Category: In this Issue

The permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. The permanent defeat of life comes when dreams are surrendered to reality.

– James A. Michener

So, what happened? How did ESG suddenly become so controversial – a call to arms for many just a few years ago, the world was rallying around environmental social and governance efforts in a way that was exciting and with hope.

Suddenly just the mention of ESG has caused a political firestorm and severely threatens progress. The state of concern has risen to a point where many companies are deliberately “Green Hushing” or underreporting their sustainable practices.

This edition of the Socially Inspired Investor digest will look at this pivotal moment to understand how we can get past this roadblock; why it is a legitimate concern for some, and if ESG is flawed, what is the more practical term or approach?

Please join us with this issue and the companion Podcast featuring Michael Poisson, Managing Director at Ideal Ratings. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy creating this for you.

I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

– What a wonderful world, Louis Armstrong

As we continue to face the challenges of climate change, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need to take action to create more sustainable and environmentally friendly cities. Green cities are the way forward, and they offer a range of benefits for both people and the planet.

In this issue, we explore the concept of green cities and what it means for urban living. From green roofs and walls to sustainable transportation and renewable energy, we look at the innovative solutions that are being implemented in cities around the world.

We also examine the role of urban planning and policy in creating green cities, and the challenges that need to be overcome to make them a reality.

Join us as we explore the exciting possibilities of green cities and the positive impact they can have on our future.

Same Same, But Different

– a phrase perhaps commonly heard in Thailand meaning similar enough but still not the same, requiring more questions and examinations. Diversity training tool.

Socially Inspired Investing is not as easy as it looks.

Aside from the technical or quantitative aspects, is the personal desire to avoid or minimize certain areas of concern on the values side – and that makes it extra demanding. There is no right or wrong – it’s just personal!

If it were easy, everyone would do it and if you look at the proliferation of “ESG” offerings by just about every investment house in recent years you might just come to that conclusion. But these investments are not all the same and we thought it would be helpful to examine the different kinds of social investing through the insightful comments of our brilliant contributors and a fascinating Podcast with our guest Gabe Rissman – Cofounder and President at YourStake.

Be it SRI, ESG, Impact Investing, etc. know that these are all different. And yet, in many cases, investment firms many times irresponsibly use these terms almost interchangeably. Even the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has felt it necessary to step in – putting the investment community on notice that they must do a better job of educating investors. 

What do the ratings really mean and is that all you should consider. How perfect can you get, or not get, trying to elevate your portfolio to align more with your personal values and concerns. Perfection is elusive and subjective – must that be the requirement? Some things to think about.

Enjoy this next edition of The Socially Inspired Digest and Podcast. It’s been fascinating for us. Feel free to pass it along.

The best friend of earth of man is the tree.

When we use the tree respectfully and economically,

we have one of the greatest resources on the earth.

– Frank Lloyd Wright

Some say we’ve arrived at the critical junction where fossil fuels – the old gunslinger, and alternative energy, the sleek new upstart, meet for a winner take all shootout.  But in fact, if we are honest, it’s not really like that – both are needed at this time to satisfy global demand. But the trend can’t be ignored and the related investment opportunities are becoming more clear.  

What makes it more competitive is the dramatic reduction in the cost of alternative solutions, as well as the promise of new tax incentives. Research from Our World Data shows that the cost of renewables has drastically fallen from 2010 by over 80% with offshore wind coming on as one of the strongest difference makers. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) renewables are now undercutting fossil fuels as the world’s cheapest source of energy.

This issue of the Socially Inspired Investor Digest and Podcast examines the progress made in the new economics of sustainable energy.  We think you’ll enjoy hearing from our PODCAST guest Peter Fusaro a well-regarded expert in the field.  We also thank our SPOTLIGHT contributors who share their views on the topic.

Enjoy this issue.

I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around

Pick up my guitar and play

Just like yesterday

Then I’ll get on my knees and pray

We don’t get fooled again

– Song by The Who. “Won’t get fooled again” from the album Who’s Next 8/71

Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware)

A new indicator that ESG has matriculated into the mainstream investment universe is the seeming endless, perhaps counterintuitive, range of companies who suddenly proclaim they have now drunk the Kool-Aid and are now or soon to be, cleaner, fairer, and overall committed to being good citizens of the sustainable world – if not potentially our saviors.

But beware the ESG industrial complex. Is there a watchdog? And if so, why should we believe them?

This edition the Socially Inspired Investor Digest/Podcast attempts to touch on the very complicated and evolving subject of ESG ratings.  Without the right data you, the investor, really are challenged to make informed decisions on which investment options most closely align with your values. 

