BlackRock , Vanguard , State Street money managers cut support for climate proposals
The three largest U.S. money managers, State Street, Vanguard, and BlackRock, have significantly reduced their support for environmental and social shareholder proposals in the latest proxy season. This shift comes amid a Republican-led backlash against sustainable investing. State Street supported 6% of environmental and 7% of social proposals, down from the previous year. Vanguard rejected all 400 proposals it received, stating they didn t address financially material risks to shareholders. BlackRock voted for 4% of the proposals, a decrease from 7% the previous year. These three money managers collectively own about 20% of the shares of all companies in the S&P 500, mainly through their index-tracking funds. The decline in support marks a stark turnaround from 2021 when they voted in favor of a record number of pro-ESG resolutions. The drop in support is attributed to the political climate and the rise of anti-ESG resolutions and legislation. Some pro-ESG resolutions were also poorly worded or lacked clear benefits to shareholders. The latest vote tally shows a decrease in total shareholder support for environmental and social resolutions from 22% to 19%. The finance industry is facing criticism from GOP politicians for promoting ESG strategies that they believe support liberal goals. State pensions in Texas and Florida have withdrawn money from BlackRock, and corporations have abandoned diversity, equity, and inclusion pledges. The decline in shareholder support aligns with CEOs downgrading sustainability as a top priority, with concerns about inflation, AI, and geopolitics taking center stage. State Street Global Advisors noted that it supported fewer environmental and social resolutions due to their increasingly prescriptive and niche nature. In contrast, some large European money managers remain focused on sustainability, highlighting a difference in approach between U.S. and European firms.
Source: financial-planning.comPublished on 2024-09-20
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