edie has published a new handbook outlining the key considerations and best practice advice to collecting and compiling Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data that investors are increasingly looking for, in order to spur the green recovery.
According to research from the Morgan Stanley Foundation, the issuance of green ESG bonds in April 2020 was 272% higher than the same month the year prior, with the total issuance figure sitting at $48.5bn. In total, around $23bn of the proceeds from the bonds will be used to address the public health and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, Morgan Stanley notes that it is the first time that this type of funding has exceeded green bond issuance – predominantly used to finance low-carbon projects – in a single calendar month.
As more investors align to net-zero pathways and pivot their product offerings to account for growing green markets, businesses can gain a competitive advantage by strengthening ties with financial organisations through ESG. The report examines all the key considerations across all three ESG pillars and explores where the data fits into the current reporting landscape. Expert viewpoints are also provided by UL and CDP, outlining the importance of ESG to the investor community. Case studies linking through to in-depth stories also feature.
Writing in the report, UL’s ESG Advisory and Solutions Global Lead Chris Cattermole noted: “A central principle for many mainstream investors is financial materiality. That is, investors want ESG data which enables them to understand how a company’s sustainability performance affects its financial performance which will in-turn affect an investor’s portfolio performance. Download edie’s ESG Handbook here. c
Source: edie.net
Global site 
Finnish site