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Sustainable Investing Certificate (CFA-SIC) Exam Question and Answers

Sustainable Investing Certificate (CFA-SIC) Exam

Last Update Nov 30, 2025
Total Questions : 802

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Questions 1

When portfolio managers upload their portfolios onto third-party ESG data provider online platforms, most of these platforms are capable of:

Options:

A.  

producing a measure of the portfolio's relative carbon exposure

B.  

calculating an exact overall controversy or risk score for the portfolio

C.  

illustrating the portfolio's weighting to high-scoring companies on ESG metrics

Discussion 0
Questions 2

Which of the following is one of the six environmental factors in the “Materiality Map" by Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)?

Options:

A.  

Transition risk

B.  

Ecological impacts

C.  

Green infrastructure

Discussion 0
Questions 3

Which of the following is most likely a characteristic of good corporate governance?

Options:

A.  

Audit committees must be populated solely by independent non-executive directors

B.  

The existing chair must lead the nominations committee in the search for the new chair

C.  

Independent non-executive directors must form a majority of the remuneration committee

Discussion 0
Questions 4

Pension funds are most likely classified as:

Options:

A.  

asset owners

B.  

fund promoters

C.  

asset managers

Discussion 0
Questions 5

Analyzing a portfolio's social impact exposure is best achieved by first understanding material social topics at:

Options:

A.  

the company and country levels, then the sector level

B.  

the country and sector levels, then the company level

C.  

the company and sector levels, then the country level

Discussion 0
Questions 6

A discount retailer facing a consumer boycott due to its poor working conditions will most likely face:

Options:

A.  

significant liabilities

B.  

greater operating costs

C.  

an adverse impact on revenues

Discussion 0
Questions 7

Which of the following investor types most likely prefers exclusions as an ESG approach?

Options:

A.  

Life insurers

B.  

Foundations

C.  

General insurers

Discussion 0
Questions 8

With regard to screening, exclusions that are not supported by global consensus are best described as:

Options:

A.  

universal exclusions

B.  

idiosyncratic exclusions

C.  

conduct-related exclusions

Discussion 0
Questions 9

With respect to the current state of ESG disclosure globally, issuer reporting frameworks for ESG information are:

Options:

A.  

mandatory

B.  

fragmented

C.  

harmonized

Discussion 0
Questions 10

Based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's (SASB) materiality map, which of the following is a material ESG risk for healthcare companies?

Options:

A.  

Customer welfare

B.  

Competitive behavior

C.  

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Discussion 0
Questions 11

As a result of an aging population, which of the following sectors is most likely to experience slower growth?

Options:

A.  

Healthcare

B.  

Consumer goods

C.  

Wealth management

Discussion 0
Questions 12

Single-tier boards dominated by executive directors are commonly seen in:

Options:

A.  

Japan

B.  

Germany

C.  

The Netherlands

Discussion 0
Questions 13

ESG factors impacting balance sheet strength rather than growth opportunities are most material to:

Options:

A.  

Equity investors

B.  

Sovereign debt investors

C.  

Corporate bond investors

Discussion 0
Questions 14

In contrast to active investors, passive investors are most likely to:

Options:

A.  

seek a direct discussion with senior management and then the board

B.  

start their engagement process by writing a letter to all the companies impacted by a certain ESG issue

C.  

focus their engagement on companies identified as underperformers or ones that trigger other financial or ESG metrics

Discussion 0
Questions 15

The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) is best described as an interactive mapping tool allowing decision makers to:

Options:

A.  

assess companies’ preparedness for biodiversity risk

B.  

manage biodiversity and social risk in project finance

C.  

identify biodiversity risks and opportunities within a project boundary

Discussion 0
Questions 16

A bond that funds offshore wind projects is most likely a:

Options:

A.  

Blue bond

B.  

Green bond

C.  

Transition bond

Discussion 0
Questions 17

With regards to environmental analysis in fixed income investing, a country-level analysis is relevant to:

Options:

A.  

Corporate bonds only

B.  

