Bbabo NET

Economics & Business News

VW scandal fuels investor fears about environment

Shareholders from 19 different firms managing a total of almost $1 trillion in assets are pushing the world’s 11 largest carmakers to disclose how pollution rules affect their business. Other industries have come under similar pressure. This campaign, though, also seeks information about the companies’ links to regulators and trade associations.

The investors, which include AXA and four units of the Swedish National Pension Funds, should have no trouble with the first request. Plenty of shareholders in other industries have already had success with that kind of activism.

Carmakers have recently been targets of major studies on carbon dioxide emissions. Earlier this year, environmental research firm CDP examined how quickly 14 of the top 16 global vehicle manufacturers were reducing the amount of carbon dioxide their products wheeze into the atmosphere. Some 800 investors with a total of $95 trillion of assets rely on CDP data.

VW scandal fuels investor fears about environment