Do you know? Who’s driving the force of social, environmental, and governance(ESG) in financial analysis? It’s the CFA Institute that drives the consideration of ESG in financial analysis. Since then, ESG has become an essential part of the investment process. Investors are now including the ESG data in the investment process. That’s for gaining a fuller understanding of the organizations in which they invest.
ESG Investing – What It Is?
ESG is the short form for environmental, social, and governance. To identify material risks and growth opportunities, investors apply for non-financial factors. It is for the financial analysis process. But, ESG is not always part of the obligatory financial reporting. Even though, organizations are making disclosures in their annual reports and sustainability reports. Many institutions like –
- SASB i.e. Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
- Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
The above work together to define materiality and form standards. It’s done to incorporate these factors into the investment process. There are CFA Institute Guides for your support. Here, CFA exam study materials and CFA investment foundation study material are available. Important issues like fiduciary duties, disclosures, and externalities are taken into account. Institutes certified in ESG provide you with practical and technical wisdom. In the quickly growing field of ESG investing, all the above factors need to be taken care of.
ESG Investing Trends
With the rapid growth of ESG investing, many key trends are emerging. From social unrest to climate change, many factors are rising. The pandemic has intensified discussions about the interconnectedness of finances and sustainability.
CFA is the leading institute in the financial industry. It provides valuable research, practitioners for discussion, and convening professionals. It sets benchmarks to enable mainstream ESG investing. For studying the details of ESG investments, you can go for CFA study material.
Sustainable investment management will help you explore new strategies and mindsets. It is crucial in delivering the right value and meeting the client’s expectations.
ESG Factors
There’s not a single list that can define ESG factors. The list is exhaustive. The factors are interlinked and keep on changing. Below are the ESG factors that can often be measured. Though, it’s difficult to assign their monetary value.
Environmental Factors
It’s for the conservation of the natural world.
- Biodiversity
- Air and water pollution
- Energy efficiency
- Climate change and carbon emissions
- Water scarcity
- Deforestation
Social Factors
These are for the consideration of relations and people.
- Data privacy and protection
- customer satisfaction
- employee engagement
- gender and diversity
- labor standards
- human rights
Governance Factors
These are basically the set standards for running an organization.
- Whistleblower schemes
- Lobbying
- Executive compensation
- Bribery and corruption
- Audit committee structure
- Political contributions
- Board composition
To conclude, there’s not a set standard for the presentation or calculation of ESG metrics. Investors go for different analytical approaches and data sources. To understand it all better, you must go for CFA study material.
