USA
Publications
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The Financial System We Need: Aligning the Financial System with Sustainable Development
Date: 08-Oct-2015Download the full report: [AR] [CH] [EN] [ES] [FR] [PT] [RU] Download the policy summary: [AR] [CH] [EN] [ES] [FR] [PT] [RU] This first edition of “The Financial System We Need” argues that there is now a historic opportunity to shape a financial system that can more effectively finance the development of an inclusive, green economy. This opportunity is based on a growing trend
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US Country Report
Date: 11-Feb-2016While US financial institutions have at times enjoyed a reputation of being something of a laggard on sustainability issues versus their European counterparts, significant changes and innovations are under way which are beginning to drive meaningful change. Record levels of awareness on sustainability issues in the US, including from millennials, are accelerating activities such as: Increased levels of
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Reforming Electronic Markets and Trading
Date: 22-Dec-2015Electronic markets and high-frequency trading (HFT) now comprise over half of all securities trading on both public “lit” exchanges and “unlit” dark pools and electronic platforms.This paper documents the proceedings of an expert seminar, chaired by Hazel Henderson. It includes contributions from: Hazel Henderson, Ethical Markets Media; John Ramsay, IEX; Dave Lauer, KOR Trading; Robert Zevin, Zevin
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Lenders and Investors Environmental Liability
Date: 19-Apr-2016This working paper presents an overview of Lender Environmental Liability (LEL) and Investor Environmental Liability (IEL) regimes and issues. Environmental harm and degradation is often irreparable. Therefore, our assumption is that precaution is the main objective of any international and domestic environmental legal regime. The paper explores the conditions under which LEL/IEL can be effective
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Aligning the Financial System with Sustainable Development in the United States of America
Date: 01-Feb-2016The US financial system is undoubtedly among the largest, most innovative and most sophisticated in the world. It is also clear that this is both a benefit and an impediment to non-governmental investment in sustainability and inclusiveness. To date, the actual investment in infrastructure and sustainability does not meet current needs, especially those related to maintaining
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4th Update Report: The Coming Financial Climate
Date: 07-May-2015This is the 4th Update Report of the UNEP Inquiry, it is focused on the challenge of financing the low-carbon transition. Many approaches and instruments will be needed to deliver the financing needed. Public finance, funded by tax revenues and international transfers, will provide part of the solution. However such finance will be inadequate. Private
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2nd Update Report: Insights from Practice
Date: 07-Oct-2014This is the second update report by the UNEP Inquiry, it highlights early lessons from the Inquiry’s ongoing work in more than a dozen countries. What is clear from inital engagement is that even with strong real economy policies to correct market failures and deploy public capital, some interventions in the financial system will be
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Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century
Date: 08-Sep-2015This report is based on an analysis of investment practice and fiduciary duty in eight countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, South Africa, the UK and the US. It is based on interviews, roundtables and webinars with asset owners, investment managers, lawyers and regulators and a comprehensive review of law and policy on fiduciary duty. The purpose of this
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The Case for Investor Engagement in Public Policy
Date: 06-Mar-2015This report aims: To show why public policy engagement is essential for long-term investors. To give examples of how investors have engaged in public policy and the lessons learned. To offer practical recommendations for long-term investors, policymakers and the PRI to better integrate environmental, social and governance factors in the public policymaking process.
In the US, action within the financial system has focused on fiscal incentives, as well as market-led initiatives to improve transparency and harness capital markets. The SEC offers markets guidance on climate disclosure. This is matched by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, which aims to provide robust disclosure guidance for corporations using the SEC’s definitions of materiality. At the state-level, leading insurance regulators are starting to explore the implications of climate risks, both in terms of underwriting and investment management. A number of States have also established dedicated green banks to promote clean energy and energy efficiency investments. The US has also taken the lead in developing new liquid financial instruments targeted at green assets, including both green bonds and yieldcos, investment trusts holding renewable energy assets that are listed on equity exchanges.