This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

COVID-19 has forever altered standard business practices. Prior to recent events, Environmental, Social, and Governance efforts have been an afterthought. But the global pandemic demonstrates the fundamental role that ESG plays in corporate investments. The presentation focused on three main points: corporations’ social responses and disclosures to stakeholders regarding ESG factors, how investors incorporate ESG factors into business decisions, and how this crisis will affect what happens next. The first speaker, Martin Whittaker, is the CEO of Just Capital; a non-profit organization that strives to create a more just market in America through the collection of data. Whittaker discussed the importance of corporate social responses in today’s climate by addressing the Environment and Social aspects of the crisis. COVID-19 has resulted in hazardous working conditions, so companies should be prioritizing the wellbeing of their employees. According to Whittaker, the proper treatmen...

The Intersection of ESG and COVID-19. C all hosted by Goldman Sachs to discuss the impact of the global pandemic and economic recession on ESG, with a focus on both the investor and corporate perspectives. ESG Investing is the consideration of Environmental, Social, and Governance factors  in  investment decision making.  As emphasized in the presentation, while some consider the ESG qualification to be simply a box to check, it is becoming a very important marker of strong investments. This presentation discussed the growing importance of ESG factors and the relevance of COVID-19 on future investing. Martin Whittaker of Just Capital discussed how the pandemic is emphasizing the importance of risk factors and relationships for corporations. As a nonprofit which surveys thousands of Americans in building their company rankings, they have found that the way corporations treat their workers and care for their safety has become critical. Given the health risks as...