Paul Rissman Speaks at University of Connecticut about Investor Responsibility for a Fair & Just Climate Transition

February 27, 2025

Co-founder Paul Rissman participated in a fireside chat moderated by Rachel Chambers (UConn) with Marybeth Gallagher (Domini Impact Investments), Kindra Mohr (BSR), and Stephen Park (UConn), and Rachel Chambers on the role of Investors to ensure a fair and just climate transition.

Joanne Bauer speaks at United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) FfD4 PrepCom side event

February 20, 2025

Rights CoLab co-founder Joanne Bauer joined a panel at the United Nations Development Programme’s FfD4 PrepCom Side Event to discuss the role of inequality considerations in climate finance. She presented key arguments from Rights CoLab’s new discussion paper, “Tackling Inequality in Climate Finance for a Green Transition,” emphasizing the need for inequality guardrails in blended finance.

Paul Rissman on Investment Uncut: The Link Between Climate and Inequality

February 5, 2025

Paul Rissman joined LCP’s Investment Uncut podcast to discuss the critical role of blended finance in global decarbonization efforts. He outlined how multilateral development banks (MDBs) and asset managers can work together to mobilize private capital while addressing economic inequality.

New Discussion Paper on Blended Finance in the Green Transition

January 29, 2025

Rights CoLab released Tackling Inequality in Climate Finance for a Green Transition, a discussion paper examining how blended finance can advance climate action without exacerbating socio-economic inequality. The paper highlights the risks and limitations of blended finance, the impact of inequality on climate goals, and offers recommendations for governments, multilateral development banks, and asset managers to integrate equity into financial strategies.

Paul Rissman Featured on Responsible Investor’s ESG Round-Up

January 20, 2025

Responsible Investor’s ESG Round-Up highlighted shareholder proposals filed by Paul Rissman at JPMorgan Chase and State Street, urging greater disclosure on the social impacts of their transition finance strategies. The proposals request transparency on how these firms address worker transition and community fairness in their financial strategies. Both companies are seeking SEC approval to exclude the proposals from their Annual Meeting votes, raising concerns about the accountability of financial institutions in ensuring a just and equitable transition. Read the full resolutions here: JP Morgan Chase and State Street.

TISFD announces its Steering Committee Members

January 16, 2025

As a Founding Partner and co-chair of TISFD’s Governance Working Group, Rights CoLab is proud to see this vision come to fruition. The Steering Committee will play a central role in approving the workplan advanced by the Secretariat, together with Regional and Advisory Councils, a Research hub, and the Alliance.

Read more about it here.

Webinar: ‘Why Investors Must Tackle Systemic Inequality’

December 12, 2024

Rights CoLab and Oxfam American co-hosted a webinar moderated by Fran Seegul (US Impact Investing Alliance), where Joanne Bauer (Rights CoLab), Irit Tamir (Oxfam America), Delaney Grieg (University Pension Plan) explored the risks inequality poses to investment portfolios and actions investors can take to mitigate these risks. 

Watch the full webinar using this link and password: AH=#X5We http://bit.ly/4fCtHBf.

Rights CoLab discussed TISFD during a Snapshot Session at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

November 26, 2024

Rights CoLab had a strong presence at the UN Forum, where Joanne Bauer and Carolien de Bruin (WBCSD) presented the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosure (TISFD). Joanne emphasized the importance of Business and Human Rights (BHR) practitioners in shaping the taskforce’s framework to avoid unintended consequences.

New Article in GreenMoney Journal: As an Investor, Why Tackle Inequality?

October 16, 2024

With Sharmeen Contractor of Oxfam America, we published an article in the October issue of GreenMoney Journal on how inequality can hurt investment performance in the long term.

Thanks Cliff Feigenbaum for featuring our report! Read it here!

Joanne Bauer Explores Investment Risks of Inequality at CII Conference

September 9, 2024

Joanne Bauer participated in the Inequality Matters panel at the Council of Institutional Investors Fall Conference, moderated by Margot Brandenburg of the Ford Foundation. Joined by Irit Tamir, Senior Director of Oxfam America, Joanne highlighted the risks inequality poses to investment portfolios and the systemic impacts of corporate contributions to inequality. The session also introduced the forthcoming Taskforce on Inequality and Socially Related Financial Disclosures (TISFD) and explored strategies to strengthen investor engagement on these pressing issues.

New Report Mapping Inequality Disclosure Laws Across Ten Jurisdictions

September 6, 2024

A report by Joanne Bauer and Manuela Corredor Vásquez, produced in collaboration with TrustLaw, maps inequality-related disclosure laws across ten countries. The research highlights legal mandates on horizontal and vertical inequality disclosures, supply chain transparency, corporate tax avoidance, and more. This report, created for the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD), underscores the growing global footprint of mandatory inequality reporting.

New Report Launch: “The Investor Case for Fighting Inequality: How Inequality Harms Investors and What Investors Should Do About It.”

September 6, 2024

Rights CoLab and Oxfam America just released a new report, “The Investor Case for Fighting Inequality: How Inequality Harms Investors and What Investors Should Do About It.”

The report shows how rising inequality hurts investor returns to their total portfolios and to their portfolio companies—and why addressing inequality should be part of every investor’s strategy. Investors can use this report to guide their stewardship activities and justify exercising their influence to reduce corporate actions that contribute to inequality.

Read the full report here.

Paul Rissman Discusses Systemic Risks of Inequality at ICGN Conference in London

July 16, 2024

Alongside co-panelists, Rights CoLab cofounder Paul Rissman discussed the systemic risks of inequality at International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) conference in London. He explained why systems-level investing is so critical, and outlined the role of the soon-to-be-launched Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD) in lighting the path forward.