Perspectives

What was accomplished in Glasgow, and what does it mean for governments, companies and investors? MSCI's Head of Climate Risk Research, Oliver Marchand, evaluates what happened and what may come next.

What’s it really like to attend the UN’s 26th annual climate change conference? How have the committments and pledges played out on the ground? Linda-Eling Lee, MSCI’s Head of ESG Research fills us in during her week in Glasgow, and we sit down with MSCI's ESG Research Editorial Director, Meggin Thwing Eastman, for additional insights and context.

As all eyes turn to Glasgow, we ask High Level Climate Champion for COP, Gonzalo Munoz, what we might see.

What does Chris Ailman, Chief Investment Officer for CalSTRS, the second largest public pension fund in the U.S., think about divestment vs. engagement and the investment risks vs. opportunities when it comes to climate change? Listen to a candid conversation with Chris and MSCI’s CEO, Henry Fernandez.

In the wake of the volatility seen over the last few days of the third quarter of 2021, we check back in with Hitendra Varsani about what happened, what may have been behind it and what MSCI’s multi-factor model showed as of Sept. 30, 2021.

Concerns over corporate leverage in China, and nervousness about inflation and the direction of interest rates were just a few of the reasons behind the shift toward defensive factors in the third quarter. We analyze performance from three continents, with MSCI’s Hitendra Varsani, Mark Carver and Shuo Xu.

Private assets are not immune to climate-change considerations. Accounting for climate-change risks and opportunities is becoming increasingly important in private equity and debt portfolios.

Some feel the growth of ETFs that combine factors and ESG it’s a natural partnership, an inevitable evolution, while others have questions about the explanatory power of ESG and the effects of integrating it into portfolios. We explore the topic with MSCI’s Raina Oberoi and Anthony Kruger of iShares.

Despite progress, the investment industry can still seem like a club where you can’t even peek through the window without knowing the secret handshake. That’s why role models and mentors are essential, especially for historically underrepresented groups to succeed.

As regulations increase, along with a growing awareness of the potential impact of climate risks, we get real, with practical approaches for insurance companies and other institutional investors to evaluate the effects of climate change on portfolio management in a carbon-conscious world.