Articles about “ESG”
Green, green shades of bonds
In recent years, we have seen dynamic growth emerging. It started with green bonds, which were then complemented by social bonds, sustainability bonds (a combination of environmental and social projects), and sustainability-linked bonds.
Stewardship vs. greenwashing
By integrating sustainable factors, we pursue social and environmental justice and have mechanisms and tools in place to avoid greenwashing. Our mission is also to align our sustainability approach with the investment needs of our clients to build a solid foundation for the future.
Greenwashing as risk, and how to avoid it
Many investors currently find it difficult to tell apart actually green companies from allegedly green ones. In this article, we are going to discuss the risk of greenwashing, and discuss what investors have to pay attention to and to what extent the new regulation by the EU (Taxonomy) can help to disclose greenwashing.
Greenwashing through lobbying?
In recent years, environmental and social issues were voted on at the annual general meetings of global companies. Increasingly, the focus was on more transparency regarding lobbying and political contributions.
What’s next after green? Social!
Twenty years ago, Erste AM launched its first sustainable fund, thus laid the cornerstone for sustainable investments in Austria. Since then, ESG investments (environmental, social, governance) have developed from a niche proposition to the dominant theme. Social aspects are increasingly coming to the fore.
How to combine yield with sustainability factors
The issue of ESG is stronger in our consciousness than ever before. In recent years, many measurable indicators have emerged on environmental aspects. Social commitment and good corporate governance are more difficult to quantify. Are these factors even detectable and measurable for a meaningful evaluation?
Social banking as engine for the development of society in CEE
Social Banking supports people who are affected by poverty or social exclusion. This will ensure economic growth and prosperity in the region. Since its founding in 2016, Erste Group’s social banking system has already invested 400 million euros in the form of loans in the social development of the CEE regions.
“Every vote counts!”
Investors can make positive and lasting changes by actively participating in general meetings. As demonstrated in the last US presidential election, every single vote counts. Environmental and social issues in particular are becoming increasingly important.
Sustainability-linked bonds – an alternative to green bonds?
Green bonds are securities that are allocated to specific energy and environmental projects and are intended to contribute to a climate-friendly transformation of the economy. According to a study by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), they reached a record level of $269. 5 billion in 2020. Sustainability-Linked Bonds represent a voluntary commitment for issuers. How exactly they work is explained in our analysis.
Sustainable income with “double dividends”
Comfortably making return on the money market via interest? A thing of the past. Investors wanting to outsmart inflation should think about dividends and dividend shares. The combination of dividend shares with a selection process that takes into account ESG criteria constitutes an interesting investment alternative. So there is a kind of “two dividends”.
Impact investing: a new strategy for overcoming environmental challenges
Impact investments are currently hot property in the financial sector. Impact funds are investments that are meant to generate positive, measurable social and environmental effects in addition to financial return.
Saving the world with an impact fund?
Can sustainable investment change the world? What is impact investing, and what does Erste AM offer in this respect? Do only sustainable investors make an impact, or do all investments have an impact on the future? Impact funds – the cherry on the cake of sustainable investing? For a long time, it would be up […]
Sustainable finance – an (overdue) act of re-orientation?
In general terms, impact investments are investments that bring societal benefits on top of financial yield. This topic therefore offers a great opportunity to talk to experts about the effects of investments on society. This is why Erste Asset Management also has an internal forum, where ESG topics, sustainability aspects, and climate risks are periodically […]
Focus on ESG risk – the EU approach
From the coldest winter in Beijing’s recorded history to the storm in Texas that surprised the world – extreme weather phenomena remind us again and again of the invasion of climate change into our daily routine. Climate risk can no longer be ignored and has to be taken into account in asset management as well. […]
The EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and its impact
Today the EU Disclosure Regulation comes into force. This is intended to create transparency with regard to the inclusion of sustainability risks in financial investment products. What does the regulation include and what do we do as a fund company?
