We just finished hosting our seventh Triple Bottom Line Investing Conference. For me, it was our best event with respect to quality of attendance and content. The most impressive experience was that the CIO of one of the largest pension funds in the world came, participated in a plenary roundtable, and then did the unexpected. After speaking, he didn't run into the double parked car and leave. He stayed the whole day and was particularly impressed by the discussion on peak oil and climate change. For me that made the event. It became crystal clear that TBLI is becoming more and more accepted by the mainstream financial community, including high net worth investors. Two particular issues that came up during the conference were the questions of  language and leadership.

Perhaps it is true. Using all kinds of different names to describe sustainable investment is not effective and confusing; SRI, responsible investing, profit-plus investing, high impact investing, ethical investing, or triple bottom line investing. It does make it more difficult for mainstream investors to understand what are we talking about. Perhaps there shouldn't  be a special name. If sustainable investment is growing and the mainstream is seeing the benefit (see below angel of the month), does it need a special name? It does seem, however, that  language and jargon are very important. I would be grateful for your suggestions on overcoming this language issue and or feedback. An idea for a workshop at the next TBLI.

With respect to leadership, there was significant discussion about the need for leadership by government, pension funds, banks, development agencies, ngo's, etc. When I  looked around room and saw the brilliance that was in front of me, it became clear that leadership didn't need to be found. It was already present. That became even more clear during the scenario workshop on the future of SRI. All the attendees were the experts and helped create several scenarios about SRI's future.

Leadership is in ourselves. We only need to accept that and act on it. Start today. Share, engage, inspire, and encourage your peers to take society and the environment into account when they make financial decisions.  To paraphrase a famous shoe manufacturer. 'Just do it.'


'How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.'
 -- Anne Frank

Angela de Wolff is our winner of the TBLI angel of the month. Her support and impact was clearly shown at the recent TBLI conference this year. One of the speakers was the CIO of Lombard Odier and he told the audience that Lombard Odier had integrated SRI into their total asset management approach. Using SRI criteria for asset management is what most of us are trying to accomplish. Some have done that and others offer special SRI products. Angela, who has been a SRI champion for a long time, was instrumental in getting Lombard Odier to embrace SRI as a way of reducing risk and improving performance.

She has always been incredibly supportive and willing to give and share with all that meet her.  Angela is a great asset to the SRI community as well as to her family. It was a joy meeting her for the first time several years ago , and the friendship has improved with age. Always lighting up a room with her presence and great intellect. I greatly appreciate her efforts and value her input and feedback. With a name like Angela, how could she not be the Angel of the month. Congratulations.

We select a variety of current news items hosted at third-party websites that cover a broad range of issues from different perspectives around sustainable finance and asset management, corporate social responsibility, climate change, and corporate governance. Please let us know if there is a story we should include in next month's newsletter.

Do you have a comment or reaction on any of the material presented in the Newsletter? Send a letter to the editor.

KEEN Engineering is the first volume of the new book series, The Ecological Engineer; books that commemorate the most innovative engineers in North America. Ecotone plans to release additional volumes in the near future. 'This accessible resource will appeal to the practicing engineers, architects and designers, as well as students looking for a source of solid and effective ecological principles'

David Vogel strives to provide a balanced perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility in his latest book.  In most ways, he is successful.  Not only is CSR usually misunderstood and poorly implemented, but it is improperly vilified by one side and improperly deified by the other.  With illustrative cases and systematic analysis, Vogel provides a useful and insightful account of the current potential and drawbacks of CSR.

The Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative

An invitation to join the founding members of globally responsible leaders.  (PDF Download)
Taking action to ensure the next generation of business leaders act in a globally responsible way.

Chasing The Sun: Solar Adventures Around the World

by Neville Williams
320 pages, Pb ISBN 0-86571-537-8, US$18.95 / Can$22.95 
'Chasing the Sun is a story of dreamers and doers who succeeded in their mission to make the world better by delivering nature's energy to poor people and by building organizations to put the sun at their service in practical, affordable and effective ways. A green-energy development narrative that is fun and eye-opening, the book is also part autobiography.'

The State of Corporate Citizenship in the U.S.: Business Perspectives in 2005

by Barbara Dyer, Stephen Jordan, Steven A. Rochlin, and Sapna Shah (PDF Download)
"This second in a biennial series delves into the corporate citizenship motivations, challenges, priorities and investments of 1,189 small, medium, and large businesses across the U.S. Responses representing a breadth of industry sectors and geographic regions provide a unique insight into the state of corporate citizenship from a national perspective."

Thank you to all of those who participated in our recent conference in Frankfurt.  Over 350 particpants, speakers and moderators helped to make this year's conference one of the most efffective ever.

TBLI EUROPE

PARIS, FRANCE

NOVEMBER 2006

Is your organization looking to increase its profile in Asia?

The Asian financial community has demonstrated a rapidly growing interest in sustainable investment. This is your opportunity to raise your organization's visibility in this region.  Click here to find out more about sponsorship opportunities for our upcoming conferences in Bangkok and Paris.

Click here to learn more about the services provided through the TBLI Academy.

Diana Propper de Callejon
General Partner
Expansion Capital Partners

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