Eurosif Update
January 2008
NEW Watch Eurosif video of European Research Award's ceremony
Eurosif supported the French Investment Forum for a third consecutive year, and the entrants for the prizes have become quite competitive – and international. The Award aims to increase academic research allowing for new and innovative management. The topics of the five award recipients included:
- Best Research Article: “Corporate Social Responsibility and managerial entrenchment” by Giovanni Cespa/Giacinta Cestone (Italy)
- Best Master’s Thesis: “Corporate Responsibility in Supply Chain Management – Case Environmentally Responsible Procurement” by Kaisa Jungman (Finland)
- Best PhD Thesis: “The Economic Virtues of SRI and CSR” by Jeroen Derwall (Netherlands)
- Research Grant 1: “Socially Efficient Discounting Under Ambiguity Aversion” by Johannes Gierlinger (Austria)
- Research Grant 2: ”Real Options Approach to Valuation of the Voluntary Targets Proposal” by Kirill Zavodov (Russia)
Read summaries of winning articles & reports
More details about award and terms & condition on FIR web site
Eurosif to cover Nuclear and Green ITC in first half of 2008 Sector Report series
Eurosif sector reports (co-produced with Member Affiliates) profile in concrete terms the leading ESG risks and opportunities for specific segments. Eurosif has received favourable comments from mainstream financial service players, media and public figures for their easy-to-read format and concise, practical content. Eurosif will produce 4 sector reports in 2008. The Nuclear report (with research conducted by ECPI) will be released in April 2008 and the Green ITC report (with research conducted by WestLB) will be released in June 2008. Proposals are still being reviewed for the remaining two reports.
SIF expansion in 2008: Norway & Spain
Eurosif was invited to meet with leading figures from respectively, the Norwegian and Spanish SRI communities to discuss the creation of a Social Investment Forum in those countries. In all likelihood, there will be two new SIFs in the course of this year to complement the existing European SIF family.
Eurosif/Le Monde article released on Access to Medicine in Pharmaceutical Industry
In the on-going Eurosif/Le Monde partnership to publish a series of articles on ESG performance indicators (with analysis provided by the French Social Investment Forum and research provided by Ernst & Young), the eleventh article was released covering how the pharmaceutical industry confronts disease in developing countries. Eurosif member affiliate Ethos was interviewed for this article due to their work on the Access to Medicine Index.
http://www.eurosif.org/publications/le_monde_la_stampa_el_pais_partnership
New signatory for Eurosif’s Transparency Guidelines
MACIF Gestion recently signed up to Eurosif’s Transparency Guidelines for retail SRI funds.
More information regarding a specific Transparency Guidelines Logo will be communicated over the next month.
http://www.eurosif.org/publications/retail_transparency_guidelines
Eurosif speeches & events attended
Greenpeace Investors Workshop
31 January – 1 February, 2008
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Eurosif has been asked to attend this invitation-only gathering with senior Greenpeace Europe directors to discuss their initiatives and help them better understand the responsible investors’ perspective.
Investing for the Future: Norwegian Ministry of Finance
16-17 January, 2008
Oslo, Norway
Eurosif was invited by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, together with Norges Bank and the Council on Ethics for the Norwegian Government Pension Fund to attend a high-level conference about financial investments and ethical challenges. The objective was to provide a forum where leading representatives from academia, financial institutions, NGOs, companies and investor groups can come together to discuss the challenges of integrating corporate social/environmental considerations when making financial investment decisions.
Spanish Media Training
16 January, 2008
Madrid, Spain
Eurosif partnered with Forética and Servimedia to lead a training session with leading Spanish journalists on sustainability-related issues. The two hour session consisted of a discussion on SRI trends and the goals of the meeting were to increase the understanding among media, yielding wider and deeper coverage of the sector.
Four Levers Joint Plan of Action
11 January, 2008
Brussels, Belgium
Eurosif participated in a think tank meeting to develop a strategy for the “Four Levers Joint Plan of Action”. The objective is to prepare a coordinated action plan to accelerate the shift towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy, with a focus on the market role in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Upcoming Eurosif speeches & events
International Working Group Spring 2008 Symposium
31 March – 2 April, 2008
London, UK
This Eurosif supported event is a unique opportunity for North American and European investors to engage on ESG and SRI-related issues. Including a special education seminar, one day symposium, numerous networking opportunities, and a series of company meetings, this spring's IWG Symposium is designed to provide significant value to both European and North American SRI investors.
http://www.socialinvest.org/projects/iwg
2008 CFA Institute Annual Conference
11 - 14 May 2008
Vancouver, BA, Canada
Eurosif will discuss “Why Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Issues Have Become Mainstream” at this prestigious gathering of Portfolio Managers, Chief Executive Officers, Chief Investment Officers, Analysts, etc.
Launch of Access to Medicine Index
5 June, 2008
Haarlem, the Netherlands
Eurosif is a partner and speaker at this global gathering which will include investors, NGO’s, academia, industry representatives and governments. Access to Medicine Index is an ambitious and innovative approach to improve access to medicine reporting by pharmaceutical companies resulting in an improved access for those who currently lack sufficient healthcare.