Government bonds only

C.  

Both corporate bonds and government bonds

Discussion 0
Questions 18

When incorporating ESG factors into valuation inputs, which of the following would most likely require the lowest discount rate?

Options:

A.  

A company with strong ESG practices

B.  

A high-growth technology company operating in emerging markets

C.  

A company that is judged to have a negative environmental impact

Discussion 0
Questions 19

To produce a rating, an ESG rating provider will most likely apply a weighting system to

Options:

A.  

qualitative data only

B.  

quantitative data only

C.  

both qualitative data and quantitative data

Discussion 0
Questions 20

When undertaking an ESG assessment of a private equity deal ESG screening and due diligence will most likely take place during:

Options:

A.  

exit

B.  

ownership

C.  

deal sourcing

Discussion 0
Questions 21

The adoption of ESG investing by retail investors has generally been:

Options:

A.  

slower than its adoption by institutional investors.

B.  

at the same pace as its adoption by institutional investors.

C.  

faster than its adoption by institutional investors.

Discussion 0
Questions 22

Which of the following statements about materiality is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Double materiality excludes impacts of a company on ESG factors

B.  

Financial materiality is an extension of the accounting concept of double materiality

C.  

Dynamic materiality means that investors must constantly review what is financially material for a company

Discussion 0
Questions 23

A company reduces water usage and increases usage of more expensive resources after regulations become more stringent. This most likely impacts:

Options:

A.  

revenues

B.  

provisions

C.  

operating expenditure

Discussion 0
Questions 24

Which of the following challenges is most likely related to the attribution of returns to ESG factors?

Options:

A.  

Difficulty to demonstrate the value added by a programme of engagement

B.  

Difficulty to assess the performance drag that comes from excluding an industrial sector

C.  

Performance attribution to ESG factors is still in its early stages and may well need further assurance and consistency for it to have real power

Discussion 0
Questions 25

Which of the three ESG factors is most often taken into consideration by traditional investment analysts?

Options:

A.  

Social

B.  

Governance

C.  

Environmental

Discussion 0
Questions 26

Which of the following statements about the Green Claims Directive (GCD) is most accurate? The GCD:

Options:

A.  

applies to mandatory green claims made by businesses towards consumers

B.  

aims to make green claims reliable, comparable, and verifiable across the world.

C.  

requires verification by independent auditors before green claims can be made and marketed

Discussion 0
Questions 27

Which of the following statements about quantitative ESG analysis is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Quantitative ESG analysis is only based on third-party data

B.  

The length of the timeseries for ESG data is shorter than for financial data

C.  

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are used to bring structure to the ESG dataset

Discussion 0
Questions 28

What order should investors follow when implementing social factors in their investment decisions?

Process 1: Assess the critical social factors in the supply chain

Process 2: Assess how exposed companies are to sector-specific social factors

Process 3: Assess which social factors are most financially material in a particular industry

Options:

A.  

Process 1, followed by Process 2, and then Process 3

B.  

Process 2, followed by Process 1, and then Process 3

C.  

Process 3, followed by Process 2, and then Process 1

Discussion 0
Questions 29

Which of the following was established by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)?

Options:

A.  

Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI)

B.  

Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB)

C.  

Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA)

Discussion 0
Questions 30

low risk exposure to this factor in the short run

Options:

A.  

With reference to data security and customer privacy issues a technology company in the research and development stage with no commercially marketed products is most likely to have:

B.  

medium risk exposure to this factor in the short run.

C.  

high risk exposure to this factor in the short run.

Discussion 0
Questions 31

Which of the following investor types most likely has the shortest investment time horizon?

Options:

A.  

Foundations

B.  

General insurers

C.  

Defined benefit pension schemes

Discussion 0
Questions 32

Formal corporate governance codes are most likely to

Options:

A.  

be found in all major world markets

B.  

call for serious consequences for non-comphant organizations.

C.  

be interpreted by proxy advisory firms when corporate compliance is assessed

Discussion 0
Questions 33

Which of the following sectors has the highest percentage of corporate profits at risk from state intervention?