Emerging Markets corporate bonds: sustainability turns into a factor of success for investments
Corporate bonds from emerging markets: environmental focus and calling out companies on their sustainability efforts are turning into a success factor. Senior professional fund manager Péter Varga explains the latest trends and developments.
“Our funds lead companies to engage more actively with sustainability”
Can investment companies contribute to making the world a better place? Walter Hatak, Head of Sustainable Investments with Erste Asset Management (Erste AM), responds with a resounding “Yes – but only with the help of our clients!” More and more client assets go towards climate-friendly companies, while at the same time Erste Asset Management uses its votes from the shares it has invested the clients’ funds in to elicit more sustainability from companies across the board.
ADDED VALUE FOR (WO)MAN AND NATURE: Sustainable investments for a better tomorrow
The coronavirus pandemic is currently a challenge to the entire world, but the climate crisis has not lost any of its urgency either.
EU GREEN DEAL: OUT OF THE CRISIS, BUT THE RIGHT WAY
The “European Green Deal” is a new vision for a sustainable and fair economic system in Europe. Green investments can also be profitable investors in the long term.
The European Green Deal: Do no significant harm
A European Green Deal is the ambitious goal of the EU to implement a new growth strategy to stop net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and make economic growth independent of resource use.
Active ownership in times of Covid-19
Corporate dialogues were not particularly hindered by Covid-19. After a short collection phase, both in the companies and in our company, corporate dialogues were resumed or already ongoing dialogues were continued.
An entire bus fleet of sustainability
The EU wants to be climate-neutral by 2050. Mobility – one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases – is of particular relevance to this strategy. Traffic is currently responsible for more than 25% of total CO2 emissions in the EU. Road traffic accounts for 72% thereof, and traffic by air and by water for […]
Everybody will know someone who is affected by climate change
Will Europe become the first climate-neutral continent in the world? What has become of the climate movement? In recent months, Corona has completely ousted the issue of climate change from the media. Walter Hatak, Head of Sustainable Investments at Erste AM.
Interview with WALTER HATAK, Head of Investment Erste AM
According to the latest report from Forum for Sustainable Investments, the investments in sustainable funds/mandates (i.e. institutional clients) increased by 39% in 2019. What do you think is the reason for the drastic increase of this asset class? What has become clear during this crisis is that people are ready for big changes within short […]
Erste Asset Management excludes oil companies
Austrian sustainability pioneer withdraws early from the oil sector in all sustainable funds with eco-labels. What are the reasons?
Ørsted AS: Best Practice and Environmental Leader
According to our evaluation, the Danish Ørsted AS is among the leading companies in the environmental sector, which results from a radical transformation of the business model that the company has gone through in the recent decade. Whereas ten years ago the company produced 85% of its energy from fossil fuels and only 15% from […]
Time is running out
Many of the companies in the utilities sector have so far failed to implement a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy. Utilities sector: assessment & engagement According to the analysis by our partner MSCI, less than half of the companies in this sector[1] have set themselves goals such as the ones required for the containment of climate warming […]
Energy and phasing-out of coal-based electricity
The topic of energy and electricity provides an excellent background to have a closer look at the issue of energy transition. The prevalent energy mix, which is still very much geared towards fossil fuels, is in the process of transition, as also pointed out by Erste AM’s research partners. The comeback of coal? The current […]
Green bonds for clean energy
Green bonds are bonds whose issue proceeds are exclusively used to finance existing or new projects with environmental benefits. Long tradition In 2007, the European Investment Bank (EIB) issued the first green bond and called it “Climate Awareness Bond”. While during the first years this young market segment was largely driven by supranational issuers and […]
Divesting oil – personal preface included
When I think back to my first school outing to the refinery in Schwechat (Lower Austria), the first thing that comes to mind are the excellent wiener sausages at the canteen. The highly complex processes involved in the refinement of crude oil, on the other hand, are hard to digest even for an adult. Divesting […]
Erste Asset Management integrates sustainability in funds and on corporate level
Erste Asset Management expands on its pioneering role in the area of ethics and environmental issues. The company is taking the next step by making sustainable criteria an integral part of a large number of its investment decisions.
