A labor dispute in the freight rail industry that brought the US to the brink of a potential economic catastrophe was averted this week, as unions and rail companies came to an agreement. One of the main reasons for the labor dispute was a newish system the rail industry was using that they claim maintained service while using fewer resources. We discussed why this new system is a paradigm for the current troubles many industries are having due to labor disputes, and what to watch when companies and labor have strife. Then, we discuss how institutional asset owners, some of the largest, most influential participants in the financial market, can take their portfolios toward net zero (this has more to do with you than you think).

The reading list for this episode is the Implementing Net-Zero: A Guide for Asset Owners found on MSCI.com: https://www.msci.com/www/research-report/implementing-net-zero-a-guide/03298099988

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guests: Bentley Kaplan and Sylvain Vanston, MSCI ESG Research

Not many industries are as important as the automobile industry is to developed economies (some say it is the most important). At the moment, it is going through a deep structural change as it shifts toward electric vehicles and the industry works to lower its emissions. In this episode, we discuss what the biggest changes the auto industry has made so far in 2022 and where it may to go.

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Yu Ishihara, MSCI ESG Research

Water levels in key rivers are at historic lows which is creating havoc for our global economies. We use our climate risk models to assess which companies are most at risk and understand what the continued drought means for the smooth running of our economy and our society. Then, we assess the ESG components of the recently passed Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America act.

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guests: Gillian Mollod & Siyu Liu, MSCI ESG Research

Mining for Lithium usually calls for large quantities of water or fossil fuel. But an intriguing venture in the Rhine Valley is looking to flip that idea on its head. And for the UK, an ambitious green building standard will see new homes a lot leaner, but a lot more comfortable too. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research
Guests: Kuldeep Yadav & Mark Bessoudo, MSCI ESG Research

A massive provision called the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in the US Senate on August 7 and is making its way to US President Biden. If signed into law, it hails as one of the largest climates, health care and tax bills ever passed in the US. We discussed some of the most impactful provisions in the climate and energy security provision of act through an ESG lens. We will discuss the changes to the tax code and healthcare in later episodes. 

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Mathew Lee, MSCI ESG Research

The S of ESG has become more useful in understanding company performance in down times. When things are bad, companies that take care of their workers, for example, often perform better than their counterparts. We discuss why this might be by looking at growing job vacancies in some parts of the US economy. Then, we discuss what could happen to the food system if the rare “triple-dip” La Nina, an atmospheric and oceanic phenomenon, happens this winter.

Host: Mike Disabato; MSCI ESG Research
Guests: Liz Houston, Umar Ashfaq, Cole Martin; MSCI ESG Research 

The G of ESG has always been the more accepted of the three in more traditional investment circles. Ric Marshall of MSCI ESG Research is one of the reasons for that. He is one of the pioneers of corporate governance analysis and is retiring this month. Ric is our special guest this episode. He takes us through the origins of his corporate governance research (surprise! it involves a co-op) and where he thinks corporate governance analysis will go next.

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Ric Marshall, MSCI ESG Research 

By May 2022, a giddy 46% of MSCI ACWI constituents had controlling owners. We look at what this concentrated ownership means for minority shareholders. Then we look back at Shinzo Abe’s legacy as a reformer of Japan’s corporate governance practices. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan; MSCI ESG Research
Guests: Ric Marshall, Jonathan Ponder, and Moeko Porter; MSCI ESG Research

The US Customs and Border Protection agency released operational guidance for importing companies on how to comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which was signed into law on December 23, 2021. The big ask for companies was for more supply chain transparency. We discussed what UFLPA means for the world’s economy and why supply chain transparency is still so difficult. Then we discussed the most recent ruling US Supreme Court ruling that limited the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Host: Mike Disabato; MSCI ESG Research
Guests: Miranda Carr, Liz Houston, and Mathew Lee; MSCI ESG Research

As biodiversity loss accelerates, companies and investors are under increasing pressure to act. But turning data into decisions is trickier than it seems. And after a bumpy ride for the EV start-up, ELMS files for bankruptcy and rings a cautionary governance bell. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research
Guests: Gillian Mollod and Yu Ishihara, MSCI ESG Research