On Earth Day, Faith-Based Investors Release “Invested in Change” Climate Brief
Paper examines the work of faith-consistent investors and shareholder engagement as a tool to advance corporate climate change solutions
NEW YORK, NY, Wednesday, April 22, 2015 – Today, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a coalition of 300 institutional investors representing over $100 billion in assets, released its climate brief, Invested in Change: Faith-Consistent Investing in a Climate Challenged World. The paper is intended as a resource for the investment community and other interested stakeholders, as we continue to catalyze shareholder initiatives that will reduce corporate carbon emissions and accelerate the shift to low-carbon and sustainable energy sources.
Invested in Change discusses the business case for corporate climate action as well as the moral case for investor engagement on climate-related themes. The brief outlines the different strategies available to investors and provides examples of investor impact from ICCR member engagements on climate change, from corporate GHG reductions and improved energy efficiencies, to public policy advocacy and green energy investing.
“Companies and their investors can no longer afford to be passive about the effects of climate change,” said Laura Berry, ICCR’s Executive Director. "Both as a moral obligation and a risk mitigation strategy, shareowners of carbon-intensive companies must use their ownership positions to press companies to accelerate their efforts to move us beyond the climate crisis. ICCR members urge companies to realize the promise of deploying their resources, experience, capital and expertise to mitigate risks for all their stakeholders. The green energy revolution is already underway, and we believe corporations have a responsibility to lead it.”
ICCR members began formal engagements with companies on climate change, then called “planetary warming,” in 1989. Since then, over 600 shareholder proposals have been filed by ICCR members and hundreds of corporations have been engaged on climate-related topics.
Continued Berry, “Balancing our energy needs with today’s urgent climate challenges won’t be easy, but our members are committed to amplifying their efforts through investor engagement. We invite all investors to join us as we continue to raise our voices in this critical work.”
About the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
Currently celebrating its 44th year, ICCR is the pioneer coalition of active shareholders who view the management of their investments as a catalyst for change. Its 300 member organizations with over $100 billion in AUM have an enduring record of corporate engagement that has demonstrated influence on policies promoting justice and sustainability in the world. www.iccr.org