The Investor Group on Climate Change
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The Investor Group on Climate Change
Does Shareholder Engagement Reduce Emissions? New Evidence from a Wharton Impact Study on Climate Action 100+
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In this episode of the IGCC podcast, we share insights from a recent Corporate Engagement Working Group session exploring how shareholder engagement drives real-world emissions reductions.
Featuring new research from Kevin Chuah, Senior Research Fellow, Wharton Impact (University of Pennsylvania), the session examines the impact of initiatives such as Climate Action 100+ on corporate emissions intensity. Using global data and a causal research design, the analysis shows that engagement can reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions — particularly when combined with strong climate policy.
A discussion follows, facilitated by Alison Ewings, General Manager ESG at QIC and a Climate Action 100+ Steering Committee member, which explores three key themes for investors:
- why shareholder engagement and regulation work best as complements, not substitutes
- how board networks can amplify engagement impact beyond targeted companies
- what engagement outcomes mean for company valuations and investor risk
The episode offers practical insights for investors considering how stewardship, policy advocacy and collaboration can work together to drive economy-wide emissions reductions and protect long-term returns.