FT Nordic Investor Outlook – Agile Investment in Uncertain Markets
The FT Nordic Investor Outlook 2019 was dedicated to the topic „Agile Investment in Uncertain Markets“. High caliber speakers were discussing China, ESG and Brexit.
TESLA: no investment in environmental funds
Tesla Inc. is not part of the sustainable investment universe of our environmental fund, ERSTE WWF STOCK ENVIRONMENT, which is also the oldest one of the sustainable range of Erste AM and is subject to strict criteria. The underlying rationale of the fund is to invest in products or technologies with particularly high environmental utility […]
Searching for the hair in the (chicken)soup
ESG analysts look beyond traditional key ratios like cash flow and growth rates. They take a closer look and take into account the social and environmental aspects of a company.
A very boozy Christmas
Who doesn’t know it – sitting together in a boisterous atmosphere, with a glass of champagne in your hand. Or two. Christmas is the celebration of joy, of Christmas markets, and of excessive alcohol consumption: a good reason for us to dedicate this ESG Letter to the topic of alcohol.
What does climate change have to do with alcohol? – Investment Board
The big chateaux in the Bordeaux region, Hofbräuhauses, and abbey distilleries: alcohol is a distinctive cultural good. It is not by accident that big events are always accompanied – and fuelled – by alcoholic beverages.
How organic is the vineyard?
Everybody is talking about organic wine. Commercials claim it is better for the environment, because the conservation-minded way of handling nature safeguards the habitat of a diverse range of organisms.
Alcohol Facts & Figures
Did you know that the fear of an empty glass has a name? Find out what it is and more interesting facts about the topic of Alcohol.
“Less is better” vs. “Drink responsibly”
What sort of responsibility do alcohol producers hold? Dr. Alfred Uhl, from the “Competence Centre Addiction“ tells us exactly what is meant by “drink responsibly”.
“Alcohol addiction is a chronic illness”
An addiction or alcohol dependency is a chronic illness that can manifest itself in numerous layers of problems. Intervention regimes have to take these into account by approaching the situation from a medical, psychological, and social angle. Dialog in Vienna offers such a comprehensive approach. Find out more in this blog post.
Alcohol producers against excessive consumption – Engagement
Alcohol enjoys a special privilege. No other drug is as socially accepted. This also manifests itself in the special status it is invested with by law: while cannabis – a market whose legal side is estimated to grow from USD 9.5bn in 2017 to USD 32bn by 2020 – is legal in only a handful of states, tobacco is subject to ever-more stringent regulations. By comparison, alcohol producers are relatively free to pursue their business.
Everything was better in the past!
The Austrian term “Komasaufen“, which refers to the practice of binge drinking, received the “Doublespeak Award” 2007. The award followed significant media coverage and discussion on the alcoholic excesses that young people were engaging in with extremely sweet alcoholic beverages.
Responsible Investment Universe
The definition of the investment universe is the most important step in the construction of a fund.
Certified Erste AM Funds
The Erste AM RESPONSIBLE funds are subject to constant scrutiny with regard to their sustainable quality.
Big data as a powerful tool – Investment Board
We communicate a great deal on social networks. For example, how nice our breakfast is or even the view from a very tall mountain we just climbed. Unfortunately, social networks operators are much less willing to communicate when it comes to the handling of gained user data.
This is where the term “commitment” comes in – in our new ESG article, we explain what it means.
Responsible Investment Universe
The definition of the investment universe is the most important step in the construction of a fund.
Certified Erste AM Funds
The Erste AM RESPONSIBLE funds are subject to constant scrutiny with regard to their sustainable quality.
Hey Mrs. Robinson
Editorial: Gerold Permoser, CIO and CSIO of Erste Asset Management, comments on the topic of this issue.
The Life of Plastics – Investment Board
The Erste AM Investment Board gives a form to the responsive dialogue with and among sustainability research agencies.
“Disposable plastic is mostly responsible for plastic waste in the seas”
Interview with Axel Hein, marine expert at WWF Austria.