Hydrogen has great potential as a carbon-free fuel, electricity storage or energy carrier and could play an important role in the energy transition. But not all hydrogen is the same, as Senior ESG Researcher Alexander Osojnik explains. There are certain differences depending on how it is produced, which makes the topic of hydrogen almost a color theory.
The use of energy has driven human development. However, the unchecked burning of fossil fuels produces massive amounts of CO2, which has disastrous consequences for the climate and the environment. More efficient energy use and more nature-friendly, renewable energies are therefore needed.
The sustainability and ethical fund family of Erste Asset Management received several awards from the Forum für Nachhaltige Geldanlagen e.V. (FNG) this year. All 16 funds submitted by Erste AM received the FNG seal, the quality standard for sustainable investment funds in German-speaking countries.
At the beginning of August, this year’s Tesla Annual General Meeting took place under the name “Cyber Roundup”. The number of shareholder proposals on environmental and social issues reached a new maximum this year.
About a year ago, the social impact fund ERSTE FAIR INVEST was launched. Reason enough to take a closer look at the fund, which focuses on the “S” in ESG. In addition, fund manager Bernhard Selinger explains in an interview what the term “fair” actually means.
The war in Ukraine is also a watershed in terms of European defense policy. In view of the EU’s planned social taxonomy, the question now arises as to what extent the defense industry’s contribution to national security and peace can be considered sustainable.
The EU’s possible social taxonomy could create uniform framework conditions for socially sustainable investments. However, due to the different definitions, the development of such a taxonomy is likely to be difficult.
So far, there is a lack of uniform standards for socially responsible investments. However, alternative techniques and sources of information can provide insight into the social performance of companies.
As a sustainable investor, Erste Asset Management has been dealing with social indicators in the evaluation of companies and countries for more than ten years. But how are these social aspects addressed and what do they mean?
Human rights, child labor, arms production, … – the range of social issues in the ESG universe is long. Besides environmental and governance aspects, social issues are becoming increasingly important when it comes to sustainable investment. A possible EU social taxonomy could bring new standards for sustainable investments and thus bring the “S” in ESG even more into focus.
