ESG investing has gone mainstream and beyond, with a record amount of investor dollars - $21.5 billion -- flowing into ESG-themed mutual funds and ETFs in the first quarter of the year, according to a Wall Street Journal report.Â
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On October 13, WSJ Custom Studios and Nasdaq hosted The ESG Leadership Forum, a hybrid event that examined where ESG investing goes from here and the best way to raise capital for companies and investments with an ESG narrative. We looked at how standards and disclosure requirements are coming under scrutiny and hear from ESG market leaders on how to make the cut.
Watch the full event below here:
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No longer considered a niche asset class, global ESG assets under management are expected to exceed $53 trillion by 2025, according to Bloomberg data. That’s more than a third of all AUMs. We’ll discuss what the current expectations are for public companies and those planning their IPOs as the pandemic, climate change, and social activism have accelerated its growth -- along with increased scrutiny and accountability. We’ll ask institutional investors for the ESG criteria they’re applying to their funds and their firms.
Hayes Barnard, Founder, Chairman and CEO, GoodleapÂ
Karen Karniol-Tambour, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Sustainability, Bridgewater Associates
Eric Van Nostrand, Head, Sustainability Research, BlackRock
In Conversation With:
Mae Cheng, SVP, Barron’s Group, Dow Jones
We’ll debate the most effective way to go public and raise capital in today’s environment for companies with an ESG narrative, including through IPOs, SPACs, direct listings, green bonds and follow-ons.
Ingrid Dyott, Co-Portfolio Manager, Core Equity and Sustainable Equity Strategies, Neuberger Berman
Jackie Roberts, Chief Sustainability Officer, AppHarvest
Ken Wallach, Co-Head, Global Capital Markets Practice, Simpson Thacher
In conversation with:
Jack Otter, Global Head, Wealth and Asset Management, Dow Jones
WSJ reports that ESG standards are often ‘inconsistent and incomplete’ and that various ESG metrics are rolled into one number, making it challenging to sort out corporations that are actually making a difference and where. As investors and regulators demand consistent standards and better disclosures, is it time to re-evaluate how ESG investments and commitments are assessed, along with their actual impact on the environment and social and governance issues.
Jonah Smith, Global ESG Lead, Kraft Heinz and President, Kraft Heinz Foundation
Dan Nielsen, Head of ESG Indexes, Morningstar
Kelly Tang, Senior Director of Research, KH Moon Center for a Functioning Society, Drucker Institute
In conversation with:
Lucy Blatter, Editorial Director, Barron’s Group
The Private Market: Preparing to Go Public and How ESG Plays a Role
Steve Vargas, Lead Advisor, ESG Advisory, Nasdaq
Conversation Facilitated by: Joseph Rosenfeld | Senior Vice President, Innovation and Technology Partnerships, Dow Jones
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Investor Perspective: Where the ESG Money Is Moving and How Best to Capture It
Lori Keith, Portfolio Manager and Director of Research, Parnassus Investments
John Molesphini, Global Head of Insights, eVestment
Conversation Facilitated by:Â Kemoy Gray | Audience Partnerships, Dow Jones
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The Growing Importance of Developing a Climate Strategy
Ekaterina Hardin, Lead ESG Advisor, Climate, Nasdaq
Michelle Dunstan, Chief Responsibility Officer, AllianceBernstein
Conversation Facilitated by:Â Suzanne Froix | Host and Director, Events, Dow Jones