What a difference a few months and a new administration make!  Early in the Biden administration, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), the main regulator of securities market participants, set out to re-evaluate its regulation of corporate climate change disclosure. This welcome re-examination comes as governments globally are rolling out their own climate change disclosure frameworks, such as the European Union’s suite of regulations including the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, Non-Financial Reporting Directive, and Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities. In March, the SEC asked for input on a wide variety of climate change disclosure questions, as well as the broader framework of …

Known as Black Wall Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District was a hub of Black business and culture before it was devastated by racial violence. Few, especially white Americans, understand the significance of this event or location because knowledge about it was actively obscured, not taught in schools, nor discussed in popular culture. However, we at Trillium Asset Management believe that on this 100th anniversary we need to actively remember it and understand its role in shaping American economic and racial history. The Greenwood District was an intentionally formed community in Tulsa, Oklahoma. O.W. Gurley, a wealthy Black entrepreneur, moved to …

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2005, and the years of 2014-2020 have been the top seven hottest.  Storms, floods, fires, and droughts are on the rise, as weather patterns become unpredictable.   Globally, this reality is now accepted as fact, not hypothesis, and even the U.S. has once again joined the international community to work together to slow and eventually halt emissions causing this crisis.  It is exciting to be part of this work, on a national basis, again!   While public policy is an important framework for …

Read more here: https://ctwinvestmentgroup.com/critical-tool-for-shareholders …

Today 50 investors representing $105 billion released a letter calling for the U.S. EPA and Congress to permanently protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay, and the world’s largest wild salmon fishery, against large-scale mining. While recognizing the importance of natural resource development to support economic growth, the signatories expressed deep concern over the long-term negative social and environmental impacts of the proposed Pebble Mine, a massive open-pit gold and copper project in the Bristol Bay headwaters proposed by Canadian junior mining company Northern Dynasty (NYSE: NAK). “Pollution from mineral extraction generates very real, but currently unpriced, economic, social, and environmental externalities,” said Jonas Kron, …

Dear U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and Members of Congress, In November 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) rejected the proposed Pebble Mine permit application after determining that its development would “cause unavoidable adverse impacts” to aquatic resources and would result in “significant degradation” to aquatic resources.  The Corps concluded that the mine as proposed “cannot be permitted under section 404 of the Clean Water Act,” and it would be “contrary to the public interest.” Now that the Corps has rejected the proposed Pebble Mine, Bristol Bay Native Tribes, commercial fishermen, business leaders, conservation organizations, and others are …

In the Fall of 2020, following a Bankrate survey which found that Blacks and Hispanics reported facing higher monthly fees, including overdraft fees, than white customers typically do, Trillium filed a shareholder proposal asking KeyCorp to look at its overdraft program with a racial justice lens. We were concerned because in 2019, KeyBank collected over $148 million in overdraft and insufficient funds fees – representing over 7% of its non-interest income and 44% of its service charge income – and we could see the potential for some disproportionate impacts on communities of color. While the company had racial justice programs …

By Susan Baker, Elizabeth Saunders, Mike Schade, and Kayla Williams Last month, TJX—the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Home Goods, and Sierra Trading Post— announced on its website it is developing an expanded “Chemical Management” strategy. The new program, which follows more than three years of advocacy by the Mind the Store campaign, Clean Water Action, Trillium Asset Management, First Affirmative Financial Network, and the Investor Environmental Health Network, takes an important step forward towards protecting customers, workers, and the environment from toxic chemical exposure, and paves the way for future action. Highlights of TJX’s new chemical management strategy …

On Thursday, February 4th we hosted our 2021 Market and Advocacy Outlook webinar. The discussion included: Resilience Wanted – how do we ‘build back better’ as economic activity resumes? Equity Market Outlook – shifting from expectations to earnings Asset Allocation – how does the lower interest rate environment impact the balanced portfolio approach? Advocacy and Public Policy – an update on the shareholder engagement landscape and our priorities for 2021 Speakers: Cheryl Smith, PhD, CFA, Economist, Portfolio Manager Jonas Kron, Esq., Chief Advocacy Officer Lisa Hayles, Investment Manager, Moderator Will Lana, CFA, Investment Manager Listen to the webinar replay here.  This recording does not include the complete Q&A section from the …