The Sustainable Investing Act (PA 101-473) was spearheaded by Illinois Treasurer Frerichs and signed into law by Illinois Governor Pritzker in 2019 with an effective date of January 1, 2020. It provides that all state and local government entities that hold and manage public funds should integrate material, relevant, and useful sustainability factors into their policies, processes, and decision-making.
What is Sustainable Investing? Why is it Important?
Sustainability factors are used to more comprehensively analyze an investment based on its risk profile and return potential. This complements traditional financial and technical analysis. The use of sustainability factors has been shown to minimize risk and maximize returns and is considered a best practice in the investment industry. Integrating these factors helps public funds better fulfill their fiduciary duty.
The Act defines sustainability factors to include data and indicators related to (1) corporate governance and leadership, (2) environmental, (3) social capital, (4) human capital (including responsible contractor and responsible bidder policies), and (5) business model and innovation.
Sustainability factors provide a more complete view of an investment, its past performance, and its future potential. Sustainability factors have a material impact on business performance and long-term shareholder value, and as such, investors have an interest in integrating these factors into investment decision-making processes.
How do I Implement and Comply with the Act?
1. Update your investment policy to include the consideration of sustainability factors. Adapting your policy could be as simple as inserting a few new sentences, or as complex as developing a stand-alone policy on sustainability. The Illinois State Board of Investment (ISBI) added a short new section to its policy, while the State Treasurer published a comprehensive document. You should work with your investment management team to decide on the most appropriate changes for your organization.
2. Integrate sustainability factors into investment practices. For those agencies making investment decisions on the security or company level, sustainability factors should be incorporated into the overall decision-making process, providing an additional layer of factors to consider when assessing the risk/value proposition of investment decisions.
- Sample Security Analysis Due Diligence Questionnaire – This document provides a sample framework and set of questions for the evaluation of sustainability risks and opportunities at individual publicly traded companies.
- Raising The Bar – This webpage details the State Treasurer's approach to sustainable investing and sustainable investing activities.
- There are many organizations that provide guidance on sustainable investing, including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board [sasb.org], United Nations-supported Principles for Responisble Investment [unpri.org] and US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment [ussif.org].
3. Talk to your fund managers. Your asset management firms can work with you to consider appropriate investments for your agency with sustainability factors in mind. Many fund managers already integrate sustainability factors into their investment practice and no changes will be required, as it is common among asset managers such as BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street, Fidelity, UBS, and others.
- Sample Sustainability Due Diligence Questionnaire – This document provides a sample framework and set of questions for the evaluation of investment managers on sustainability integration in public markets.
- Sample Sustainability Due Diligence Questionnaire for Alternative Investments - This document provides a sample framework and set of questions for the evaluation of investment managers on sustainability integration in alternative investments.
- The Illinois Funds, a local government investment pool managed by the State Treasurer’s Office, currently employs sustainability factors in its fund management. It is open to local governments including cities and towns, counties, special taxing districts, municipal corporations, housing authorities, community and technical colleges, and four-year universities. If you are a participant in The Illinois Funds, your investments are already aligned with the Sustainable Investing Act.
4. Other requirements. Nothing else is required for compliance with the Sustainable Investing Act. However, considering sustainability factors might lead your team to adjust the roles and responsibilities of staff or contractors, which you should pursue at your agency’s discretion.
Additional Resources
- The Illinois State Treasurer's Office published an FAQs to address common questions.
- The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office's published a Sustainable Investing Act Flyer to help inform stakeholders.
For further assistance or questions, please contact Sarah Hillegass at Shillegass@illinoistreasurer.gov.