Options:

A.  

Banking

B.  

Consumer goods

C.  

Pharmaceuticals and healthcare

Discussion 0
Questions 34

Uploading a portfolio to an external ESG data provider’s online platform

Options:

A.  

safeguards portfolio holdings

B.  

lowers overreliance on a single provider.

C.  

shows a portfolio's environmental exposure.

Discussion 0
Questions 35

Excluding investment in companies with a history of labor infractions is best categorized as a(n):

Options:

A.  

universal exclusion.

B.  

idiosyncratic exclusion.

C.  

conduct-related exclusion

Discussion 0
Questions 36

The Cadbury Commission proposed that:

Options:

A.  

transparency around drivers of performance pay should be increased

B.  

the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board should be established.

C.  

every public company should have an audit committee meeting at least twice a year

Discussion 0
Questions 37

To fall in scope of mandatory compliance with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), companies would need to meet which of the following conditions?

Condition 1EUR40 million in net turnover

Condition 2EUR20 million in assets

Condition 3250 or more employees

Options:

A.  

Any one of these conditions

B.  

Any two of these conditions

C.  

All three of these conditions

Discussion 0
Questions 38

Which of the following technologies is most likely to be viewed by investors as a strategic solution to the decarbonization of high-temperature processes?

Options:

A.  

Nuclear fusion

B.  

Next-generation battery storage

C.  

The use of renewable energy to produce hydrogen

Discussion 0
Questions 39

Compared with younger people, older people are more likely to have:

Options:

A.  

lower accumulated savings and spend less on consumer goods

B.  

higher accumulated savings and spend less on consumer goods.

C.  

higher accumulated savings and spend more on consumer goods

Discussion 0
Questions 40

According to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the four realms of nature include

Options:

A.  

land

B.  

pollution.

C.  

biodiversity

Discussion 0
Questions 41

Which of the following would most likely be the initial step when drafting a client's investment mandate?

Options:

A.  

Clarifying the client's ESG investment beliefs

B.  

Defining how ESG performance will be measured

C.  

Reflecting the client's investment beliefs operationally in the fund manager’s investment approach

Discussion 0
Questions 42

A bond issued to fund projects that provide a clear benefit to the environment best describes a:

Options:

A.  

green bond.

B.  

transition bond.

C.  

sustainability-linked bond.

Discussion 0
Questions 43

The triple bottom line accounting theory considers people, profit, and:

Options:

A.  

planet

B.  

efficiency.

C.  

licence to operate

Discussion 0
Questions 44

With respect to ESG integration, adjusting financial model inputs based on an evaluation of a company’s ESG risk factors is an example of a:

Options:

A.  

hybrid approach

B.  

qualitative approach.

C.  

quantitative approach

Discussion 0
Questions 45

According to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) materiality risk mapping, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are most material for the

Options:

A.  

financial sector

B.  

healthcare sector.

C.  

infrastructure sector

Discussion 0
Questions 46

Assessing the alignment of local labor laws with International Labour Organization (ILO) principles is an example of social analysis at the:

Options:

A.  

sector level

B.  

country level.

C.  

company level

Discussion 0
Questions 47

Which of the following is an example of a secondary data source?

Options:

A.  

A news article

B.  

An ESG rating

C.  

A survey of employees

Discussion 0
Questions 48

In ESG integration, which of the following best describes a data-mformed analytical opinion designed to support investment decision-making?

Options:

A.  

ESG screening

B.  

Integrated research

C.  

Voting and governance advice

Discussion 0
Questions 49

A challenge for investors involved in collective engagement is to:

Options:

A.  

avoid breaching rules regarding acting in concert.

B.  

increase the range of messages reaching the target company.

C.  

prevent informal dialogue between individual fund managers' stewardship teams.

Discussion 0
Questions 50

When integrating governance factors into decision-making, a fund manager with a simple level of confidence in the valuation range is most likely using:

Options:

A.  

