Strengthening Joint Action in an era of backlash

Our annual summer meeting took place in Bochum at the end of May. Kindly hosted by GLS Investment Management, the location itself set the perfect tone: as GLS Managing Director Karsten Kührlings highlighted, Bochum is a city that has undergone a profound transformation, moving from its coal mining past to its growing role as a hub for renewable energy, thereby embodying the very essence of the transition we are driving.

During the meeting, we had the opportunity to share best practices across the network, shape our internal policies, and discuss future priorities and developments. It was also a fantastic opportunity for all members to connect and strengthen our collaboration during dedicated networking moments.

Several key engagement updates and initiatives were at the heart of our discussions. Ökoworld proposed a new campaign focused on Diversity and Inclusion, whilst GLS provided a comprehensive wrap-up of this year’s engagement on heat protection in the workplace. Turning to environmental matters, Ecofi presented the latest updates regarding an ongoing engagement campaign on biodiversity.

Furthermore, we had the pleasure of FIR (the French Sustainable Investment Forum), who presented a new evaluation system for engagement activities which might be interesting for SfC future activities. 

And finally, huge congratulations go to Richard Buch from GLS, who has been elected as a new member of the SfC board!