The EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan is arguably the most comprehensive and detailed set of regulations affecting the field of ESG investing. To comply with the various regulatory deadlines, investors not only need a comprehensive suite of high-quality ESG research and data products and services, but also a trusted partner. Our knowledgeable team can show you how our robust data coverage and award-winning research can help.
Contact us today to begin your EU Action Plan compliance journey.
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Our Solutions
Sustainalytics and Morningstar are helping investors at every step of their compliance journey. We are continuously enhancing our solutions as regulatory requirements are finalized, providing clients with a full solution at both the company and portfolio level well ahead of regulatory deadlines.
EU Taxonomy Solution
Regulation
The Taxonomy is a classification framework designed to determine whether an economic activity is environmentally sustainable. There are three main criteria that activities will be screened on to determine alignment with Taxonomy objectives:
1. Substantial Contribution
2. Do No Significant Harm
3. Minimum Safeguards
Solution
Our solution enables you to incorporate EU Taxonomy criteria in your investment decisions and report on your progress toward addressing climate change. Ultimately covering approximately 10,500 companies this year, it is underpinned by comprehensive estimation and proxy approaches to supplement reported data, providing investors with a more holistic picture of their portfolios’ alignment.
Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation
Regulation
The EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) introduces new rules for how investment managers need to incorporate and disclose sustainability risks and factors with an emphasis on the so-called “Principal Adverse Impact” (PAI) indicators.
Solution
To fully comply with all of the SFDR requirements will require a comprehensive set of ESG research solutions that enable investors to identify and manage both ESG risks and potential adverse sustainability impacts. Sustainalytics’ client advisory teams can advise you on finding a suitable mix of research solutions to meet your organization’s needs.
New SFDR Research Solutions
The following company and fund level data solutions were created specifically to support SFDR compliance requirements:
Company-level Data
Sustainalytics’ PAI Data Solution is an ESG dataset with rich corporate- and sovereign-level research that can help investors to identify and understand the adverse sustainability impacts of their investments to fulfill the SFDR disclosure requirements. The PAI Data Solution complements and builds on Sustainalytics’ established, high-quality ESG research that already aligns very well to the remainder of the SFDR requirements.
Fund-level Data
Morningstar will collect and disseminate EU ESG Fund Type information, i.e., Article 8 & 9 flags, as well as key data points from updated SFDR-compliant prospectuses. In addition, its market leading “Full Holdings” database will enable users of third-party funds, like advisors and fund-of-funds, to access underlying securities’ PAI assessments, looking through funds to their underlying exposures. This is a huge benefit for these users as the regulation requires entity level disclosures to be calculated using security level data.
EU Benchmarks Regulation
Regulation
The EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan includes two amendments to regulation affecting sustainability benchmarks:
1. Climate Benchmarks: The regulation defines new minimum standards for two types of carbon benchmarks: the EU Climate Transition Benchmarks (EU CTB) and the EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks (EU PAB).
2. Disclosure Requirements: Sustainalytics offers three data packages for corporate, sovereign and climate benchmarks, consisting of around130 data points from 12 of our research products.
Coverage
Sustainalytics’ dataset covers approximately 12,500 companies and 172 countries.
Solution
Our dataset and reports can support investors in meeting the regulatory requirements of the EU Climate Transition Benchmarks, EU Paris-Aligned Benchmarks and sustainability-related disclosure requirements for benchmarks with ESG factors.
Sustainalytics can help index providers and benchmark administrators meet mandatory reporting and disclosure obligations while enabling them to screen companies on their eligibility for inclusion in EU Climate Benchmarks. In addition, Morningstar provides ESG Indexes for comparison purposes and benchmarking, as well as the reporting capabilities necessary to generate fund level reports.
Key Features And Benefits
High-Quality ESG Research Solutions
Our established, award-winning ESG research aligns well to regulatory criteria, creating a solid foundation to working towards full coverage
Trusted Partner
Built on 25+ years of ESG expertise, Sustainalytics’ client advisory team have unparalleled expertise in guiding clients to find ESG solutions tailored to their organization’s needs.
A coherent and consistent approach to ESG
Together with Morningstar, we can provide end-to-end solutions from raw data to managed portfolio and reporting solutions at company and fund level to suit your intended use case.
Strong commitment demonstrated by robust investment in capacity
With over 300 ESG analysts, Sustainalytics has one of the largest research teams in the industry. We have significantly expanded our capacity with more than 30 new analysts to focus on supplementing our established research by focusing on new research areas directly rated to the EU Action Plan.
Combined Regulatory and Product Knowledge
Sustainalytics is collaborating closely with Morningstar’s regulatory and product experts to bring a comprehensive solution to market.
Why Sustainalytics?
A Single Market Standard
Consistent approach to ESG assessments across the investment spectrum.
Award-Winning Research and Data
Firm recognized as Best ESG Research and Data Provider by Environmental Finance and Investment Week.
End-to-End ESG Solutions
ESG products and services that serve the entire investment value chain.
25+ Years ESG Expertise
350+ ESG research analysts across our global offices.
Largest Second-Party Opinion Provider
As recognized by Environmental Finance and the Climate Bonds Initiative.
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The ethical implications of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), often referred to by their dramatic moniker ‘killer robots’, have long been a topic of interest. Until recently, debates about LAWS were relegated as hypothetical, with the technology assumed to be under development and out of reach. Such assumptions may be due for reevaluation, and while a firm conclusion is yet to be drawn, it is worthwhile presenting them to the ESG investment community.
ESG Investors Consider Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 in the Construction Industry
The construction industry can have a reputation for workforce insensitivity and is highly vulnerable to economic and social variabilities. The ESG Impacts of COVID-19 drive companies to adapt to significant challenges related to the demand for construction services. This construction sector research snapshot highlights relevant social issues that corporations face due to ripple effects from the pandemic using Sustainalytics’ ESG Risk Ratings and Controversies Research.
Delays, Questions and Confusion: Updates on the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation
In this blog, we look at the delay of the level 2 regulation, some aspects of the Q&A, and the ongoing confusion and divergence around SFDR. We pay special attention to the potential impact of the Principle Adverse Impact indicators, an element of SFDR.
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EU Taxonomy Developments and the EU’s Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy
On July 6th, the European Commission published its Strategy for Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Economy, the successor of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Action Plan, which launched in 2018. The strategy focuses on transforming the financial system and financing transition plans, building on the 2018 Action Plan, which centered on developing the EU Taxonomy, putting in place disclosure regimes, and developing tools for the market to develop sustainable investment solutions and prevent greenwashing.