Risk assessment

B.  

Threshold assessment

C.  

Stewardship dialogue

Discussion 0
Questions 51

Information for use in ESG tools can be collected directly via:

Options:

A.  

News articles

B.  

Third-party reports

C.  

Company communications

Discussion 0
Questions 52

Which of the following requires two audit firms to look at financial statements, rather than the usual one?

Options:

A.  

France

B.  

Germany

C.  

United Kingdom

Discussion 0
Questions 53

Which of the following best protects minority shareholders when a company raises additional capital?

Options:

A.  

Dual-class share structures

B.  

General mandate resolutions

C.  

Pre-emption rights

Discussion 0
Questions 54

According to the Principles for Responsible Investment, which of the following is not an ESG engagement dynamic creating value for investors and companies?

Options:

A.  

Cultural dynamics

B.  

Learning dynamics

C.  

Communicative dynamics

D.  

Political dynamics

Discussion 0
Questions 55

The EU Paris-Aligned Benchmarks:

Options:

A.  

Have at least an equal green-to-brown investment ratio.

B.  

Permit fossil fuel investment as part of a transition process.

C.  

Require a reduction of carbon emission intensity by at least 50% in their starting years.

Discussion 0
Questions 56

Which of the following statements is most accurate? For ESG credit scoring, credit rating agencies test how ESG factors affect an issuer's:

Options:

A.  

cost of capital.

B.  

credit default swaps.

C.  

qualification to issue green bonds.

Discussion 0
Questions 57

A retailer facing a consumer boycott due to its poor working conditions will most likely face:

Options:

A.  

Significant liabilities.

B.  

Greater operating costs.

C.  

An adverse impact on revenues.

Discussion 0
Questions 58

A material ESG risk that cannot be addressed by company initiatives is best described as:

Options:

A.  

an idiosyncratic risk

B.  

the management gap

C.  

an unmanageable risk

D.  

a non-material exposure

Discussion 0
Questions 59

The risk-return dynamic of ESG portfolio optimization most likely:

Options:

A.  

applies a fixed decision to specific securities.

B.  

accepts lower active risk for multiple factor optimization.

C.  

organizes the securities by their individual ESG profile to solve a specific optimization.

Discussion 0
Questions 60

When using mean-variance optimization (MVO) models, ESG-related issues most likely:

Options:

A.  

Have no impact on model assumptions about expected return and volatility.

B.  

Would be inappropriate for expanding regional asset mixes.

C.  

Have the potential to add new sub-asset classes.

Discussion 0
Questions 61

A private debt fund manager is most likely to engage with borrowers on material ESG risks through:

Options:

A.  

Voting.

B.  

Board seats.

C.  

Ongoing dialogue.

Discussion 0
Questions 62

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises:

Options:

A.  

Focus on the impact social factors can have on investments.

B.  

Focus on the responsibility investors have for the adverse impacts of investments on society.

C.  

Provide mandatory standards for responsible business conduct in areas such as human rights.

Discussion 0
Questions 63

In ESG investing, exclusionary preferences are most likely to:

Options:

A.  

increase the investable universe.

B.  

have no return-generation implications.

C.  

be adopted by asset owners rather than by asset managers.

Discussion 0
Questions 64

Mass migration from developing countries to developed countries is most likely caused by:

Options:

A.  

Desertification only

B.  

Scarcity of fresh water only

C.  

Both desertification and scarcity of fresh water

Discussion 0
Questions 65

Organizing companies according to their sustainability attributes, such as resource intensity, sustainability risks, and innovation opportunities, best describes the:

Options:

A.  

Morningstar sustainability rating

B.  

Sustainable Industry Classification System (SICS)

C.  

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework

D.  

ESG Data Convergence Initiative

Discussion 0
Questions 66

ESG indices are best characterized by:

Options:

A.  

Standardized methodology for ESG performance.

B.  

Increased risk of investing in assets with negative ESG impacts.

C.  

Difficulty of back-testing performance across multiple market cycles.

