Navigating responsible investment in a post-COVID world

How can investors drive positive change?

We believe 2020 will have proven to be a watershed year for responsible investment. As we emerge from the pandemic, there will be an increasing focus on how companies impact the world around them and how they earn their social licence to operate.

Active managers have both an opportunity and a responsibility to be active. Every decision about where we allocate capital is a vote regarding a company’s fitness to be in business.

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Responsible Investment team

February 04, 2021

Responsible Investment

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Climate change and biodiversity

Climate change action in the spotlight

There is now a broad expectation that companies will act to reduce their carbon footprint.

Clean, affordable and reliable energy

We have found growth in a company replacing coal with wind and creating electric vehicle infrastructure.

The nexus between climate change and biodiversity

Biodiversity conservation will become part of a company's social licence to operate.

Improving plastic packaging in India

As we seek hygiene and safety, the pandemic has worsened our reliance on plastic materials.

Human rights and modern slavery

Drivers of modern slavery

Issues around supply chain, workers’ rights and modern slavery are attracting scrutiny from investors.

Modern slavery risks during the pandemic

We asked healthcare supplies and apparel companies how they are addressing modern slavery issues.

Engagement improves worker protections

We welcome positive steps being implemented and encourage the company to go further.

Workplace diversity, health and wellbeing

The mentally healthy workplace

Balancing workers mental and physical needs, workplace health is now more than its ‘lost time incident rate’.

Mental health crucial to modern workplaces

In a new mental health challenge, employees working from home are reporting feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Gender diversity: ‘slow and steady’ not good enough

While First Sentier Investors has made progress in gender diversity, we believe diversity must go beyond gender.

Gender diversity on boards

Our investors share how a skew towards companies with diverse management teams can lead to improved decision-making.

Investing beyond the next decade

Our approach to RI and the SDGs

We believe that investors have an important role to play in allocating capital towards meeting these goals.

Next steps for First Sentier Investors

We will more systematically measure our impact as we progress towards the sustainable development goals.

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