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Ethical investing

June

Richard White has more control as WiseTech Global than he has had since the company listed in April 2016.

Rebuilding battered WiseTech’s board, reputation is no small task

What’s more important? Who’s joining the global software company as a director or who’s leaving?

AFR ESG SUMMIT 2025 Panel | Navigating sustainable growth: balancing governance and financial returns in ESG Speaking is Alice Bielawska, Director of Asia-Pacific Research, Glass, Lewis

Alice Bielawska, director of asia-pacific research advisory Glass Lewis said

Risk matters more than ESG label

How to balance good governance with financial return for shareholders remains a burning issue when it comes to ESG investing.

May

Whitehaven argued that the Daunia, pictured, and Blackwater workers will be employed on terms “no less favourable” than under BHP’s ownership.

AustralianSuper invests in Whitehaven Coal, says it is ESG consistent

The big investor says it was drawn to the miner’s shift to metallurgical coal and remains committed to net zero by 2050 after buying shares last week.

February

Investors pulled a record $20.1 billion from sustainable-investment funds in 2024.

‘Sustainable’ investors flee references to climate change

Even the small activist firm that led the shake-up of ExxonMobil’s board in 2021 is distancing itself from ESG.

January

Wind turbines in fields at Royd Moor farm in Yorkshire.

Can sustainable investing survive Trump 2.0?

The political backlash against ESG has intensified — but the sector is evolving.

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ESG is out of favour as Donald Trump returns to the presidency.

Macquarie, IFM-backed net zero group suspends itself as Trump looms

The world’s biggest climate finance alliance cited “different regulatory and client expectations” in starting a review and making its membership list secret.

December 2024

ESG funds have focused on companies that have climate emission abatement policies.

ESG investing on shaky footing as green fatigue sweeps ETF market

Once attracting almost 20 per cent of inflows into exchange-traded funds, climate and social-focused strategies collected 3 per cent of new money this year.

November 2024

Fromt left: Chemist Warehouse co-founder Mario Verrocchi, Reece Group’s Peter Wilson, Canva’s Melanie Perkins, and Pro Medicus co-founder Sam Hupert.

Five founders keeping the faith with investors

Corporate Australia has recently experienced a founder “killing season”, but these founder-led companies are still keeping shareholders happy.

October 2024

Future Group founder and chief executive Simon Sheikh.

Future Group entertains IPO after strong quarter

Future Group founder Simon Sheikh isn’t sitting on his laurels waiting for sparks to fly.

Data centres, such as this one owned by Amazon in the US, use huge amounts of energy.

Big super’s obsession with data centres comes with an energy warning

AustralianSuper poured $2.2 billion into a US data centre company this week, but ESG experts warn the energy-hungry assets could compromise net zero targets.

Testing of a Russian ballistic missile in 2022. Australian super funds are exposed to nuclear weapons.

AustralianSuper ESG option invested in nuclear weapons: report

Australia’s 14 biggest superannuation funds are investing about $3.4 billion in nuclear weapons despite many promising to avoid controversial arms.

September 2024

Vanguard’s misleading investments included oil exploration projects by Chevron.

Record $12.9m greenwashing penalty puts fund managers on notice: ASIC

Federal Court fined Vanguard $12.9 million for failing to exclude certain investments against ESG criteria and instead relying on third parties.

August 2024

Welcome to the nature positive investing movement

Institutional investors see natural capital as the next force in corporate governance, with big implications for companies growing and selling food.

Green super is facing headwinds as consumers fail to translate their personal values into investments.

Green super: Why investors hesitate to walk the talk

Lower investment returns and concerns about greenwashing are proving strong headwinds for green super.

Michael Traill, co-founder of For Purpose Investment Partners, and Qantas Super’s Andrew Spence.

This super fund creates positive returns – and social benefits

Within its $9b fund, Qantas Super allocated $600 million for social impact investing. This year it backed an aged care project, to improve quality of care.

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Norman Zhang

Why the rich are decarbonising their portfolios

Wind and solar may have disappointed, but wealth managers see opportunity in areas such as waste management and disability housing.

July 2024

Donald Trump is expected to continue to dismantle green initiatives in the US if he wins a second term in November.

Funds hit as Trump shadow looms over green energy

Fund managers are scrambling to assess what a Republican win in November could mean for the billions of dollars earmarked for green investments.

June 2024

Kris Webster (L) and Michael Poulsen of Canopy Investors.

Ex-Magellan stock pickers partner with Bennelong to launch new fund

Kris Webster and Michael Poulsen each spent more than a decade at the investment firm before finally setting up their own shop last year.

Vision Super has invested in Whitehaven since weakening its ESG investment policy.

Vision Super buys up Whitehaven shares

The fund, which sells itself to customers as environmentally conscious, has watered down its climate investment promises as “green hushing” continues to rise.

Solar panels on the roof of a factory making renewable energy equipment in Jinan in China’s Shandong province.

Global investors pull $60b from ESG funds

Sustainably focused equity funds suffered major cash outflows globally in 2024 because of poor performance and scandals, the first sustained exodus.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/ethical-investing-hp2