{"id":73456,"date":"2022-11-17T13:36:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T18:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.riacanada.ca\/?p=73456"},"modified":"2023-02-28T10:53:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T15:53:26","slug":"theres-more-to-esg-than-the-environment-advisors-going-beyond-emissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.riacanada.ca\/wordpress\/magazine\/theres-more-to-esg-than-the-environment-advisors-going-beyond-emissions\/","title":{"rendered":"There\u2019s More to ESG Than the Environment: Advisors Going Beyond Emissions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the past decade, interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) has soared \u2013 with responsible investments (RI) accounting for more than 62% of all professionally-managed assets in Canada, according to the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) of Canada<\/a>\u00b9. Yet, many advisors are hesitant to bring up ESG with their clients. An RIA-led investor opinion survey<\/a> found that 77% of investors want their advisors to talk to them about responsible investing, yet only 27% reported having had those discussions with their financial professionals\u00b2.
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If ESG is becoming a bigger part of the investing conversation overall, why aren\u2019t more advisors bringing sustainability up to their clients? The problem is that ESG is still largely misunderstood, with many in the investment industry struggling to see beyond the E. 
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Emissions are only one piece of the puzzle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To many, ESG is thematic, often seen exclusively through the lens of climate change. Journalists and experts have criticized ESG for having unclear goals, inconsistent measurement and too many objectives to be meaningful. One story goes so far as to say that ESG should be distilled into one simple measure: emissions.
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While defaulting to the environment and even emissions is understandable \u2013 emissions are the most easily quantifiable ESG factor \u2013 that\u2019s an extremely narrow view. If emissions were the only consideration, portfolios would be heavily weighted toward clean tech, alternative energy, and other climate-focused concerns. This also assumes investors only care about the environment, but social and governance issues, such as gender balance in the boardroom or fair labour practices, are also top of mind for many Canadians. 
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Unlock value with ESG<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ESG has long evolved from being a vehicle solely used to align investments with investor values. It\u2019s now far more holistic. A large focus in ESG is on reducing risk and identifying emerging opportunities, which is one of the central reasons institutional investors have integrated it into their investment processes. 
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Boston Consulting Group (BCG) notes<\/a> that ESG appeals to sophisticated investors because it blends financial accounting requirements with non-financial performance metrics, which can not only help the planet and the greater good, but also help investors achieve their financial goals. 
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Does ESG hurt returns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some investors may be concerned about whether ESG metrics hurt returns amid heightened market volatility, but the data doesn\u2019t justify those fears. According to RIA, the MSCI Canada ESG Leaders Index has outperformed the MSCI Canada Index over the long term. 
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We believe this is because ESG, which is a lens under which all companies can be viewed, enhances the investment process by providing an additional filter to screen out bad actors, assess risks and identify opportunities. ESG integration does not need to be considered an investment style in and of itself. 
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Investors increasingly recognize that governments and regulators will continue to impose stricter rules, particularly around harmonizing climate-related disclosures. As those regulations come into focus, companies that haven\u2019t taken issues like climate change seriously risk exposing themselves to stiff penalties and potential lawsuits that can cut into their bottom line. 
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Companies take note: ESG continues growth in Canada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Canadian companies are taking this seriously. According to a 2021 report by Montreal-based ESG consulting firm Millani<\/a>, more than 70% of companies on the S&P\/TSX Composite Index now have dedicated ESG reporting, up from 36% in 2016 \u2013 including some energy companies. 
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The increased interest shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise. According to an Ipsos<\/a> survey conducted between August 27 and 30, 2021, two-thirds of Canadians consider ESG factors important when deciding on investments\u00b3. The desire for RI is even more pronounced among up-and-coming investors, with 71% of people aged 18 to 34 taking ESG factors into account. 
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If companies are going to succeed \u2013 both from a revenue and share price increase perspective \u2013 they will likely need to prove to their customers that they care about ESG issues. 
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More education and discussion needed
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If these misconceptions are going to change, more education is needed. A study by the Ontario Securities Commission<\/a> found that a third of investors say access to ESG information helps them make better investment decisions. Many investors are still unfamiliar with ESG, so advisors who can educate have an opportunity to improve their value to their clients.
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Perhaps a good place to start is to underscore that there is more to ESG than climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As values shift around environmental and social issues, it will open new industries like electric vehicles, new markets such as carbon credits and create opportunities for overdue themes to thrive, such as welcoming more women into leadership roles.
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For advisors who want to continue to deliver value to their clients, it is important to think beyond the \u201cE.\u201d As BGC notes, the innovations and investments being made by companies looking to improve in all three ESG categories could inject trillions into the global economy by 2050. By applying an ESG lens, investors will be in a better position to identify these companies and participate in potential investment returns. 
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It\u2019s time for the investment industry to look at the wider implications and potential of ESG to identify opportunities for how it can help manage risk. Not every investor will share the same values, so it\u2019s up to the advisor to bring up ESG with their clients and determine where they are on the ESG spectrum. As an advisor, you don\u2019t have to pick sides, you just need to focus on the big picture.
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Notes:
<\/strong>[1] As of December 21, 2019
[2] As of September 2021
[3] As of November 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Contributor Disclaimer<\/strong><\/em>
The viewpoints expressed by the Author represent their assessment at the time of publication. Those views are subject to change without notice at any time without any kind of notice. The information provided herein does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy, or an offer to sell securities nor should the information be relied upon as investment advice. This communication is intended for informational purposes only.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name under which BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. operate.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ae\/\u2122Registered trademarks\/trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RIA Disclaimer<\/em>
<\/strong>The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). The RIA does not endorse, recommend, or guarantee any of the claims made by the authors. This article is intended as general information and not investment advice. We recommend consulting with a qualified advisor or investment professional prior to making any investment or investment-related decision.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the past decade, interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) has soared \u2013 with responsible investments (RI) accounting for more than 62% of all professionally-managed assets in Canada, according to the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) of Canada\u00b9. Yet, many advisors are hesitant to bring up ESG with their clients. 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