As You Sow

Tune in this weekend to As You Sow featured in the latest episode of Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting. It's a deep-dive into how Vanguard and index funds are contributing to the #ClimateCrisis and how we all have the power to harness the power of our money for good while also saving responsibly for retirement. Check your local NPR station for air times near you or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. San Francisco, KQED: Saturday, Sept 14, 4-5pm PT New York, WNYC: Sunday, Sept 15, 11-12am ET Washington, DC, WAMU: Sunday, Sept 13, 3-4pm ET https://lnkd.in/gnj5hpqK

Millions of taxpayer dollars wasted by the House on anti-ESG legislation that went nowhere. Why? As far David Hood at Bloomberg can tell, it's because there’s scant support from voters. Why go through all that trouble? It's political theater meant for an audience of one: fossil fuel donors. https://lnkd.in/e-bCRPmE

Executives at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Kohl's, Ford Motor Company, John Deere, and Tractor Supply Company are rolling back their DEI programs despite empirical research that show these kinds of initiatives help companies outperform companies without them. They help companies invest in diverse teams and build inclusive organizational cultures that not only reflect the diversity of customers and the communities in which they operate and serve, but also help drive new ideas, methods, and products that fuel innovation, and, ultimately, growth. AYS CEO Andrew Behar and Whistle Stop Capital’s Meredith Benton make the business case on ImpactAlpha https://lnkd.in/ezRHqs3k

Why are anti-ESG efforts in Congress going nowhere? David Hood over at Bloomberg Law points out 2 reasons: 1) there’s no clear legislative purpose; and 2) voters don’t support it. AYS President & Chief Counsel Danielle Fugere adds, “[Anti-ESG] is McCarthyism in a new era; this is taking the power of government and abusing citizens, abusing businesses. If you have 2.5M pages of documents, and that’s not enough to help create a new law, it’s not your intent.” https://lnkd.in/e-bCRPmE

Momentum behind clean energy and sustainable technologies continues to accelerate. Over the past year a remarkable $284 billion was invested in clean energy, clean vehicles, building electrification, and carbon management technology across the U.S. - a significant 36% increase YoY. $76 billion was invested in just the second quarter of 2024—a record-breaking period that saw a 27% increase compared to the same period in 2023. These figures underscore the growing commitment to sustainability and the transformative impact of clean technologies on the future of our economy and environment. #CleanEnergy #SustainableInvestment #GreenTech #RenewableEnergy #FutureOfEnergy #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/g8sirS8S

Focus on ESG-related investments among institutional investors is intensifying. A recent survey of 250 institutional investors reveals some compelling insights: - 60% reported higher performance yields from ESG investments. - 78% are willing to pay higher fees for these funds. The report highlights that "institutional investors are showing increased demand for properties with strong ESG-related management and activities." This surge in #ESG investment is reshaping capital allocation strategies, with companies that demonstrate strong ESG performance increasingly attracting investment dollars. It all underscores the critical role of ESG factors in driving long-term value and sustainable growth. #SustainableInvesting #InvestmentTrends https://lnkd.in/g7G5-hW4

Changing weather patterns threaten investments in a global food system already facing both physical and transition challenges. The underlying causes of climate change need to be addressed before more assets in agriculture turn into liabilities. https://lnkd.in/eeWYNZPN

Investors are intensifying their focus on plastic pollution, urging companies to rethink plastic value chains. The shift reflects growing awareness of plastic's environmental impact and the need for sustainable practices within the investment community. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dBfHBdwE World Economic Forum Annie Sanders Green Century Funds OECD - OCDE Business For A Plastics Treaty Ellen MacArthur Foundation McKinsey & Company Trillium Asset Management Lisa Hayles Achmea Investment Management Arthur van Mansvelt As You Sow Kelly McBee Constellation Brands Hormel Foods Sophie Lawrence Greenbank UN Environment Programme United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Responsible Investment Finance for Biodiversity CDP BNP Paribas Asset Management Federated Hermes Federated Hermes Limited Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Looking to green your 401k plan? Here are some tips. Morningstar Morningstar Sustainalytics Christine Benz Jane Danyu Vanguard Fidelity Investments BlackRock Alex Wright-Gladstein Samuel Adams Zach Stein Andrew Montes Sam Gooch As You Sow #Equities #SustainableInvesting #Greeninvesting #Retirement #ESG #ESGInvesting #PersonalFinance https://lnkd.in/g5sbuAE6

Does Your Shareholder Vote Matter? CEO of As You Sow, Andrew Behar, talks about the power of the shareholder vote against the power of global corporations on this episode of NYSE's Upside & Impact: Investing for Change with host Elysabeth Alfano, CEO of VegTech Invest. #impactinvesting #podcast