Republicans are on a “crusade” against responsible investing, says Andrew Behar, CEO of the nonprofit group As You Sow that promotes corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy. His group was subpoenaed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee this week as Republicans probe whether investments that take into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns violate antitrust laws. Republicans have introduced bills in dozens of states across the U.S. to limit state bodies from working with banks and other financial firms that take things like climate change into consideration in their investments. ESG is “a framework for assessing risk,” Behar says. “Basic good business says you want to assess and address risk, and that’s what they’re trying to suppress.”

tl;dr - House Republicans are targeting socially responsible investing, including investments that take into account environmental concerns like climate change.

And that’s a threat to them, because what they’re trying to do is to basically stop people from looking at the climate risk from the oil companies. And they’re saying, “Don’t look up.” They’re saying, “Put your head in the ground.” And what we’re saying is, “We need the freedom to invest.” Like, they’re trying to suppress our freedom to be able to make logical, good business choices. And in doing so, at the state level, their harming their own citizens. - Andrew Behar, CEO of non-profit group As You Sow which promotes corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, speaking to Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! - March 29, 2024

  • taanegl@lemmy.world
    55·
    8 months ago

    In the 60s: “capitalism breeds innovation…”

    In 2024: “Innovation is not allowed! It’s hurting my capitalism!”

    Listen, I’m not saying we should hold a gun up to the patent system to get those bastards playing fair, but I’m not saying not to do it… you can do a libertarian angle, socialist angle. Whatever. Just make it normal to remind those fucks they’re not untouchable.

    “bUt MuH cApItAl”

    Not so fun when other people do it now, is it? Entire markets, run by dumb yuppies who inherited the kingdom from their dad’s. Absolutely disgraceful.

  • vortic@lemmy.world
    39·
    8 months ago

    The party of small government a d free market economics wants to make it illegal for an investment firm to consider the tangible risks presented by climate change when making investment decisions. They are trying to say that preferentially investing in companies that have plans to mitigate the impacts of climate change on their business model is an anti-trust violation.

    This is so absurd on so many levels.

    • Neato@ttrpg.networkEnglish
      2·
      8 months ago

      Long-term investment planning is apparently illegal to them. The hyper-focus on quarterly gains is literally killing us all.

  • radicalautonomy@lemmy.worldOP
    20·
    8 months ago

    Listening to this interview and hearing this man describe the ultracapitalistic moronicity and unyielding corporate fealty that led to him being subpoenaed made me want to put my head through a fucking wall.