This week in responsible investing, Unlocking America’s Future released ads in Pennsylvania and Arizona calling on Americans to tell Congress to support the new SEC disclosure rule, and is actively pushing back on efforts to attack responsible investing in South Carolina. Meanwhile, a Houston Chronicle columnist laid bare how Texas politicians’ are putting the concerns of the oil and gas industry over the state’s future. Read more below:
UAF released ads in South Carolina to counter extreme politicians’ attacks on responsible investing.
From UAF’s release: “These bills are part of a broader, coordinated attack against responsible investing, backed by greedy billionaires aimed at benefiting the special interest groups from the oil and gas industry,” said Kyle Herrig, spokesperson for Unlocking America’s Future. “Research continues to show that responsible investments have comparable, if not better, financial returns to traditional funds with less downside risk, and these bills threaten the financial security of South Carolinians by restricting the investment practice.”
UAF released ads in Montana, Arizona, and Pennsylvania calling on people in the state to urge their representatives to support the new SEC rule.
From ESG Dive’s coverage of the new ads: “To counter that threat, pro-ESG 501(c)4 Unlocking America’s Future began running advertisements in Arizona, Montana, Pennsylvania on Tuesday as part of a six-figure advertising campaign to protect the rule. The organization said it will run the ads — which asks viewers to urge their Congressional representatives to uphold the rule — in the three battleground states and Washington D.C. until there is no longer a CRA threat to the rule.”
From local NBC affiliate KULR in eastern Montana: “The ads urge voters to tell Congress not to block a rule which would require publicly traded companies to release how much greenhouse gasses they release and of course, what the risk to the climate potentially could be.”
From UAF’s Arizona release: “The SEC is taking an important step to ensuring companies disclose crucial information about the risks they create for small business owners, farmers, and those saving for retirement.”
From UAF’s Pennsylvania release: “Greedy billionaires and the self-serving politicians in their pockets are already trying to block these new transparency requirements. Americans should demand that Congress side with Pennsylvanians and their families, not wealthy CEOs who prioritize profits over people.”
Investors are filing a record number of climate resolutions, turning up pressure on American companies to increase transparency.
From Reuters: “A record 263 climate-related shareholder resolutions have been filed so far this year for annual meetings of North American companies, a new tally showed on Tuesday, with proponents tailoring their wording to gain support. Officials at sustainability nonprofit Ceres said the trends they found show investors and corporate executives remain interested in countering rising global temperatures despite a drop-off in support for the measures from big asset managers.”
Finally, the Houston Chronicle published a column exposing the Texas oil and gas industry for jeopardizing young people’s futures.
From the column: “The State Board of Education is putting the oil and gas industry ahead of Texas schoolchildren, hobbling the public school trust fund and damaging the climate.
The Republican leader of the State Board of Education made headlines last week when he declared the Permanent School Fund would pull $8.5 billion out of BlackRock, the world’s largest investment firm
The state’s boycotts could cost Texas taxpayers $22 billion in higher interest payments on government bonds alone … Leaders unjustly punished these companies for their public statements, not their actions, since they invest billions in oil and gas.”
Read more:
- ICYMI: Unlocking America’s Future New Six-Figure Ad Campaign to Protect SEC Climate Disclosure Rule Gets Media Traction
- NEW ADS: Unlocking America’s Future Launches Ad Campaign in Arizona to Build Support for the SEC’s New Climate Risk Disclosure Rule
- NEW ADS: Unlocking America’s Future Launches Ad Campaign in Pennsylvania to Build Support for the SEC’s New Climate Risk Disclosure Rule
- Reuters: Investors file record number of climate resolutions for North American companies
- ICYMI: Houston Chronicle Columnist Lays Out How Texas Is Putting Oil, Gas Before Young Peoples’ Futures
- NEW ADS: Unlocking America’s Future Launches Ad Campaign in South Carolina to Counter Legislative Attacks on ESG
