ESG and Sustainability
The rise of ESG factors in investment decision making will have a dramatic impact on returns and opportunities in the 21st century. A recent survey by LGT Capital Partners and Mercer showed that 57% of respondents believe that incorporating ESG standards into investment decisions will raise returns. Just 9% argued they reduce returns on investment.
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Revaia, Europe’s largest female-founded venture capital firm, has successfully raised €150 million ($160 million) for its second fund, Revaia Growth II. The funding was secured from sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and institutional investors across Europe, with support from existing partners like Bpifrance and new backers such as mutual insurer Carac and the European Investment Fund.
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More Stories on ESG and Sustainability
Alternative Investments/ESG: JP Morgan Launches New Active, Thematic, Sustainable ETFs
JPMorgan Asset Management has launched the JPMorgan Sustainable Consumption ETF (CIRC), JPMorgan Social Advancement ETF (UPWD), and JPMorgan Sustainable Infrastructure ETF (BLLD), expanding its offering of active sustainable thematic ETFs. The three new PDFs address major trends developing in the future, offering clients access to alpha opportunities across a range of themes.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Emerge Canada Launches Five Sustainable ETFs Under Its EMPWR Program For Women-Led Managers
Emerge Canada launched a new, proprietary EMPWR program that includes separate account strategies, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds available to investors in both Canada and the US. The program promotes sustainable investing while supporting women-led investment managers.
Alternative Investments/ESG/Digital: Fidelity Launches Five Thematic ETFs In Europe
Fidelity International has launched in Europe five thematic equity ETFs spanning the themes of clean energy, electric vehicles & future transportation, cloud computing, digital health, and the metaverse. The ETFs will trade on European bourses including London Stock Exchange, Deutsche Börse Xetra, and SIX Swiss Exchange, and Borsa Italiana. Each ETF features an expense ratio of 0.50%.
Alternative Investments/Digital: LGIM Launches Metaverse ETF With ESG Overlay
Legal & General Asset Management (LGIM) has launched four thematic ETFs to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana, Deutsche Boerse and Six Exchange. Of these, the L&G Metaverse ESG Exclusions UCITS ETF (MTVR) will be a part of LGIM’s all-new “Access” range that is intended to be a strategic tool for investors seeking access to “non-traditional investment opportunities.” On the other hand, the L&G Optical Technology Photonics ESG Exclusions UCITS ETF (LAZG), the L&G Emerging Cyber Security ESG Exclusions UCITS ETF (ESPY) and the L&G Global Thematic ESG Exclusions UCITS ETF (THMZ) will be included in LGIM’s flagship thematic range.
Alternative Investments/ESG: DWS Expands ESG Range With Three Paris-Aligned ETFs
DWS has launched three new ETFs as an extension of its existing suite of climate-focused ETFs. To be listed in Europe, the three new Paris-aligned equity ETFs provide large and mid-cap exposure to stocks from the US, Europe, and Japan. The new ETFs are the Xtrackers USA Net Zero Pathway Paris Aligned UCITS ETF (XNUS GY), which comes with an expense ratio of 0.10%, and the Xtrackers Europe Net Zero Pathway Paris Aligned UCITS ETF (XEPA GY) and Xtrackers Japan Net Zero Pathway Paris Aligned UCITS ETF (XNJP GY), both of which are priced at 0.15%.
Artificial Intelligence: Japanese Drivers Unionize Against Amazon Protesting Unrealistic, AI-Drawn Routes
A labor movement is spreading across Amazon Japan, with delivery drivers in Nagasaki organizing themselves into a union, months after drivers in Yokosuka took a similar step. The group of 15 drivers in Nagasaki are protesting Amazon’s long hours and excessive load of deliveries without overtime pay, as well as impossible-to-execute delivery schedules and routes set out by the company’s AI system.
Alternative Investments/ESG: AXA Investment Managers Launches ETF Platform For Responsible Investments
AXA Investment Managers has launched an ETF platform with two active UN SDG (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) aligned ETFs, classified as Article 9 funds under SFDR regulation. To focus on climate and biodiversity themes, the two ETFs will offer investors the twin benefits of long-term financial growth as well as a positive impact on the environment. The platform would also feature active strategies and enhanced liquidity for investors.
Artificial Intelligence: Robotic, Solar-Powered Boat To Clean India’s Gomti River
The district administration of Lucknow, in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, has pressed into service an AI-enabled trash boat to clean the Gomti river. In a 30-day trial, the boat, built by the Centre For Innovation Policy And Social Change, will operate on the river and collect plastics, water hyacinth and other types of waste.
Venture Capital/ESG: Plant-Based Meat Startup Planted Lands CHF 70M (US$72M) Series B Round
Planted, the Swiss startup making vegan meat from plant proteins, announced its $72 million Series B round to fund the launch of its new whole-cut line of products including chicken breast, increase production capacity and expand internationally.
Artificial Intelligence: Rockefeller Foundation Partners With Atlas AI And e-GUIDE To Boost Economic Development In Africa
The Rockefeller Foundation will leverage machine learning technology and satellite data in a new $ 5.5 million collaboration with e-GUIDE and Atlas AI to boost economic development and build climate resilient infrastructure across sub- Saharan Africa. An innovative digital platform will make available valuable insight into agriculture, energy, and transportation sector development conditions, initially in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda. The information (“dynamic situational awareness of local conditions”) will enable policymakers to prioritise infrastructure development, promote economic opportunities, and mitigate community vulnerabilities in these sectors.