Discussion 0
Questions 67

In addition to an audit committee, almost all major companies have:

Options:

A.  

sustainability and risk committees.

B.  

remuneration and risk committees.

C.  

nomination and remuneration committees.

Discussion 0
Questions 68

Which of the following ESG risks is not well suited for inclusion in the discount rate?

Options:

A.  

Sector-wide risk

B.  

Market-wide risk

C.  

Company-specific risk

Discussion 0
Questions 69

Which of the following statements about scorecards used to assess ESG factors is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

The scorecard technique could not be used on private companies

B.  

Scorecards translate qualitative judgements into numerical scores

C.  

The scorecard technique could not be adapted to scoring countries for sovereign bond analysis

Discussion 0
Questions 70

Performance materiality:

Options:

A.  

Is usually higher than overall materiality.

B.  

Is set lower when financial controls are strong.

C.  

Can indicate the auditor’s level of trust in a company’s financial systems.

Discussion 0
Questions 71

Which of the following statements about ESG tools is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Most ESG tools are available free of charge.

B.  

Completeness of coverage varies substantially across ESG tools.

C.  

Methodologies used to prepare ratings by providers remain unchanged over time.

Discussion 0
Questions 72

Stewardship codes initially focused on which of the following asset classes?

Options:

A.  

Fixed income

B.  

Private equity

C.  

Public equities

Discussion 0
Questions 73

ESG performance attribution:

Options:

A.  

Is simple to apply within fixed-income portfolios.

B.  

Can be measured using commercially available tools.

C.  

Can be decomposed using Brinson and risk factor attribution.

Discussion 0
Questions 74

Which of the following statements regarding natural resources is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Economic downturns increase pressure on natural resources.

B.  

Green economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources.

C.  

Companies with exposure to deforestation in their supply chains may face cost volatility.

Discussion 0
Questions 75

Which of the following would most likely see its estimate of intrinsic value increased by analysts?

Options:

A.  

A company with high climate-related risk.

B.  

A company facing significant environmental regulations.

C.  

A company having launched a service that reduces customers' electricity usage.

Discussion 0
Questions 76

Which of the following economists used the dismal theorem to argue that a standard cost–benefit analysis is inadequate to deal with the potential downside losses from climate change?

Options:

A.  

Kate Raworth

B.  

Nicholas Stern

C.  

Martin Weitzman

Discussion 0
Questions 77

Which of the following statements regarding availability of ESG data is most accurate? According to the Principles of Responsible Investment:

Options:

A.  

data for corporate bond issuers is disclosed by public sources.

B.  

data availability for sovereign bond issuers can be inconsistent.

C.  

peer comparison of data across corporate bond issuers can be difficult.

Discussion 0
Questions 78

Which of the following social factors are most likely to impact external stakeholders?

Options:

A.  

Labor rights

B.  

Product liability

C.  

Human capital development

Discussion 0
Questions 79

A company has an audit contract with one Big Four firm and non-audit contracts with two other Big Four firms. Which scenario is most likely to materialize when the company rotates its auditors?

Options:

A.  

The new auditor will be eligible for new non-audit contracts

B.  

There will be a sub-optimal level of competition for the audit

C.  

The new auditor will miss material issues that the existing auditor would have identified

Discussion 0
Questions 80

A potential challenge for an asset owner implementing responsible investment is:

Options:

A.  

A lack of suitable indices

B.  

Consultants assessing too many products with ESG characteristics

C.  

The inability of the asset owner to influence the way fund managers interpret fiduciary duty

Discussion 0
Questions 81

Which of the following is a principle of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative?

Options:

A.  

Achieving net zero by 2025

B.  

Aligning all assets under management (AUM) to net zero immediately

C.  

Implementing engagement strategies with investee companies to encourage net zero alignment

Discussion 0
Questions 82

Which of the following data are most likely the easiest to optimize in a portfolio?

Options:

A.  

Social

B.  

Governance

C.  

