An investor’s guide to ESG reporting in Canada + MORE Apr 20th

If you want to put your money into sustainable or responsible investments, you have more options on the market now than ever. Not only can you find exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other funds specifically designed with ESG—environmental, social and governance—factors in mind, but individual companies are increasingly highlighting non-financial information and responsibility bona fides in their reporting and consumer outreach.

There are some challenges that come with this newly defined investment territory, though: knowing who to trust, and how to compare various investment options in the ESG world. “It’s a bit of a wild west,” says Tim Nash, founder of Good Investing, a Toronto firm that offers research and coaching to support DIY sustainable investors. “It’s really hard for individual people to navigate.”

But “hard” doesn’t mean “impossible,” and as new reporting standards emerge, the landscape is becoming more transparent and easier to understand. Here are some things to know when it comes to ESG reporting and disclosure, and what to watch for in the future…

Each year on April 22, the global Earth Day campaign shines a spotlight on environmental issues. For the second year in a row, the theme is Invest In Our Planet—a call to action that’s especially relevant to MoneySense readers.

The aim is to combat the existential threat of climate change by shifting away from a fossil fuel economy and toward a green, carbon-neutral one. EarthDay.org, the global organizer of Earth Day, calls for individuals, governments, businesses and institutions to “collectively push away from the dirty fossil fuel economy and old technologies of centuries past—and redirect attention to creating a 21st century economy that restores the health of our planet, protects our species, and provides opportunities for all.” So, what does that mean for your investments?

What is sustainable investing?

Sustainable investing takes into consideration a company’s practices and policies for environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and how they could affect long-term performance and investment returns…

On April 6, Canadian Business hosted the first annual CB Innovation Awards luncheon, welcoming 150 guests at the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s new downtown office and event space overlooking the Toronto waterfront.

Bringing together Canada’s senior business leaders and emerging entrepreneurs for exclusive networking, enlightening panel discussions and an awards presentation, the event was supported by signature sponsor BMO Financial Group, thought leadership partner Google Canada and patron table supporters Amazon Canada, the TMX, Uber Canada, UHN Foundation, Air Canada, the DMZ, Incepta Solutions, RBC Mydoh, MinervaAI and Microsoft Canada. 

The CB Innovation Awards luncheon was held at the Toronto Regional Board of Trade.

The luncheon was a preview and an opportunity to celebrate Canada’s fastest growing and most resilient companies that are being showcased in the 2023 CB Innovation Awards, out in the Spring issue of Canadian Business in May. Industry leaders shared their insights on the biggest challenges impacting the small business community, including managing remote teams, the importance of inclusivity and purpose, and attracting (and retaining) top global talent…