The U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled its much-anticipated final ESG rule that it says will allow “plan fiduciaries to consider climate change and other environmental, social and governance factors when they select retirement investments and exercise shareholder rights, such as proxy voting.”  The operative word for plan fiduciaries is MAY, not must consider ESG factors—a concern that had arisen in the wake of the proposed regulation previously issued.

Episode Resources

Fiduciaries May, But Not Must Consider ESG: DOL: https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/breaking-news-fiduciaries-may-not-must-consider-esg-dol

Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights

It’s Official: Final ESG Reg Published in the Federal Register: https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/it%E2%80%99s-official-final-esg-reg-published-federal-register