Environmental

Discussion 0
Questions 83

Shocks around pay levels at newly privatized utilities led to the:

Options:

A.  

Dodd-Frank Act

B.  

Greenbury Report

C.  

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Discussion 0
Questions 84

Which of the following is one of the main principles of stewardship codes?

Options:

A.  

Thoughtfully intelligent voting

B.  

Avoid considering conflicts of interest regarding stewardship matters

C.  

Escalation of stewardship activity must include a willingness to act independently of other investors

Discussion 0
Questions 85

An analyst evaluates the following statements about investor engagement:

Statement 1:Investor engagement focuses on preserving and enhancing short-term value on behalf of an asset owner.

Statement 2:Investor engagement can encompass lobbying as part of industry groups.

Which of the statements is accurate?

Options:

A.  

Statement 1 only

B.  

Statement 2 only

C.  

Both Statement 1 and Statement 2

Discussion 0
Questions 86

Within fixed income, ESG integration is most developed in:

Options:

A.  

Sovereign debt

B.  

Corporate bonds

C.  

Securitized bonds

Discussion 0
Questions 87

Which of the following ESG risks is most likely to impact sovereign debt?

Options:

A.  

Cybersecurity risks

B.  

Political stability and governance risks

C.  

Executive compensation structures

Discussion 0
Questions 88

When using mean-variance optimization (MVO) models, ESG-related issues most likely:

Options:

A.  

Have the potential to add new sub-asset classes

B.  

Would be inappropriate for expanding regional asset mixes

C.  

Have no impact on model assumptions about expected return and volatility

Discussion 0
Questions 89

Which of the following is most likely an effect of an aging population?

Options:

A.  

Reduced healthcare expenditures

B.  

Increased business risk for the consumer goods sector

C.  

Increased ratio between the active and inactive part of the workforce

Discussion 0
Questions 90

Scorecards to assess ESG factors:

Options:

A.  

Cannot be used to compare a performance with industry averages

B.  

Can be adapted to analyze sovereign bonds

C.  

Are usually developed based on ESG scores from third-party providers

Discussion 0
Questions 91

When determining ESG investment mandates, an asset owner should consider:

Options:

A.  

Its tactical asset allocation only

B.  

Its strategic asset allocation only

C.  

Both its tactical asset allocation and its strategic asset allocation

Discussion 0
Questions 92

The main growth driver of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is:

Options:

A.  

Methane from the melting permafrost

B.  

Carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry

C.  

Carbon dioxide from land use, land-use change, and forestry

Discussion 0
Questions 93

Which of the following best describes an Earth system that will exhibit large-scale and long-term changes when reaching critical levels of global warming?

Options:

A.  

Tipping elements

B.  

Planetary boundaries

C.  

Environmental externalities

Discussion 0
Questions 94

The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) full benchmark report provides a GRESB score. The GRESB score includes and weights which of the following considerations?

    Management, policy, and disclosure

    Overall portfolio key performance indicator (KPI) performance

Options:

A.  

I, but not II

B.  

II, but not I

C.  

Both I and II

Discussion 0
Questions 95

According to the Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI), which of the following is an example of a social issue?

Options:

A.  

Lobbying

B.  

Employee relations

C.  

Bribery and corruption

Discussion 0
Questions 96

Which of the following statements is most accurate? The Kyoto Protocol was created to:

Options:

A.  

Encourage companies to make climate-related disclosures

B.  

Mobilize private sector finance for sustainable development

C.  

Commit industrialized countries to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Discussion 0
Questions 97

ESG indices that exclude economically meaningful sectors will most likely:

Options:

A.  

Have a lower cost structure than conventional index-based strategies

B.  

Generate a higher tracking error than conventional index-based strategies

C.  

Have stronger stewardship activities than actively managed ESG strategies

Discussion 0
Questions 98

In the context of effective corporate governance, the use of alternative performance metrics (APMs) most directly raises questions about:

Options:

A.  

Board structure

B.  

Director independence

C.  

