ESG
The fund has partnered with two managers to launch a duo of funds that bar investments in fossil fuel companies or conflict-affected areas.
The decision comes despite pressures from students, staff and the larger university community regarding the investment and management of the portfolio.
The firm has hired a head to lead its ESG and climate product development and business strategy.
Institutional investor interest in and adoption of ESG factors has increased in the last decade, a new survey finds.
Political pressure has deterred 10% of asset owners from continuing to incorporate ESG considerations into their investment decisions as 34% of the institutions find responding to the backlash time consuming and costly, 24% of them fearing litigation and 14% feeling pressure from stakeholders, new research shows.
The university’s special committee on investment responsibility has decided to take no action on a student-led proposal to divest its endowment from companies supporting the Israel Defense Forces.
The advocacy group and peer network is looking for endowments and foundations to participate in the latest cohort of its impact investment benchmarking program.
The proposed policy would expand the funds’ divestment from fossil fuel reserve owners and exclusion of upstream fossil fuel investments in private markets to cover midstream and downstream infrastructure, such as pipelines and distribution terminals.
The university voted against a student-led proposal to divest its endowment from companies involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
The university’s board of trustees voted against a proposal to divest from weapons manufacturers and other companies involved in the Israel-Hamas war last week.