中國石化新聞網訊 據今日油價12月16日報導，大約一年前，全球最大的資產管理公司貝萊德宣布，打算在十年內將其環境、社會和治理(ESG)投資從900億美元增加十倍以上，至1萬億美元。考慮到這家投資公司過去在氣候行動方面的好壞不一的記錄，很少有人認真對待。
為了避免像往常一樣被投資者認為是在虛張聲勢，該公司最近發布了一份令人詫異的消息稱，將放棄支持公司董事會的傳統做法，轉而支持股東決議。
值得一提的是，貝萊德管理著7萬億美元的全球基金，是全球最大的資產管理公司。
埃克森美孚對此進行了猛烈的抨擊。巧合的是，四年前，當氣候壓力比現在要小得多的時候，英國央行(Bank of England)前行長馬克·卡尼(Mark Carney)承認，如果要實現既定的氣候目標，全球至少需要7萬億美元的資金來完成全球碳減排承諾。
越來越多的證據表明全球氣候發展形勢令人不安，貝萊德一直在對計劃照常開展業務的石油和天然氣公司施加壓力。
在過去的一周裡，美國石油巨頭埃克森美孚公司(NYSE:XOM)受到了憤怒的激進投資者以及美國最大的養老基金之一的加州教師退休基金CalSTRS抨擊。紐約州2260億美元的養老基金最近宣布，計劃在未來幾年撤出石油和天然氣類股票。
埃克森美孚因其在降低碳排放和溫室氣體排放方面不夠誠心的承諾而受到抨擊。就在幾天前，越來越多的美國石油和天然氣生產商承諾削減溫室氣體排放，埃克森美孚也加入了這一行列。不幸的是，活動人士和分析人士大多抨擊埃克森美孚的聲明「沒有給人留下深刻印象」、「不夠充分」。
Raymond James能源分析師Pavel Molchanov表示:「在九年內將溫室氣體排放強度減少15%-20%並不是一個遠大的目標，這基本上可以說是一切照舊。」
Ceres是一家與投資者在氣候變化問題上合作的可持續性非營利組織，其石油和天然氣主管安德魯·洛根(Andrew Logan)表示：「埃克森美孚的聲明真正缺乏的是，沒有資本支出、戰略或投資。這完全是在邊緣修修補補。」
上周，Ceres宣布了一個由投資者組成的財團，該財團管理著9萬億美元的資產，已承諾進行投資，以實現淨零碳排放的目標。
事實上，不可否認的是，ESG投資正迅速獲得支持，投資者被要求積極做出對環境和社會負責的選擇。在過去5年裡，ESG投資已成為全球最大的趨勢，即使是大型銀行也敏銳地感受到了這種壓力。
目前，可持續投資資產總計17.1萬億美元，比2018年增長了42%。普華永道稱，在一年之內，77%的機構投資者將完全停止購買在某種程度上不可持續的產品。
貝萊德表示，其客戶的ESG資產將在短短5年內翻一番。基金經理們表示，氣候變化是他們最關心的問題，也是決定他們將資金投向何處的「首要標準」。
從電動汽車和可再生能源股票到氫股票，甚至石墨烯股票，ESG投資趨勢真正迎來了它的「春天」。就貝萊德而言，該公司表現出色，目前管理著逾7萬億美元資產，今年迄今，其股價累計上漲近40%。
這與道德或倫理無關，這關乎自由市場。可持續方向的股票表現優於其他所有股票，因為它們是新的「安全港」，既能賺錢，又能消除日益迫近的氣候變化的風險。
王佳晶 摘譯自 今日油價
原文如下：
Big Oil Slammed With A $7 Trillion Reality Check
About a year ago, the world's largest asset manager BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK) declared its intention to increase its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investments more than tenfold from $90 billion to a trillion dollars in the space of a decade. Few took the investment firm seriously, given its spotty track record on climate action in the past.
But just in case investors thought BlackRock was bluffing as usual, the company recently issued a chilling update on its approach to engaging with companies, essentially saying it will abandon its traditional modus operandi of siding with boards of directors at companies but will instead start favoring shareholder resolutions.
Blackrock manages $7 trillion in global funds, making it the world's largest asset manager.
Exxon Slammed
Coincidentally, four years ago, when the climate pressure was a lot less, former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney admitted that the world would need at least $7 trillion to fund global carbon reduction commitments if we are to meet our climate goals.
And BlackRock has been looming large over oil and gas companies planning to go on with business as usual despite the mounting evidence of a disturbing global climate.
In the past week, U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM) was targeted by angry activist investors as well as CalSTRS (California State Teachers' Retirement System), one of the country's s largest pension funds.
But it did not stop there.
New York State's $226 billion pension fund recently announced plans to divest from oil and gas stocks in the coming years.
Exxon has been slammed for its half-hearted commitment to lowering its carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Just days ago, Exxon joined the rapidly growing number of U.S. oil and gas producers that have promised to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, activists and analysts have mostly lambasted Exxon's announcement as "underwhelming," "inadequate" and "baby steps."
"A 15%-20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity over nine years is not an ambitious target - it's essentially business as usual," said Raymond James energy analyst Pavel Molchanov.
"What's really lacking from [Exxon's] announcement is there's nothing about capex or strategy or investment. It's all sort of tinkering around the edges," said Andrew Logan, director of oil and gas at Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit that works with investors on climate change.
Meanwhile, Engine No. 1, one of the shareholder groups engaged in an activist campaign to shake up the company, has concurred saying, "...while reducing emissions intensity is important, nothing in Exxon Mobil's stated plans better positions it for long-term success in a world seeking to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions."
Last week, Ceres announced a consortium of investors managing $9 trillion in assets that has fully committed to investing along with net-zero carbon goals.
ESG Momentum
Indeed, there's no denying that ESG investments are rapidly gaining momentum with investors actively demanding environmentally and socially responsible choices.
Indeed, over the past half-decade, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing has emerged as the single biggest global megatrend. Even the Big Banks are feeling the ethical squeeze keenly.
ESG inflows have been killing it this year, hastened exponentially by the COVID-19 pandemic, and showing no sign of backing off even once we have a vaccine. Life will not return to normal in the world of finance, and this is shaping up to be the biggest transfer of wealth we've ever seen.
Sustainable investing assets now total $17.1 trillion. That's up 42% just from 2018.
Within a year, 77% of institutional investors will completely stop buying products that aren't in some way sustainable, according to PwC.
Blackrock itself says its clients will double their ESG assets in just five years.
In fact, money managers say climate change is their No. 1 concern and the "leading criteria" determining where they put their money to work.
From EVs and renewable energy stocks to hydrogen stocks and even graphene stocks, the ESG trend is truly having its moment in the sun.
On its part, BlackRock has been outstanding, with the firm now managing more than $7 trillion while the stock has gained nearly 40% YTD.
And this isn't about morals or ethics. It's about the free market. Sustainable stocks are outperforming everything else because they are the new safe haven--one that makes money while de-risking from the looming climate threat.