Investors launch new initiative to target the ‘S’ in ESG

(Financial Times) As the clean energy industry takes off – ushering in a new boom for the mining sector that serves it – it’s vital that human rights are not sidelined in the push for low-carbon power. That’s the logic behind a new collaborative initiative announced yesterday at the annual Principles for Responsible Investment conference.

Named “Advance”, it has been organized by the PRI and launched with an initial membership of about 220 institutional investors, managing roughly $30tn in assets. Smaller teams within the initiative will engage 40 “initial focus” companies (which, for now, are all from the renewable energy or extractive industries) on social and human rights issues related to their operations.