25th Annual SRI Conference: Drought And Carbon Bubble Risks To Dominate Climate-Related Discussions

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dangers posed by stranded carbon assets and drought to the bottom lines of investors will be a major focus of The SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing (SRI) November 9-11, 2014 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado (http://www.SRIconference.com).

Marking 25 years as the longest-running annual gathering of responsible investors and investment professionals in the United States, The SRI Conference attracts investment advisors, asset managers, institutional investors, and representatives of investment companies, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and social research/proxy voting organizations working in the Sustainable, Responsible, Impact investing space.

Panelists for "The Well's Done Gone Dry," will include Lisa Beutler, member, California Water Board, and executive facilitator, MWH Global; Mark Bateman, CEO, ENSOGO Analytics; and Ian Simm, CEO, Impax Asset Management, which is based in London.

The discussion on water issues will focus on governmental challenges in ensuring equitable access to water resources for industry, agriculture, consumers, and wildlife. The focus will also include the decisions faced by companies balancing water requirements, efficiency improvements, and others' rights. In particular, the panel will examine important and timely issues impacting the Southwest U.S., such as valuation of water scarcity, and efficiencies and technologies in the investment merit of a company.

Panelists for "Climate Change: The Challenge of Stranded Assets" will be: Sonia Kowal, director of SRI, Zevin Asset Management; Kevin Ranney, director, Advisory Services, Sustainalytics; and Tim Brennan, treasurer & CFO, Unitarian Universalist Association. The panel will be moderated by Craig Metrick, US head of responsible investment, Mercer.

Various strategies are being implemented to protect investors from stranded carbon assets. The carbon bubble panel will address the wide range of approaches deployed, ranging from divestment to engagement, on the basis of fiduciary responsibility and potential impact. Key metrics differentiating climate change leaders from laggards will be presented.

First Affirmative President, Steve Schueth, producer of The SRI Conference, said: "We are pleased to be featuring expert testimony focused on drought and stranded carbon asset risks. Concerns about 'carbon bubble' exposure are one of the hottest investment world topics today. The drought-related panel recognizes the important link between the increasing scarcity of clean, potable water in the U.S. and globally, and what that might mean for investors. There is a great deal of interest in these topics."

The full conference agenda is available online at: http://www.sriconference.com/agenda/2014-conference-agenda/.

ABOUT THE SRI CONFERENCE

The 25th annual SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com), the leading North American forum for investors and investment professionals involved in SRI investing.  For more information about the conference or about supporting the conference as a sponsor, please contact Krystala Kalil, at 888-774-2663 or [email protected].

Conference participation is open to all SRI industry practitioners, investment professionals, institutional investors, and related organizations and individuals. The conference experience features an outstanding series of educational sessions and a focused opportunity to network with hundreds of like-minded individuals, organizations, and industry leaders.

ABOUT FIRST AFFIRMATIVE FINANCIAL NETWORK

First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC (http://www.firstaffirmative.com) is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (SEC File #801-56587) offering investment consulting and asset management services through a nationwide network of investment professionals who specialize in serving socially conscious investors. First Affirmative produces The SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com).

MEDIA CONTACT
Ailis Wolf, (703) 276-3265 or [email protected].

SOURCE First Affirmative Financial Network, Colorado Springs, CO