“Lauren’s appointment acknowledges all she has built at WaterEquity and our confidence in her ability to lead the firm through its next stage of growth. The Council is glad to formalize what is already clear: she is the right person to help WaterEquity navigate all that comes next.” said Amy Bell, Director, Council of Directors, WaterEquity; CFO, MCE Social Capital. Before joining WaterEquity, Lauren spent eleven years at The Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest, the organization’s impact investment unit. She joined TNC in 2014 as Director of Product Development, where she focused on water and agricultural investments and led the structuring and execution of NatureVest’s engagement in investment funds with footprints across Australia, Chile, the United States and Mexico. She presented that work at World Water Week in Stockholm and was published through the Global Water Forum. In 2022 she was elevated to Managing Director and head of NatureVest, overseeing sourcing, structuring, and impact management of approximately $3.5 billion in committed conservation capital across four continents. Prior to The Nature Conservancy, Lauren spent over a decade at Ares Management, a global alternative asset manager. She worked across private credit strategies in the United States and Europe. Lauren holds a Master of Science...

On relevant social and environmental data, we’ve been encouraged. The amount of information available from our global data partners — including on Chinese companies — has grown substantially and gives us confidence that our screens are restricting the kinds of companies we want to restrict. Not perfectly, of course. No system is infallible. Comparing a screened international index versus an unscreened index, the sustainability risk score improved meaningfully. At Praxis Investment ManagementTM, we screen out about 20% of the index — roughly a fifth — based on screens for alcohol, tobacco, gambling, military, egregious environmental or social violations and more. The sustainability score for unscreened index sat around 20.6; the screened version improved to 18.5. By integrating these sustainability scores into the portfolio optimization process, we’ve found those scores can improve even further. That tells us screening can make a real difference internationally. But it also can’t carry the full weight of our values by itself. Tim Macready, Head of Global Advisory at Brightlight Group and a longtime industry colleague, offered a useful example when we spoke recently: “If you adopt a screen that requires at least one woman on the board, all but two Japanese companies fail it.” The...

The above image illustrates MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification), a system used to monitor, document and confirm the outcomes of agricultural practices. Feeding the world in the decades ahead is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. By 2050, the global population...

Founded in 2003, Glass Lewis is one of the world’s most established providers of corporate governance insights and stewardship solutions, while Clarity AI, founded in 2017, has emerged as a leading technology and AI platform for global financial institutions, with particularly strong roots and capabilities in Europe and moving toward authorization under the EU’s ESG Ratings Regulation. “Glass Lewis brings outstanding depth in governance and stewardship, including key members of the former Sustainalytics team who helped build one of the most respected sustainability research franchises in the world,” said Rebeca Minguela, Founder and CEO of Clarity AI. “Combined with Clarity AI’s technology, AI capabilities, comprehensive sustainability data and sophisticated analytics, this creates a differentiated, integrated platform with deep decision-relevant data and unparalleled expertise.” “The fact that we are designating Madrid our global centre of excellence for sustainability, data and AI innovation speaks volumes about the strategic importance of the European market and our commitment to it,” emphasized Mann. Europe remains the global center of sustainable investing, representing more than 80% of worldwide sustainable fund assets and continuing to attract positive net inflows in 2026. Having recently opened a new office in Amsterdam, the combined workforce of more than 900 professionals...

ALT: a crab is sitting in front of a fireplace with a plate in his hand

ALT: a close up of a cartoon character 's mouth with a lot of saliva coming out of it

Above: Hawai’i Investment Ready supports the people and organizations addressing Hawai’i’s social and environmental opportunities by accelerating social enterprise impact and access to investment. Photo courtesy of Hawai’i Investment Ready In the dynamic landscape of impact investing, systemic and bioregional...

Above: Elyse Dempsey, team member at Roanhorse Consulting works to change power dynamics in health and wealth systems by using an Indigenous worldview to co-create solutions to complex problems. Photo courtesy of Roanhorse Consulting. Starting a business in the United...

The global economy is undergoing a rapid transition to low carbon technologies, with annual investment in the energy transition passing $2 trillion in 2024. Lithium, the critical mineral powering electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, sits at the heart of...

2. Supporting Small Businesses and Local Entrepreneurship Housing provides a foundation for stronger communities, but local businesses also need capital to grow and create jobs. Faith-based investors can support small businesses and social enterprises that may struggle to secure traditional financing. Your investment can help entrepreneurs expand operations, hire local workers and contribute more economic activity to their communities. These opportunities reflect your commitment to economic opportunity and community self-sufficiency. Before investing, examine lending terms to ensure borrowers receive fair and manageable financing. You should also consider borrower support and whether your investment helps keep jobs and economic benefits within the community. 3. Financing Sustainable Infrastructure and Environmental Stewardship You can direct your capital toward businesses and projects that improve environmental conditions while supporting healthier communities. Although 90% of business executives consider sustainability a priority, only 60% take action toward it. This gap gives you an opportunity to focus on companies taking measurable action through renewable power, energy efficiency and resilient infrastructure. Your investments can also support corporations and small businesses that provide practical environmental services. For example, local recycling drop-off sites help make recycling more accessible and keep shared spaces cleaner. Before investing, assess measurable outcomes alongside financial viability...

Building an affordable clean power platform for everyone For over a decade, the Coalition for Green Capital has led the Green...