Reporting and transparency

Discussion 0
Questions 99

According to an OECD Centre for Opportunity and Equality (COPE) 2015 report, the average income of the richest 10% of the population is about:

Options:

A.  

4 times that of the poorest 10% across the OECD

B.  

9 times that of the poorest 10% across the OECD

C.  

14 times that of the poorest 10% across the OECD

Discussion 0
Questions 100

Elements of ESG integration include adjusting:

Options:

A.  

Financial forecasts only

B.  

Valuation multiples only

C.  

Both financial forecasts and valuation multiples

Discussion 0
Questions 101

A benefit of carbon footprinting is that:

Options:

A.  

It is forward-looking

B.  

It uses standardized methodologies

C.  

It can aggregate emissions across geographies

Discussion 0
Questions 102

Which of the following is an example of a stranded asset?

Options:

A.  

A coal power plant forced to close due to new carbon regulations

B.  

A technology company that loses market share to a competitor

C.  

A stock that experiences a short-term price decline

Discussion 0
Questions 103

Which of the following is a global agreement to phase out the manufacture of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)?

Options:

A.  

Nagoya Protocol

B.  

Basel Convention

C.  

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

Discussion 0
Questions 104

For sovereign debt, the predominant approach to ESG investing is most likely:

Options:

A.  

Screening

B.  

Integration

C.  

Stewardship/Engagement

Discussion 0
Questions 105

According to the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which of the following drivers of nature change can directly translate into a positive impact on circular economy principles?

Options:

A.  

Pollution

B.  

Resource use

C.  

Climate change

Discussion 0
Questions 106

Firms using an engagement style focusing first on individual companies, starting with the chair, and working through the board and down to management most likely have a(n):

Options:

A.  

Social heritage

B.  

Governance heritage

C.  

Environmental heritage

Discussion 0
Questions 107

Negative screening of tobacco-related products is best grouped into which of the following basic categories?

Options:

A.  

Universal exclusion

B.  

Idiosyncratic exclusion

C.  

Conduct-related exclusion

Discussion 0
Questions 108

Green investment is a broad sub-category of:

Options:

A.  

Philanthropy.

B.  

Ethical investment.

C.  

Thematic investment.

Discussion 0
Questions 109

According to the "Shades of Green" methodology developed by the Center for International Climate Research (CICERO), which of the following best categorizes a green bond where accurate assessment of the contribution of the project or solution to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future is not possible with the information available?

Options:

A.  

Yellow.

B.  

Light Green.

C.  

Medium Green.

Discussion 0
Questions 110

A fund focused on investing in the best ESG performers relative to industry peers across a range of different criteria is most likely engaged in:

Options:

A.  

positive screening only.

B.  

norms-based screening only.

C.  

both positive screening and norms-based screening.

Discussion 0
Questions 111

Compared to equities, bonds most likely:

Options:

A.  

have an infinite maturity.

B.  

have a wider range of issuers.

C.  

are inferior in the capital structure.

Discussion 0
Questions 112

ESG factors can affect credit risk at:

Options:

A.  

Issuer level only.

B.  

Industry level only.

C.  

Both issuer level and industry level.

Discussion 0
Questions 113

A meat-processing company does not sell its pork products in predominantly Muslim countries. Investing in the company on this basis would be considered an example of:

Options:

A.  

faith-based investing.

B.  

norms-based exclusion.

C.  

considering religion as a social factor.

Discussion 0
Questions 114

Which issue was most similar in the governance challenges faced by Enron and WeWork?

Options:

A.  

Auditor lapses

B.  

Related-party deals

C.  

Dominance of the chief executive officer (CEO)

Discussion 0
Questions 115

An investor uses relative screening for 20 sustainable funds. In the sequence of steps outlined by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), which step immediately follows publicizing clear screening criteria?

Options:

A.  

Introducing oversight

B.  

Reviewing portfolio implications

C.  

Adapting the investment process

Discussion 0
Questions 116

The world's first formal corporate governance code emerged in:

Options:

A.  

Germany.

B.  

The United States.

C.  

