The Secret International Voluntary Sustainable Principles

In what may prove to be a fundamental shift in sustainable resources, a new international coalition is poised to direct trillions of dollars into markets linked to climate change, clean technology and sustainable use of natural resources.

1 minute read

December 1, 2005, 1:00 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The Working Capital Report," to be published for the first time in March 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), is the culmination of a series of studies conducted during 2004 and 2005.

What was once considered a financial niche area is poised to become mainstream as institutions with trillions of dollars under management embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) thinking into their investment approach, UNEP said in a statement released simultaneously today in London, Melbourne, Nairobi, New York, Paris and Tokyo.

...Early this year, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan took an initiative when he convened a group of 20 of the world's largest institutional investors, representing US$1.7 trillion in assets owned, to negotiate a set of Principles for Responsible Investment.

The investors formulated a set of voluntary Principles. They were finalized in London in October 2005 and are currently under embargo. A spring 2006 launch date is planned, say UNEP FI and the UN Global Compact, who cooperated to facilitate the PRI process."

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 in Environmental News Service

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