BlackRock must take bold action to lower global emissions. (2024)

FAQs

Is BlackRock moving away from ESG? ›

BlackRock's decision to shift from ESG investing to transition investing marks a significant evolution in the sustainable investing landscape. This strategic move underscores the importance of actively supporting transitioning companies to drive accelerated change.

BlackRock's core business is managing money for clients — both big institutions and individuals. It is the world's largest provider of low-cost index funds through its iShares platform, after its 2009 purchase of Barclays Global Investors for $13.5 billion.

We manage the environmental impact of our own operations

The firm will continue to focus on finding ways to leverage low-carbon solutions, such as renewable electricity to power its operations and using sustainable aviation fuel, where possible.

In operating its own business, BlackRock pursues a sustainability strategy that is focused on reducing GHG emissions associated with its facilities, data centers, and upstream value chain and addressing emissions it otherwise cannot reduce yet through investment in market solutions such as SAF and carbon credits.

BlackRock, as the largest global investment management company, and a leading voice in the investment community on climate and energy transition-related investment themes, has found itself at the center of a vocal anti-ESG movement by Republican politicians in the U.S., who have accused the firm of following a social ...

Contrary to popular belief, BlackRock doesn't directly own shares in major corporations, single-family homes, or infrastructure. It manages these investments in its funds and other investment products on behalf of clients.

Ethics and integrity

Our reputation for integrity is one of our most important assets. We hold ourselves to standards that not only meet those required by the laws and regulations that apply to us, but also to our principles, which are rooted in exceeding our clients' expectations.

BlackRock's defence of its continued investment in fossil fuel assets drew a predictably critical response from campaigners.

Wall Street titan BlackRock Inc. in 2020 helped pump more than 330 million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere — the equivalent of 71 million passenger vehicles driven for one year. Those eye-popping figures don't come from environmentalists; they're from the investment firm itself.

Our approach to ESG integration focuses on identifying financially material sustainability insights – those that we believe may impact the financial performance of clients' portfolios - and including those insights into the broader mix of traditional financial information used to manage those portfolios.

What is the BlackRock environmental policy? ›

BlackRock's role in the transition to a low-carbon economy is as a fiduciary. We seek the best risk-adjusted returns for our clients, and we rely on a research-based view of economic developments, including how the low-carbon transition is likely to unfold in practice over time.

NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - BlackRock (BLK. N) , opens new tab, the world's largest asset manager, on Tuesday said it will cut about 3% of its current workforce, though it expects to have a larger headcount by the end of 2024.

BlackRock (BLK) is scrapping Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investing and instead pivoting to focus solely on the environmental component, rebranding it as "transition investing." Tariq Fancy, Former BlackRock Chief Investment Officer of Sustainable Investing and Founder of The Rumie Initiative, joins Yahoo ...

As a result, many companies are dropping ESG from their lexicon, distancing themselves from DEI, sustainability and social impact programs — or, even worse, decommitting altogether.

Hartzmark says companies will still pay attention to the environment, social and governance issues but maybe call it something else or focus on one category more than another. Many firms have been under pressure from Republicans to back away from ESG goals, especially on climate issues.

IMPORTANT: Use of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) criteria as the investing principles may impact the Fund's performance.