Will we ever get to the point where respected rating agencies give us a meaningful measure of how a company meets a generally accepted ESG standards?  Respectfully – that’s a hard one to absorb. It’s probably not even possible as much of it may be subjective. But some guidance is better than no guidance. Recently the SEC proposed significant criteria for companies to include relating to their disclosure on environmental impact and risks associated with them.

Ratings services nevertheless decided it’s worth their time and capital to develop their own rating systems. And that is actually a very good thing, even if imperfect. Like it or not, that’s part of the deal at this point, and that has to be ok with you. To make it even more bemusing is that most of the input for the data actually comes from the companies themselves.  

So, what are we to make of these rating agencies and the data they use? Is this the cavalry to the rescue? Or a concerted effort to fool us once again?

Our SPOTLIGHT ON question this issue posed to our panel of experts this question:
“It seems more expansive company reporting on sustainability factors creates a better business model – WHY?”

To help us further understand the ratings process we are fortunate to have Tamara Close from Close Group Consulting as Pat O’Neill’s special guest on our very interesting PODCAST. 

We hope you enjoy this important edition of the SOCIALLY INSPIRED INVESTOR DIGEST/PODCAST.  Since we first published – just as the COVID-19 pandemic began – we have seen tremendous progress being made in the investing community, as we inhabitants strive for a better, more sustainable future.   

Enjoy!

I can change the world, with my own two hands

Make a better place with my own two hands

Make a kinder place, with my own two hands

– Song by Ben Harper, Diamond on the Inside. 2003

Our new issue focuses on the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), the extent to which DEI is important for investors – and the potential risks of failing to take it into account when making investment decisions.

Doesn’t it seem like our understanding of the impact of DEI on investing should be further evolved by now? Our contributors within the SPOTLIGHT section of this digest point to a variety of ways that companies benefit from social oriented policies – and examples of some who have not.

They will discuss the impact of how a company treats its employees, its community and the fairness of how it utilizes its capital on its performance. Do DEI considerations affect every aspect of the business – supply chains, product or service strategies, logistics and human resources? Clearly, a Socially Inspired Investor will take DEI into consideration – perhaps as much as other ratios or quantitative factors. We know you will enjoy listening to our PODCAST guest, Lorraine Wilson, Chief Impact Officer and Head of ESG Methodology at Novata, who brings it all together.  

We hope you continue to benefit from the work we do here at the Socially Inspired Investor and our thought leadership. Please feel free to pass us along to others.

Welcome to 2022, everyone!

Where the wind blows babe

You can bet

I’ll be riding high with it

Holding on for my dear life

Just like I always did

– Song by Zac Brown Band, Uncaged 2012

“Nature provides us with a chance to feel the things we cannot perceive with the naked eye” (Literary Devices)

Wind energy offers many advantages explaining why it’s one of the fastest growing energy sources in the world. And here’s a little secret you may not know –

Wind power now accounts for the largest share of renewable energy sources – 8.4% of total US. electricity generation and about 43% of electrical generation from renewable energy in 2020 (U.S. Energy Information Administration).

Wind is free and available and extensive years of development and research have reduced costs and significantly addressed concerns on the impact on wildlife, specifically birds and bats. Offshore solutions and technological advancements claim to realize its potential as the preeminent breakthrough solution. Despite strong demand amid a shift toward renewable power, many companies are having a hard time delivering turbines on budget and on schedule due to shipping delays, rising steel costs and other problems.

This Issue of the Socially Inspired Digest and Podcast – the 3rd episode of our 2nd season- delves into how wind energy is adapting to its new leadership role and what we can expect in the future.

Our Podcast this issue features Steven Pugh, Partner Hermes Infrastructure, a leader in renewable energy development in the UK. We also hear from our panel of experts in our Spotlight section who tackle the question:

Wind power’s role in the renewable energy transition: What are the risks and opportunities?

World attention has never been more focused and aligned to meet the environmental fight of our lives. The recent COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland underscores the world’s readiness to invest where necessary. More reason to be inspired.

Our mission at the Socially Inspired Investor is to keep you informed so you can not only achieve your investment goals but also to do it while aligning with your personal values. Please pass along this link sociallyinspiredinvestor.com to others whom you think will be interested and benefit from our Digest and Podcast.

We hope you enjoy this important issue.

Someone told me long ago

There’s a calm before the storm

I know, it’s been comin’ for some time

When it’s over, so they say

It’ll rain a sunny day

I know shinin’ down like water

– I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?”
Creedence Clearwater Revival

Welcome to the next issue of our Digest and Season 2, Episode 2 of our companion PODCAST entitled: It’s All About The Water.

As the movement toward repairing the earth makes headway, we are inspired to believe that serious focus and real progress is underway. The spotlight, at least lately, seems though more likely to focus on carbon reduction and climate change – clearly critical. But clean water for drinking, farming, electricity and industry is also a growing concern around the world. So, what does the future hold, and what about investment opportunities and risks when it comes to water?

