Conference Materials
Tangible Take-Aways
A summary of the conference’s topics and ongoing action items.
MRI in an Age of Scarcity
In financial times like these, the instinctual response of foundation trustees and investment committees will be to cut back to the basics, fund existing grantees and hope that the market will return or other sources of funding will emerge before too much damage is inflicted on the organizations and communities we care about. These instincts are, unfortunately, wrong. This article discusses how foundations and donors can use all of the tools in their philanthropic toolbox during these challenging times.
Research and Publications
Fiduciary Duty
Sustainable Investing: The Art of Long-Term Importance, 2008
A redefinition of fiduciary duty for the era of climate change, and a discussion of the role of sustainable investing in meeting the challenge.
Investing in Climate Change 2009: Necessity and opportunity in turbulent times
DB Advisors - Deutsche Bank Group, October 2008
An examination into why climate change is well-suited for public equity markets and particularly private markets such as venture capital, private equity, infrastructure and timberland. The publication also looks at some of the technical aspects of how regulation interacts with the underlying dynamics of technology costs and energy prices. This compendium provides an analytical framework that investors can use to understand the climate change opportunity.
Gathering momentum: Climate-change investing moves into the next phase
HSBC Global Research, September 18, 2008
Climate-related investment potential is broader and deeper than expected even a year ago. The positive scientific, business and policy momentum of 2007, however, is now exposed to the realpolitik of negotiations and macroeconomic shocks. This report examines the drivers of and prospects for the underlying themes of the HSBC Climate Change family of indices.
Philanthropy’s New Passing Gear: Mission-Related Investing, A Policy and Implementation Guide for Foundation Trustees
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, 2008
A comprehensive, practical guide that translates the concepts, ideas and philosophy of Mission-Related Investing (MRI) into useable policies and practices for foundation trustees. The publication includes 12 case studies that reflect the diversity of approaches used by organizations currently practicing MRI and contains tools and templates for creating and executing strategies.
Guide To Climate Change Investment
Holden & Partners, 2007-2008
This guide shows you how to participate in, and benefit from, investment flows into environmental markets. It demonstrates how being part of this market contributes to being part of solution to climate change.
Regulation, Markets, and Investments: The Emergence of Carbon Finance
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 2007
A Pot of Gold for Renewable Energy? Funding Renewable Energy with Carbon Finance
Climate Change & the Financial Sector: An Agenda for Action
Allianz Group and WWF, June 2005
Climates have always been changing. But this time there is one big difference: the changes are principally man-made. The issue has become urgent because the pace of change is accelerating.
This report identifies actions for advisers, clients, co-financiers and policymakers.
News
“Global Green New Deal” - Environmentally-Focused Investment Historic Opportunity for 21st Century Prosperity and Job Generation
United Nations Environment Programme, October 22, 2008
The UNEP explains how mobilizing and re-focusing the global economy towards investments in clean technologies and ‘natural’ infrastructure (such as forests and soils) is the best bet for real growth.
Green Stocks Expected to Rebound in Wake of Financial Crisis
Sustainability Investment News, October 21, 2008
Green stocks have gone down as investors become nervous about our nation’s financial future, but new tax credits and the need to address climate change point to the likelihood of a strong recovery.
Alternative Energy Suddenly Faces Headwinds
New York Times, October 20, 2008
For all the support that the presidential candidates are expressing for renewable energy, alternative energies like wind and solar are facing big new challenges because of the credit freeze and the plunge in oil and natural gas prices.
Sustainable Investment Strategies Earn Respect in Aftermath of the Financial Crisis
Sustainability Investment News, October 17, 2008
Having sounded warnings for years about the causes of the economic crisis, sustainable and responsible investment may be embraced by more mainstream investors.
Capitalism to the Rescue: How Green Was the Valley
New York Times, October 3, 2008
Alpha Green
CFA Magazine, September-October 2008
Can investing based on environmental, social, and governance factors enhance performance? Some investors are betting on it.
Inflating a Green Energy Bubble: How to deal with a sector that has pop - and could go pop, too
U.S.News & World Report, August 4-11, 2008
Five articles outlining the following topics, (1) using discretion and caution when investing in green technology in order to prevent the “pop effect,” (2) three leaders in alternative energy discussing their predictions on the future of alternative energy in America, (3) the benefits of investing in climate change, (4) how alternative energy sources are diversifying, and (5) venture capitalists use of the “other solar” power as well as the clean power of algae and ocean waves.
Carbon finance comes of age
Fortune, April 17, 2008
The cap-and-trade market for emissions - coming soon to America - is creating huge new opportunities for business.
An Interview with Al Gore and David Blood: Investing in Sustainability
The McKinsey Quarterly, May 2007
The former US vice president and his partner in an investment-management firm argue that sustainability investing is essential to creating long-term shareholder value.
Video
Heat: A global investigation into one of the greatest crises that mankind has ever faced
Frontline, October 21, 2008
Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, fires, floods and droughts. On the eve of a historic election, award-winning producer and correspondent Martin Smith investigates how the world’s largest corporations and governments are responding to Earth’s looming environmental disaster.
Philanthropy’s Role in the Climate Crisis: Transforming Interest into Impact
In April 2008, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors hosted a symposium for philanthropists and foundation executives who were actively funding climate change initiatives, as well as those interested in entering this area. The event focused on a broad range of strategies aimed at maximizing impact and addressing the environmental and social challenges that donors and their constituents face. Below you can watch the event’s opening and closing keynote speeches.
Seizing the Moment: It’s Urgent, It’s Necessary and It’s Possible: The New Science and Politics of Climate Change
James Hansen, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
iTunes/iPod version (133.2 MB)
Terry Tamminen, Seventh Generation Advisors, New American Founfation
iTunes/iPod version (120.8 MB)
Where do we go from here?
Jessy Tolkan, Energy Action Coalition
iTunes/iPod version (92.4 MB)
Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco
iTunes/iPod version (208.7 MB)
If you would like to include an article on this page, please contact 212.812.4201.
Having problems viewing our videos?
The New New Economy:
Investing With a Climate Change Lens During Challenging Times
November 20, 2008
The Graduate Center
The City University of New York
New York, NY
Click here to register
By invitation only.
RPA and Godeke Consulting Announce Alliance
Solutions for Impact Investors: From Strategy to Implementation
2007-2008 Giving Report
RPA in the news
- Morgan Stanley’s Mack, Clooney Help Charities Beat Recession
- Is now a good time to start a private foundation?
- With less money to dole out, foundations become more targeted in their giving