “please open me”, are used as reminders of the role we can play as consumers. Designed to make us think about how the clothes we buy and wear are made, and how we might be able to help tackle problems like poor conditions for workers or the use of materials that are damaging to the environment. One of our nation’s best-loved shops Marks and Spencer (M&S) has also felt the power of ‘gentle protest’. Asked by the CEO of the charity ShareAction, Craftivist Collective created a campaign encouraging M&S to pay staff the real Living Wage. Carefully selected Craftivists across the UK hand-stitched bespoke messages onto M&S handkerchiefs as bespoke gifts for the board members and its largest shareholder companies, encouraging them to not ‘blow it’ but use their power for good governance and lead the way in the retail sector. These were delivered to the board during the company’s 2015 AGM. Following a series of discussions, in April 2016 M&S announced they would pay current Living Wages to the 50,0000 staff who were paid the national minimum wage. They are still working to make M&S an accredited Living Wage Employer. Most of us have a fear of the consequences of speaking out in some way. The idea that troublemakers don’t get on in life is something that we can be confronted with. However dialogue is changing and we are beginning to realise it’s the people who think differently, and speak up gently and thoughtfully that can often make things change for the better. Listening to Sarah’s story makes us realise that we could all have a little more of a ‘gentle protest’ approach to life. www.craftivist-collective.com www.blackneondigital.com
How are pension savers reshaping investor sand corporate responses to climate risk disclosure and gender diversity? Who speaks for them and agitates on their behalf for change? Who has their back? Learn how ShareAction's approach to investor activism – galvanizing individual saver interests to ultimately influencing policy outcomes – creates a fairer, more responsible financial system. For more information visit www.man.com/maninstitute/responsible-investment This podcast was recorded on 19 Jun 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How are pension savers reshaping investor sand corporate responses to climate risk disclosure and gender diversity? Who speaks for them and agitates on their behalf for change? Who has their back? Learn how ShareAction's approach to investor activism - galvanizing individual saver interests to ultimately influencing policy outcomes - creates a fairer, more responsible financial system. For more information visit www.man.com/maninstitute/responsible-investment This podcast was recorded on 19 Jun 2018. Important information: This podcast should not be copied, distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part. Opinions expressed are those of the author and may not be shared by all personnel of Man Group plc ('Man'). These opinions are subject to change without notice, are for information purposes only and do not constitute an offer or invitation to make an investment in any financial instrument or in any product to which any member of Man's group of companies provides investment advisory or any other services. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements. Unless stated otherwise this information is communicated by Man Solutions Limited which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the United States this material is presented by Man Investments Inc. ('Man Investments'). Man Investments is registered as a broker-dealer with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ('FINRA'). Man Investments is also a member of Securities Investor Protection Corporation ('SIPC'). Man Investments is a wholly owned subsidiary of Man Group plc. ('Man Group'). The registrations and memberships in no way imply that the SEC, FINRA or SIPC have endorsed Man Investments. In the US, Man Investments can be contacted at 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th floor, New York, NY 10018, Telephone (212) 649-6600. Copyright Man 2018
In Episode 4 of the Climate Changer Podcast, Mike Zimonyi (Climate Disclosure Standards Board) comments on the crowded field of mandatory and voluntary climate reporting initiatives, including how this landscape may evolve in the future. Special note: This episode mentions that you can take action by calling your pension provider to request that your money is invested into a sustainable fund. To get started, listeners in the UK should check out the resources at ShareAction (http://action.shareaction.org/page/content/greentlightlanding/)
We talked with Hackney repair activist and ShareAction campaigner Fidi about how we can influence companies as shareholders or pension members. Our influence in the private sector is not just at the point of purchase. The post Restart Radio: Beyond petitions and boycotts – influencing companies appeared first on The Restart Project.