Today, January 30, 2018 Emerging Markets ESG publishes the 25th edition of its Updated Database of Contacts in the Field of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). The database – with current information as of December 31, 2017 – lists 52 awards, 2,252 conferences/events, 276 indices and 1,946 organizations, divided among the following 12 categories: Academia (95 institutions); Companies – Listed Companies (491); Exchanges (38): Financial Institutions (381); Governmental Organizations (77); Media (96); Networks (154); Non-Governmental Organizations (283); Private-Public Partnerships (19); Professional and Trade Associations (103); Rating and Research (177); and Standard-Setting Organizations (32).
The most striking feature of the 25th edition of the database is the ongoing, dramatic increase in the number of conferences and events about SRI. 149 events were added to the database during the past six months, adding to the 199 events added during the first half of 2017. This combined total is significantly more than in any previous time period since the database was launched in 2002. The updated database includes a range of events about ESG reporting for listed companies and courses on ESG integration for financial institutions – demonstrating the growing relevance of SRI to mainstream and niche financial markets – in developed, emerging and frontier markets.
Of the 2,252 conferences/events listed in the database, 611 took place in the US, 364 in the United Kingdom, 104 in Switzerland, 91 in Germany, 82 in France, 74 in the Netherlands, 68 in Canada, 54 in Australia, 37 in Belgium, 28 in South Africa, 24 in Singapore, 22 in China, 22 in Italy, 21 in Spain, 18 in Austria, 18 in Hong Kong, 16 in United Arab Emirates, 16 in India, 16 in Sweden, 15 in Brazil, 13 in Mexico, 12 in Denmark and 11 in Japan. The distribution among these countries has remained consistent during the past decade.
The database lists 351 webinars, compared with 325 as of June 30, 2017; 260 as of December 31, 2016; 232 as of June 30, 2016; 208 as of December 31,2015; 183 as of December 31, 2014; 140 as of December 31, 2013; and 89 webinars as of December 31, 2012.
A second feature of the 25th edition of the database is its documentation of the continuing launch – over the past two years – of new SRI indices. This too demonstrates the evolution of SRI from niche towards mainstream. The database now contains 276 indices, versus 256 indices as of June 30, 2017; 226 as of December 31, 2016; 202 as of June 30, 2016; and 125 as of December 31, 2015. During the past six months, Emerging Markets ESG added 30 indices to the database, including a range of global and regional indices, with universes covering Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe; developed markets and emerging markets; and individual countries, including China, Japan, Switzerland and the USA.
This edition of the database contains 149 new conference/events, 20 new indices and 36 new institutions.
Two countries – Benin and Guatemala – appear in the database for the first time: In 2017, the Africa Carbon Forum took place in Cotonou, Benin and a regional impact investing event for Caribbean and Latin America took place in Antigua, Guatemala. The database now includes entries from 103 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. Each new entry is highlighted in yellow. This enables users to quickly identify new awards, events, indices and institutions.
Four new entries provide a wealth of information about ESG disclosure and reporting:
- Envonet – Environmental Information Network – A global database of corporate financial disclosures on environmental and climate-related risk, liability and opportunity;
- The Green Bond Principles and Social Bond Principles of the International Capital Market Association; and
- The Reporting Exchange, powered by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
A table of contents appears as the first worksheet and a statistics worksheet appears as the last worksheet in the database. Each worksheet is sorted alphabetically by institution; each worksheet may also be re-sorted alphabetically by country.
The first edition of the database was published by the Partners for Financial Stability (PFS) Program in 2002, which updated it semi-annually through December 2009. Emerging Markets ESG took over management of the database in 2010 and now updates it semi-annually.
Every effort was made to update contact information in each worksheet. If a reader notes any out-of-date information, please contact Emerging Markets ESG. We will update the entry.
Emerging Markets ESG would appreciate your constructive criticism and feedback regarding the database.
The 26th edition of the updated database will be published in July 2018.
To download the database, please click on the link below:
Emerging Markets ESG – Updated Database of Contracts in the Field of SRI – December 2017