ESG & Sustainability

Biodiversity is vital for our planet and society. With the emergence of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, investors are gaining a better understanding of biodiversity-linked risks and opportunities in their portfolios. This paper begins by exploring the current metrics available for assessing the biodiversity footprints of companies. It then describes the ISS STOXX framework for building biodiversity indices, based on three fundamental steps: “Avoid,” “Minimize,” and “Enable.”

The international body’s framework is a step forward in the adoption of nature-focused metrics. It can help companies address biodiversity issues and guide investors in the construction of portfolios. We compare the TNFD’s recommended process to that of the ISS STOXX® Biodiversity indices.

Stocks fell by the most in one year in September amid expectations that interest rates in the US may stay higher for longer than previously expected.

In its 25th anniversary, the EURO STOXX 50’s ecosystem continues to grow with a new fund that comes amid sustained demand for responsible investing strategies.

Changes were announced as part of the September regular review of the DAX 50 ESG, DAX 50 ESG+, DAX ESG Target, DAX ESG Screened, MDAX ESG+, MDAX ESG Screened and DAX indices.

ISS ESG takes stock of progress this year in new rules on corporate sustainability disclosure, with Europe at the center of action. The data, analytics and solutions provider concludes that regulation change is accelerating, raising reporting requirements for companies and investors alike.

Stocks fell in August amid softening economic data in Europe and China, and expectations that US interest rates may stay high for a long period.

Antonio Celeste, Director for Sustainability Product Management at STOXX spoke to Climate Action about how investors should urgently mitigate against biodiversity loss.

As the sustainability landscape continues to grow and change, there is a pressing need for evolving data that helps investors to better understand the sustainability outcomes associated with their investments. The SDI AOP has set out to address this, with continuously growing datasets updated quarterly, to assess companies’ contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. James Leaton, Research Director of the SDI AOP, discusses the latest platform developments led by its asset-owner led community.

In this video, Saumya Mehrotra, Associate Principal of Index Product Management, shares her thoughts on the following: The evolution of climate-focused investing in the indexing space; How STOXX works with stakeholders including regulators to achieve robust climate solutions; STOXX’s industry-first corporate stewardship initiative

The SDGs are way behind schedule, but a September summit offers new hope for public-private sector alignment and progress. “The Summit is an opportunity for a reality check for all actors in the equation – governments, financial institutions, corporations, non-profits, academia, and consumers,” says Saumya Mehrotra, Associate Principal of Sustainability Product Management at Qontigo, a provider of risk, analytics and index solutions.

Net flows into passively managed environmental, social and governance ETFs globally slowed in the first half of 2023 but still grew at a faster pace than passive non-ESG ETFs, according to a report by STOXX, a global index provider.