Policy Hub
Our resources provide practical recommendations and guidance on key responsible investment themes.
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Stay in the know with our weekly guide to responsible investment, featuring our latest research, insights and events
Briefing29 March 2023
Devising a Green Finance Strategy that’s fit for the future
UK financial institutions urgently need to decarbonise their investment portfolios in line with the UK’s own legally binding climate commitment and the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Policy06 March 2023
2022 Responsible Lobbying Report
ShareAction is a signatory to the Responsible Lobbying Framework, which outlines best practice for lobbying activity by civil society organisations and corporates alike. As part of our mission to promote responsible investment, we regularly engage with policymakers at UK and EU level. In keeping with the principles of the Framework, we seek to do this in an open and transparent way. This report outlines our key lobbying activities in the last 12 months, detailing the most significant policy initiatives we have sought to influence to create a responsible investment system.
Consultation Responses03 March 2023
Reply form for the Consultation Paper on Guide-lines for the use of ESG or sustainability-related terms in funds’ names
ShareAction welcomes ESMA’s proposal to introduce quantitative thresholds for ESG and sustainability related fund names. Quantitative thresholds on their own will not guarantee that funds names are an accurate reflection of their investment strategy and holdings, and further action is needed to curb greenwashing in sustainability disclosures. The recommendations made by ShareAction and other civil society organisations in 2022 remain relevant in that regard. However, thresholds in principle are a welcome step to guide fund managers, supervisors and other stakeholders in identifying and preventing greenwashing. We have provided several suggestions, on how to clarify the guidance and make it more meaningful in its application.
Consultation Responses03 March 2023
ShareAction’s response to EIOPA’s consultation on insurers’ capital requirements in light of sustainability risks
We welcomed the opportunity to comment on the approaches presented by EIOPA, the supervisor for insurers and pension funds in the EU, in its December 2022 Discussion paper on the Prudential Treatment of Sustainability Risks, which lays the ground for a potential review of the regulatory treatment (pillar 1 - capital requirements) of insurers’ assets exposed to transition risks, as well as other climate related risks and social risks.
Consultation Responses30 January 2023
Greenwashing practices in the financial sector
ShareAction responded to the European Supervisory Authorities joint Call for Evidence on potential greenwashing practices in the financial sector. We call for further action to curb greenwashing in the financial industry, and provided suggestions on how to do so.
Consultation Responses27 January 2023
Financial Conduct Authority consultation response - new labels for sustainable investment products
ShareAction responded to the FCA’s consultation on new labels for sustainable investment products. While we were broadly supportive, we made several recommendations geared towards tackling greenwashing and boosting consumer confidence.
Joint Statement09 March 2023
Avoiding a missed opportunity: civil society will only support ambitious ESRS
We are urging the European Commission to follow EFRAG's technical advice alongside 60+companies and investors worth 651bn USD. We also caution against making significant changes at this stage, as this would risk discrediting the process and undoing a good compromise. Worse still, it would result in a missed opportunity for sustainability goals and undermine the development of the EU regulatory framework for sustainable finance.
Consultation Responses19 December 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill 2023
The Financial Services and Markets (FSM) Bill proposes a significant restructure of financial regulation following Brexit. The government has described it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reshape financial regulation. But the Bill makes no provision for sustainable finance, threatening both economic stability and the Prime Minister’s commitment to make the City of London a ‘net zero-aligned financial centre’. Instead, the FSM prioritises growth and competitiveness above all else.
Joint Statement08 December 2022
Joint Statement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
ShareAction, Accountancy Europe, Eurosif, Frank Bold, Finance Watch and WWF, as members of the Informal Group on Sustainable Finance, have released a joint statement on the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). In the statement, a set of key recommendations are suggested that will embed environmental, climate and social impacts into the company's long-term strategy.
Joint Statement30 November 2022
Joint Letter to EU ministers in reference to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
Together with 50 other NGOs, we have sent a letter to EU ministers in reference to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) asking them approve to the compromise text presented by the Czech Presidency. Most importantly, we are asking them to not further water down the text and make sure that the financial sector remains in scope of the law.
