Climate change risk is a real concern for the world. Last year, scientists approached a consensus that our opportunity to reach the ambitious goal of curbing emissions to avoid global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrial levels has come and gone. In the current climate, coral reefs are dying, deforestation is proceeding rapidly, and Australia has succumbed to a continental rash of fires.
Deforestation and the Investor Dilemma
“The Amazon rainforest is burning.”
That revelation — spread by advocates, scientists and affected communities — demanded the world’s attention in 2019. This summer was a record fire season in Brazil’s Amazon region, often called “the lungs of the world” for the zone’s importance to our atmosphere and our climate. Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro claimed that the fires were fabricated or overblown. We know that this is false thanks to satellite imagery and NGO reports.
How can investors help confront racial injustice?
A responsible investment approach should be informed by the real world beyond balance sheets and earnings statements. At Zevin Asset Management, we examine key environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors to shape our view of the future and find companies that respect people and planet.
That is why, as impact investors, we must confront racial injustice. Inequality and injustice based on race, after all, were founding economic realities of American life. Two centuries later, inequality, abuse, and discrimination are still present in every sector — in education, housing, healthcare, and policing.
Testifying for Responsible Investment in Boston
Skin in the game: Why we’re leading a push for inclusion & accountability in the tech sector
The technology sector has historically excluded minority and women workers. Underrepresented people of color hold just nine percent of technical roles in the sector with above-average attrition rates. And women hold about one-third of entry-level tech jobs.
But inclusion isn’t just a matter of racial and gender justice. McKinsey & Company research shows that companies with leading approaches to inclusion are more likely to have above-average financial returns.
That’s why Zevin Asset Management began researching companies’ strategies to promote diversity and retain the most talented tech workers, no matter where they’re from or what they look like. We also channeled our clients’ investor voices for positive impact, challenging companies to link reasonable inclusion goals to the CEO’s paycheck.
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