Betsy Moszeter, Chief Operating Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, cites a Fidelity paper a few years back entitled: Water, Structural Demand Growth Creates Investing Opportunities. Recognizing, as they say, that “fully one in six gallons of all the fresh water we produce is wasted through old leaky deteriorating infrastructure”, there is much to do. Water is fundamental, not just to the health of the Earths’ ecosystem but also to the health of global economic activity. Unlike oil, there are no alternative sources.

According to The American Society of Civil Engineers in their 2020 report entitled: The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure, “without adequate investment in water systems, people could see higher incidences of illness, hospitalizations, and lost working days… under current investment levels, the nation will spend $1.067 trillion on water infrastructure over the next 20 years”, still perhaps a third of what’s needed, but a significant start.

We hope you find this issue enlightening and educational. We enjoy producing this educational series. Our mission is to make socially inspired and ESG investing more consumer friendly.

Thanks for your interest and please feel free to pass us along to others.

The best is yet to come, and won’t that be fine?

You think you’ve seen the sun, but you ain’t seen it shine.

– Frank Sinatra

We begin the 2^nd season of The Socially Inspired Investor by taking a deeper dive into the topic of Electric Mobility a.k.a. “The EV” movement. GM has announced that they will offer over 30 electrics by 2025 while publicly and loudly charting a path to an all-electric future. Clearly, Tesla has a huge lead but waking a giant rarely comes without consequence. Even Jaguar announced it will go 100% electric by 2025. Mercedes-Benz will shift its focus entirely to electric vehicles in 2025 and be prepared to sell nothing but electric cars by 2030.

As giddy as investors have been about EV, we are far from clear about how it will all develop. Experts tell us that gas combustible driven cars will still be the norm for the foreseeable future. Jeremy McCool, Founder and CEO of HEVO Power, is our featured guest on our PODCAST discussing the latest on the industry including their development of wireless EV charging.

But it’s not all roses. In our SPOTLIGHT ON section, we ask our experts to speak to the challenges and investments opportunities we face as we move toward mobility. Their observations were very insightful.

Despite the excitement, it appears the EV market currently faces epic supply chain disruptions – most notably a semiconductor chip shortage and the challenges of long charging times – especially during extended trips.  And then there is the scarcity of many of the raw materials found in the batteries that these vehicles use.

In California 20% of purchasers of EV vehicles actually revert to gas, according to a study by researchers at the University of California Davis (www.thehill.com).

Even tires will require innovation. The average EV vehicle can weigh almost twice as much as its older siblings (www.thehill.com). Companies like MICHELIN^® see this as a unique opportunity to build market share and we investors should take note. On April 1, the MICHELIN^® pilot^® product line was launched, taking into account the higher weight characteristics associated with electric sports cars.

Yes, we are in the very early stages.

But yet we are very inspired about all the prospects that electric mobility can bring. Along the journey, we expect to find many good investment opportunities. With so much to be settled, the final story may be a long time coming.  But in the investment world, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The market adage “buy the rumor, sell the news” should inform the investor when it comes to how to “play” the EV category.

Welcome back! We have a great new season planned. If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe at www.sociallyinspiredinvestor.com to receive notices of new issues and feel free to invite others.

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf,

And the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

Rudyard Kipling – Jungle Book

A year like no other, indeed

When we first published the SII Digest and Podcast we could not have known the pivotal year we were about to experience.  It turns out we had plenty to talk about. The amalgamation of environmental, social, and corporate governance events has been truly epic. We could not be prouder of how our team took on the challenge.

Covid-19 continues as a backdrop of course. Many of the companies that are helping us to endure through both the pandemic and the fight against climate change seem to score higher on the ESG scale – and now, with more confidence, we see the values of their stocks reflecting this potential. There seems to be little doubt within the professional investment world that sustainability and social responsibility must be taken into consideration.

This edition focuses on the whole of this past year. What have we learned?   How far have we come?   What do we see ahead? In our SPOTLIGHT ON section, we asked experts from the industry to weigh-in on these questions.

The SII PODCAST hosted by Pat O’Neill, is a retrospective of the previous podcasts our first season – all 9 of them. This episode, our 10^th, recalls some of the most interesting contributions from our amazing guests, a real treasure of information. Many thanks to Sureita Hockley, who expertly produces these podcasts and Paul Ellis who takes on the responsibility of sourcing our experts. The PODCAST team comes together in a roundtable style for a very informative session.

Originally, we thought it would be helpful to amplify all the smarts around environmentally and socially conscious investing. Our mission continues to make socially responsible investing more user friendly and actionable. We will continue down that path as we move into our next season.

We see the world coming together over this time with more of a shared purpose and clarity around ESG. The “pack” is getting stronger and that should be inspiring to us all.