abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

15 Feb 2024

Author:
Inclusive Development International

Myanmar: ESG indexes littered with companies linked to human rights abuses; OECD complaints filed

"ESG investing giants under scrutiny for fueling rights abuses in Myanmar", 15 February 2024

MSCI, FTSE Russell and S&P Dow Jones Indices, leading providers of investment indexes tailored for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)-focused investing, are violating the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct by promoting ESG-labeled investment in companies linked to Myanmar’s military. This is according to complaints filed this week by Inclusive Development International, Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma) and Blood Money Campaign of Myanmar (BMC). The complaints were submitted to the U.S., U.K. and Dutch National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct, which are government offices tasked with handling complaints alleging noncompliance with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The complaints outline how each of the three firms has failed to uphold its human rights due diligence responsibilities and failed to use the considerable leverage it has over companies listed on its ESG indexes to address serious human rights risks and impacts stemming from those companies’ ties to the Myanmar military.

...

MSCI, FTSE Russell and S&P Dow Jones Indices construct lists—known as indexes—of companies they consider to have rated highly on ESG factors, which greenlights those companies for inclusion in ESG-labeled investment funds (i.e., funds with names that include phrases like “ESG Leaders” and “ESG Screened”), which are marketed to investors as socially responsible. But Inclusive Development International’s research shows that the ESG indexes provided by these three firms systematically fail to accurately capture and reflect companies’ human rights track records. As a result, investment funds that are modeled on those indexes are littered with companies that are linked to serious human rights abuses, including in Myanmar.

...

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.