Engaging BP and other Energy Companies: Protecting the Financial Interests of our Participants

Consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues has long been an important element of the investing program of the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (General Board). We believe companies that ignore or violate sound ESG practices ultimately compromise financial returns and shareholder value.

The Church has been aware of the importance of these non-financial factors for some time. Resolution 4071 (first adopted by General Conference in 1992) clearly states “that social justice and social usefulness must be given consideration together with financial security and financial yield in the investment of funds.” Like other socially responsible investors, the Church believes that shareholder value and financial yield are very much dependent on both financial and non-financial (ESG) factors.

Read the entire July 2010 On Your Behalf.

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