Cluster Munitions Divestment and ESG Implications

Michael Jantzi, CEO of Jantzi-Sustainalytics invites you to an important discussion on cluster munitions divestment. As sustainability issues gain greater public awareness, consumers and investors are holding corporations and financial institutions to a higher ethical standard. The responsible investment community is also starting to turn away from investing in harmful products such as these types of indiscriminate munitions. We are pleased to host this closed-door dialogue between asset owners, bankers, the NGO community, and ESG analysts, to help you understand the risk from an environmental, social and governance (ESG) perspective. 

The impetus for this timely discussion is the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty signed by
more than 100 countries which bans the use, stockpiling and transfer of these weapons. The treaty also prohibits
signatories from assisting anyone in any activity banned under the Convention, including the production of cluster
bombs and their components. Recently, the governments of Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New
Zealand and the United Kingdom have all banned or limited their investments in companies that produce cluster
munitions. The Norway Pension Fund and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, along with other national pension
funds, have divested from companies involved in cluster bomb production.
 
 
 
In Canada, the Canada Pension Plan
Investment Board has divested and the federal government is in the process of drafting legislation.
 
 
The Convention's assistance prohibition incorporates investment in companies that produce cluster munitions and

 

the February 4th panel will discuss the implications for you as a responsible investor.
 
 
Panellists will include:
  • Brigid Barnett, Manager Responsible Investing,
    Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
  • Roos Boer, Policy Advisor, IKV Pax Christi
  • Kevin Nye, Senior Vice President of Risk Policy and
    Portfolio Management, Royal Bank of Canada
  • Diederik Timmer, Head of Global Client Services, Sustainalytics
With closing remarks from Paul Hannon, Executive Director, Mines Action Canada and moderated by
Michael Jantzi, CEO, Jantzi-Sustainalytics.  

 

DATE:          Thursday, February 4, 2010
 
AGENDA:  
                      4:00 PM Panel Presentation and Discussion
                      5:00 PM Q/A 
                      5:30 PM Cocktail Reception
 
LOCATION: Ketchum Room, Board of Trade, First Canadian Place, Toronto, Ontario
RSVP:         contact@sustainalytics.com