CalPERS to Study Impact of ESG Factors on Investments

January 28, 2013 (PLANSPONSOR.com) The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) launched the Sustainable Investment Research Initiative (SIRI).

SIRI is an effort to drive thought leadership that will inform and advance the organization’s understanding of sustainability factors and the impact they have on financial performance.  

The launch also marks the start of a “Call for Working Papers” from scholars and investment practitioners globally in the fields of finance, economics, accounting, law and business. The papers will contribute to a rigorous debate and discussion on the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues on long-term value creation and capital market stability.  

CalPERS will partner with the UC Davis Graduate School of Management to seek, collect and review the papers. Authors of the most distinguished papers will be invited to present their research at the inaugural Sustainability and Finance Symposium, to be hosted by UC Davis on June 7. Columbia Law School’s Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership also will assist with the call for papers.  

In 2011, the CalPERS Board approved integrating ESG issues as a strategic priority across its investment portfolio. SIRI will provide independent evaluation and insight for CalPERS sustainability strategy and will contribute to the larger debate.  

For more information on SIRI and to submit working papers, visit http://gsm.ucdavis.edu/project-overview.

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