Today, January 31, 2020 Emerging Markets ESG publishes the 29th edition of its Updated Database of Contacts in the Field of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). The database – with current information as of December 31, 2019 – now contains a total of 5,695 entries. It lists 57 awards, 3,013 conferences/events, 396 indices and 2,229 organizations, divided among the following 12 categories: Academia (106 institutions); Companies – Listed Companies (550); Exchanges (55): Financial Institutions (477); Governmental Organizations (81); Media (98); Networks (185); Non-Governmental Organizations (299); Private-Public Partnerships (21); Professional and Trade Associations (108); Rating and Research (193); and Standard-Setting Organizations (56).
Geoffrey Mazullo, Principal, Emerging Markets ESG, observed that “the number of new ESG and/or ESG indices continues to grow, providing investors with a range of choices and opportunities. Similarly, the breadth and depth of conferences and events on ESG and SRI continues to deepen. Investors, shareholders and stakeholders can engage and learn about any topic imaginable – blue to green to social bonds; climate investing; ESG indices; and sustainability-linked loans.”
To download the database, please click on the link below:
Emerging Markets ESG – Updated Database of Contracts in the Field of SRI – December 2019
The 29th edition of the database contains 204 new conferences and events, added during the second half of 2019. This continues the trend taking place over the past three years: 192 events were added during the first half of 2019; 165 events were added during the second half of 2018, 209 events were added during the first half of 2018, 149 events were added during the second half of 2017 and 199 events were added during the first half of 2017. As Mr. Mazullo explained, the updated database includes a wide range of conferences, meetings, symposia and training programs about specific topics – such as the blue economy, climate finance, divestment (including divestment from firearms), palm oil and plastics – as well as on broader issues such as ESG integration for financial institutions, ESG performance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainability reporting for listed companies.
Of the 3.013 conferences/events listed in the database, 803 took place in the US, 460 in the United Kingdom, 122 in Germany, 114 in Switzerland, 108 in France, 100 in the Netherlands, 92 in Canada, 54 in Australia, 42 in Belgium, 31 in South Africa, 30 in Italy, 30 in Singapore, 29 in China, 28 in Hong Kong, 24 in Sweden, 22 in Austria, 22 in Spain, 22 in United Arab Emirates, 20 in India, 20 in Japan, 19 in Brazil, 19 in Kenya, 17 in Mexico, 14 in Denmark, 13 in Luxembourg and 12 in the Philippines. The distribution among these countries has remained consistent during the past decade.
The database lists 567 webinars, compared with 497 as of June 30, 2019; 433 as of December 31, 2018; 394 as of June 30, 2018; 351 as of December 31, 2017; 260 at year end 2016; 208 at year end 2015; 183 at year end 2014; 140 at year end 2013; and 89 webinars at year end 2012.
A second feature of the 29th edition of the database is its documentation of the continuing launch – over the past four and a half years – of new ESG and SRI indices. 45 indices were added during the past six months. The database now lists 132 global indices, 58 regional indices (covering Africa, Americas, Asia, developed markets, emerging markets, etc.), 49 US indices, 47 European indices, other country indices and thematic indices, covering climate, fossil free, low carbon and water. The database now contains 396 indices, versus 351 as of June 30, 2019; 323 as of December 31, 2018; 311 as of June 30, 2018; 276 at year end 2017; 226 at year end 2016; 202 as of June 30, 2016; and 125 at year end 2015.
During the second half of 2019, a first index in Austria, a first event in Azerbaijan, a first ESG rating service in Bermuda, a first financial institution in Pakistan and a first financial institution in Philippines were added to the database. The database now includes entries from 109 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. ESG and SRI are now relevant to mainstream and niche financial institutions – in developed, emerging and frontier markets.
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 conferences & events worksheet can be sorted by month and year. Each new entry is highlighted in yellow. This enables users to quickly identify new awards, events, indices and institutions.
In 2002, the first edition of the database was published by the Partners for Financial Stability (PFS) Program – a regional financial sector development program co-financed by USAID and East-West Management Institute (EWMI). The PFS Program updated the database 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 30th edition of the updated database will be published in July 2020.