ISS ESG, the sustainable investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), has released an in-depth, regionally focused report on ESG opportunities and risks for investors. The report looks to complement the firms’ ‘Actionable Insights: Top ESG Themes in 2023 – Global Edition’ report, drawing on ISS ESG data, with research and insights from ISS ESG’s financial research and sector leads, climate specialists, and regulatory experts to help investors identify key regional ESG risks and opportunities likely to impact their portfolios in 2023. Key regional trends highlighted include climate change, accurate disclosure of ESG-related assets and activities, the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and protecting human rights. The report said the US is pursuing climate mitigation measures through the Inflation Reduction Act, while its Federal Reserve Board is encouraging major banks to apply climate scenario analyses to their portfolios. In EMEA, the EU is requiring banks to disclose the share of their assets that are environmentally sustainable, a measure known as the “Green Asset Ratio”. It also found that there have been increased natural gas prices across Japan, South Korea, and Singapore as they opt to diversify and prioritise their energy transition strategies towards alternative sources. Japan is also focused on addressing risks related to modern slavery, including among migrant workers.
