This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

On September 8, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana granted our motion to file an amicus curiae brief in Lighthiser, et al. v. Trump, et al. — a case that strikes at the heart of climate justice and intergenerational equity. This is not just another legal filing. It is a statement that the economic and health consequences of dismantling climate protections are real, measurable, and disproportionately borne by young people . And fittingly, the brief was authored by a young leader: Connor Stout, age 20, a senior at Denison University Why We Filed The challenged executive orders — 14154, 14156, and 14261 — expand fossil fuel development while dismantling climate mitigation and monitoring systems. Our brief demonstrates that these actions are not only environmentally reckless, but also economically catastrophic . EPA data shows that clean air protections prevented 230,000 premature deaths and preserved $1.8 trillion in economic value in 2020 alone. Rolling b...

Since the international community first raised concerns about climate change, there have always been individuals who question the theory. Nevertheless, the tangible effects of climate change are undeniably evident today, exemplified by a summer marked by adverse climate records. Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere by hemisphere. Source: NASA.   Interestingly, a segment of people remains skeptical about humanity's role in these frequently devastating alterations. This group of climate skeptics appears to be more vocal in America than in Europe. The reasons behind this discrepancy beg exploration. Is it a matter of greater numbers, or is it simply that their voices carry further? Regardless, in the US, individuals who harbor doubts about human-induced climate change often engage in debates over the relevance of government and organizational efforts to combat climate change. This ongoing discourse significantly impedes progress toward a more sustainable world. In contrast, Europe appears...

In a landmark climate case, a group of young people in Montana secured a significant legal victory when a judge ruled that the state's failure to consider climate change impacts when approving fossil fuel projects was unconstitutional. The ruling comes amidst a summer of extreme heat and wildfires, highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change. This decision marks a turning point in the fight against government support for oil, gas, and coal industries, which contribute to global warming. The court found that the plaintiffs, representing a range of ages from 5 to 22, have a constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment that includes climate considerations. Montana must now factor in climate change when making decisions about fossil fuel projects. As a young person and a Korean, I'm deeply concerned about the global impacts of climate change. The Montana case is not only a victory for the young plaintiffs but also a message to governments worldwide about thei...

The event featured a discussion with Jeff Goodell, the author of "The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet." The conversation was hosted by Washington Post Live on July 24, 2023, and focused on the alarming rise of extreme heat events across the Northern Hemisphere and their implications for human health, ecosystems, and global climate. Mr. Goodell emphasized that the extreme temperatures witnessed in North America, Asia, and Europe were not entirely surprising, as scientists had long warned about the consequences of increasing global temperatures due to the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting buildup of CO2 in the atmosphere. However, the severity of these heat waves had reached dangerous levels, pushing the limits of human and ecological resilience. During the discussion, the impacts of extreme heat on human health were highlighted, especially for vulnerable populations such as older adults, pregnant women, and outdoor workers. High temperatu...

  On June 8, the Washington Post organized a discussion on climate change attended by South Korean Ambassador Cho Yoon-je and Professor Yoon Sun-jin. The event highlighted various aspects of climate change, including global cooperation, China's role, Korea's challenge, personal and collective action, and optimism through innovation. Participants discussed the need for regional and international cooperation, the importance of China's efforts on renewable energy, Korea's low share of renewable electricity, the importance of individual actions, and the role of technology and innovation in tackling climate change. Climate change is an important issue that requires immediate attention and action. Like many other countries, Korea faces unique challenges in transitioning to a sustainable future. The low share of renewable energy in the national power mix is feared, which calls for urgent policy changes and increased investment in renewable technologies. It is encouraging that ...

    Sameh Shoukry, president of the COP27 climate summit, receives a standing ovation following a speech during the closing plenary session at the U.N. Climate Summit, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) At the 27th General Assembly of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( COP27 ), the creation of a fund to compensate developing countries for "loss and damage" due to climate change was approved. COP27 closed on the 20th of November (local time) after adopting the final agreement, the " Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan ," two days after the original closing date. The general meeting was held in Egypt on the African continent, which has been severely damaged by global warming (extreme drought), factors like "adaptation" and "loss and damage" were discussed as the biggest issues between developed and developing countries. At the general meeting, developing countries de...

“Climate change is not a financial risk that we need to worry about..there’s always some nut job telling me about the end of the world.” Banks are “neglecting more pressing problems in order to consider climate risks. I work at a bank that is being attacked by crypto, we’ve got regulators in the US trying to stop us, we’ve got the China problem, we’ve got a housing crisis looming, we’ve got interest rates going up, we’ve got inflation coming down the pipes, and I’m being told to spend time and time again looking at something that is going to happen in 20 or 30 years hence, the proportionality is completely out of whack. Humanity should be focused on adapting to a changing environment” “Who cares if Miami is six meters underwater in 100 years, Amsterdam’s been six meters underwater for ages, and that’s a really nice place. We will cope with it.” Stuart Kirk, HBSC (Fined $6,512,909,407 since 2000) - Head of Responsible Investing

On Monday, March 21, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved a long discussed proposal that requires "all publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and the risks they face from climate change." The facts are clear and unambiguous: increasingly extreme weather, including unprecedented heatwaves, droughts and flooding will continue to have a material impact on business operations. Risks are growing, not falling.   As we noted in out June, 2021 comment to the SEC on climate change disclosures, we have been objectively, independently measuring the social impact of investment activities since 1989.  2002 saw the first international adoption of our approach, when we helped develop Social Performance Indicators for Banks, ( https://www.creativeinvest.com/SocialPerformanceIndicatorsfortheFinanceIndustry.pdf ) building on our work in rating women and minority owned banks. There, we specifically included  social measures that detaile...

Above: Spiral graph showing monthly global temperature anomalies between the years 1880-2021  designed by climate scientist Ed Hawkins from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading. The consequences of dramatic human-driven climate change are familiar to us all and are more and more becoming a part of everyday life and everyday dialogue. My home state of Utah is known internationally as having the “greatest snow on Earth.” Over my lifetime, I have watched the Great Salt Lake and our world-famous snowpack diminish. Everyone has been touched in some way or another by drastic weather events and rising global temperatures, and yet shockingly little is being done to prevent or even mitigate them. In late 2021, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released a guide for very large banks on how to manage the risks associated with climate change. These principles included consistent monitoring and reporting of information, strategic planning—overall,...

Live version: https://twitter.com/i/status/1377996115061190661

We are pleased to be the Media Partner for Reuters' Free "Delivering Net Zero Virtual Week" (4th – 5th August 2020) https://www.prlog.org/12832098-media-partner-for-reuters-free-delivering-net-zero-virtual-week-4th-5th-august-2020.html