Alternative Investments/ESG: TD Asset Management Debuts Carbon Credit ESG ETF
The new ETF from TD Asset Management offers access to the global carbon credit marketplace. The TD Global Carbon Credit Index ETF (TCBN) launched by TD Asset Management offers investors the opportunity to participate in the returns from investments in global ‘cap-and-trade’ carbon emission credits, as measured by the Solactive Global Carbon Credit CAD Hedged…
Alternative Investments/ESG: NBA Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo Partners With Calamos On Sustainable ETF
NBA superstar and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, also known as the “Greek Freak,” has partnered with Illinois-based Calamos Advisors on a stock ETF that has a sustainable edge. Titled the Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Fund, the new ETF will invest only in firms that comply with ESG standards determined internally.
Artificial Intelligence: AI To Help Assess Damage To The Great Barrier Reef
Artificial intelligence will help to determine the health of more than 300 reefs from more than 52,000 photographs taken by “citizen scientists” recruited by the conservation group Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkellers and recreational divers joined in a movement to capture a snapshot of the health of the Great Barrier Reef. These citizen scientists were then requested to help identify in the pictures problem areas of the Reef such as bleaching that needed restoration effort.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Mirae Asset Debuts Green Bond ETF In Hong Kong
The Global X Bloomberg MSCI Asia Ex Japan Green Bond ETF, launched by Mirae Asset Global Investments, provides investors an opportunity to invest in investment grade, USD denominated green bonds from issuers located in Asia, but excluding Japan. The fund commenced trading on the Hong Kong Exchange on Friday. The fund has the distinction of being the world’s first ETF to provide access to green bonds of the Asia (Ex Japan) region. It is also Mirae’s first fixed income ETF.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Inspire Advances The Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) Movement With New ETF
Inspire Investing, which is the world’s largest provider of biblically responsible ETFs, has launched the Inspire Fidelis Multi-Factor ETF, a faith-based fund comprised of 100 high-quality, biblically aligned companies seeking growth and momentum purchased at a reasonable price.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Strive, Which Scooped $250M On The DRLL Anti-ESG ETF, To Launch Four New ETFs
Strive Asset Management, which is backed by investors including Peter Thiel and Bill Ackman, has filed for four new ETFs on Tuesday. The firm has likely been encouraged by the success of its flagship US Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: DRLL) which has exceeded $238 million in assets under management and over $320 million in traded volume in its first two full weeks of launch.
Artificial Intelligence: Capitol Records Dumps AI Rapper FN Meka, Apologizes To Black Community
Famed record label Capitol Records, which signed AI-generated, virtual rapper artist FN Meka earlier this month, has walked away from the contract citing unintended and overlooked racial overtones and the AI character’s “gross stereotypes” of the Black community.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Vanguard Files For Global Environmental Opportunities Stock Fund
Vanguard has revealed its plans to launch the Vanguard Global Environmental Opportunities Stock Fund, to be actively managed by Ninety One, an experienced active investment manager with a proven track record in environmental, decarbonization, and global investing. Founded in 1991, Ninety One manages approximately $160 billion globally.
Artificial Intelligence: Shrimps On Tap From The Shrimpbox – An AI-Powered, Temperature Controlled Cargo Container
The Shrimpbox is described as an intelligent, automated shrimp farm that is disconnected from the oceans, and located close to the consumer. It enables the production of shrimp without the ill effects of traditional shrimp farming – which pollutes oceans, destroys habitats and contributes to overfishing.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Morgan Stanley To Debut In ETFs With Four ESG Equity Funds
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), which coined the term “exchange traded fund” in the 1990s, is making a comeback into the $6.9 trillion ETF market with four socially conscious and sustainable funds under the Calvert label that will invest in US and international stocks. Though late to the party in terms of both ETFs and ESG, Morgan Stanley will bring to bear its $1.4 trillion AUM and marketing muscle on a market that recently saw the advent of the Capital Group and Neuberger Berman.
Artificial Intelligence: Israeli Startups ASTERRA, Albo Climate Use Satellites And AI To Hunt For Lithium And Carbon
Satellite sensors are delivering valuable data to Israeli startups for analysis with AI to obtain insights on the extent of absorption of carbon on land, as well as locate valuable deposits of lithium that would otherwise be difficult to find and damaging to the environment.
Venture Capital: E.ON To Be Anchor Investor In Its Venture Arm’s Climate Tech Fund
Future Energy Ventures, the venture arm of Germany head-quartered electric utility E.ON SE (ETR: EOAN), has established a new, independent Luxembourg-domiciled venture capital fund, Future Energy Ventures Fund I SCA SICAV-RAIF. The new fund aims to become Europe’s leading venture capital investor focused on the energy transition and will invest Series A and B investments in ventures that aim to transform the traditional energy value chain towards net zero.
Alternative Investments/ESG: HSBC Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Biodiversity Screened ETF
HSBC Asset Management has launched the HSBC World ESG Biodiversity Screened Equity UCITS ETF (HBDV) on the London Stock Exchange with a total expense ratio (TER) of 0.35%. The ETF is labelled Article 8 under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).
Alternative Investments/AI: Direxion Launches A Leveraged Electric And Autonomous Vehicle ETF
The Direxion ETF provides 200% exposure to the electric and autonomous vehicles industry. ETF issuer Direxion announced the launch of the Direxion Daily Electric and Autonomous Vehicles Bull 2X Shares ETF (EVAV) that benchmarks 200% of the daily performance of the Indxx US Electric and Autonomous Vehicles Index. Accordingly, it invests in 25 U.S.-listed companies…