Why New MSCI Climate Leader is Warning World’s Top Companies
Richard Mattison has started work at one of the globe’s most influential sustainable finance advisory companies.
And the former President of S&P Global’s sustainability unit is not pulling any punches.
Richard, writing on LinkedIn, said he is “delighted” to join Morgan Stanley Capital International, but added: “We are at a critical inflection point. Sustainability and climate change issues are reshaping the global investment landscape but more action is needed if we are to meet global goals.”
He continued: “A recent study by economists Adrien Bilal of Stanford and Diego Känzig of Northwestern found that a 1C increase in global temperature reduces world economic output by 12% and a 2023 World Bank analysis of 134 countries estimated that ‘a one-degree Celsius increase in temperature leads to a 9.1 percent increase in poverty’.
“Unfortunately listed companies are on course for a 2.8C trajectory, according to the MSCI Sustainability Institute.”
About Richard Mattison
Richard joins MSCI with significant experience in senior climate finance roles.
This includes:
- Member of the High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance at the European Commission
- Member, now Senior Advisor, of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures
- Chair of Data Council and Vice Chair Board of Directors at The Future of Sustainable Data Alliance
- CEO of Trucost
- Seven years at S&P Global, including: President, Sustainable1; CEO, S&P Global Trucost; Vice Chair.
MSCI Chief Product Officer Alvise Munari said: “We are thrilled to welcome Richard to MSCI as the leader of our ESG and Climate business.
“Richard’s experience in sustainable finance, coupled with his proven track record in delivering innovative solutions, uniquely positions him to deliver on our commitment to helping investors meet their sustainability and climate goals.
“His leadership will not only drive our initiatives forward but also inspire new strategies that align with the evolving sustainable investment landscape.”
MSCI said Richard will be based in London and will work closely with leaders across the company, with a “focus on driving innovation and scale throughout MSCI’s ESG and Climate product franchise and on building solutions for sustainability-focused investors.”
Richard added: “Sustainability and climate change issues are reshaping the global investment landscape. MSCI is a leader in delivering high quality data and ratings, advanced analytics and client-led solutions to the world’s largest asset managers, asset owners and banks.
“I am looking forward to leading the next generation of innovation to deliver enhanced solutions and insights to clients.”
About MSCI
MSCI is a leader in delivering high quality data and ratings, advanced analytics and solutions for the world’s largest asset managers, asset owners, banks and corporations.
It was established in 1969 and is headquartered in New York City. THe company is particularly renowned for its role in sustainability and ESG investing.
A big part of that is due to its Net Zero Tracker, which reports on the sustainability progress of the world’s largest listed companies.
The company offers a range of services, including indices, ESG ratings, climate risk analytics and research tools that enable investors to evaluate and incorporate sustainability factors into their strategies.
In the field of sustainable finance, MSCI develops products that assess companies’ exposure to and management of ESG risks and opportunities.
These tools help investors align portfolios with sustainability goals while identifying potential financial risks linked to climate change, labour issues and governance practices.
Notable examples of MSCI's influence include assisting asset managers in integrating climate metrics and providing solutions for regulatory compliance, such as alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
The company is also active in advising on voluntary carbon markets, helping identify projects with high environmental integrity amid growing scrutiny of carbon credit programmes.
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