The United Kingdom.

Discussion 0
Questions 117

Concerns about the capital structure and financial viability of an investee company are most likely reflected in an active investor's voting decisions in relation to:

Options:

A.  

Share issuance

B.  

The auditor's compensation

C.  

The reelection of non-executive board directors

Discussion 0
Questions 118

Which of the following corporate governance structures is most common around the world?

Options:

A.  

Joint auditors

B.  

Single-tier boards

C.  

Cumulative voting

Discussion 0
Questions 119

Which of the following statements regarding the effects of an aging population is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Older people spend less on consumer goods.

B.  

The ratio of active to inactive workers increases.

C.  

Older people have lower accumulated savings per person than younger people.

Discussion 0
Questions 120

A challenge to ESG integration for investment managers is the:

Options:

A.  

Narrow range of possible ESG data.

B.  

Inherently subjective nature of ESG analysis.

C.  

High correlation among third-party ESG ratings.

Discussion 0
Questions 121

The scorecard technique to assess ESG risks is dependent on:

Options:

A.  

third-party scores.

B.  

third-party research.

C.  

company disclosures.

Discussion 0
Questions 122

The planet’s largest carbon reservoir is the:

Options:

A.  

Ocean

B.  

Rainforest

C.  

Atmosphere

Discussion 0
Questions 123

In the transition to a low-carbon economy, a coal-powered utility without a mitigation strategy will most likely pose the highest risk to its:

Options:

A.  

Debtholders.

B.  

Common shareholders.

C.  

Preference shareholders.

Discussion 0
Questions 124

Which of the following statements about ESG integration in credit ratings is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

ESG factors do not affect an issuer’s ability to convert assets into cash.

B.  

Rating providers tend to overcomplicate industry weighting and company alignment.

C.  

There is a geographical bias toward companies in regions with high reporting standards.

Discussion 0
Questions 125

Among ESG data and research providers, traditional providers tend to:

Options:

A.  

Be highly automated.

B.  

Focus on small and less-covered companies.

C.  

Have a broader product offering and research focus.

Discussion 0
Questions 126

A credit investor uses fundamental credit measures and sector-specific ESG indicators to evaluate a beverage company. Water is a key input for the ingredients used in the company's products. For the investor, the company's efforts to ensure a steady supply of water would most likely be considered:

Options:

A.  

A credit strength only.

B.  

An ESG strength only.

C.  

Both a credit strength and an ESG strength.

Discussion 0
Questions 127

Scorecards for ESG analysis are most likely used to translate:

Options:

A.  

Qualitative judgments on material ESG factors into numerical scores.

B.  

Quantitative judgments on material ESG factors into numerical scores.

C.  

Qualitative judgments on only the mandatory ESG factors into numerical scores.

Discussion 0
Questions 128

Which of the following frameworks created requirements to disclose the extent to which investment products consider or promote environmental and social factors?

Options:

A.  

EU Taxonomy Regulation

B.  

EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

C.  

EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

Discussion 0
Questions 129

According to market reviews conducted by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance at the start of 2022, the smallest sustainable investment strategy globally (in terms of assets) is:

Options:

A.  

Impact investing.

B.  

Best-in-class investing.

C.  

Norms-based screening.

Discussion 0
Questions 130

Which of the following statements regarding engagement and stewardship is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Smaller asset owners seek to carry out stewardship activities directly themselves.

B.  

Engagement focuses on preserving and enhancing long-term value of the investee company.

C.  

Investor engagement in response to a share price fall is more likely to be effective than long-standing messaging.

Discussion 0
Questions 131

If an index excludes companies that earn revenues from gambling, the index is most likely using:

Options:

A.  

Faith-based exclusions.

B.  

Idiosyncratic exclusions.

C.  

Conduct-related exclusions.

Discussion 0
Questions 132

Which of the following statements about stewardship codes is most accurate? Stewardship codes:

Options:

A.  

apply only to public equity investments.

B.  

have similar principles in most parts of the world.

C.  

pursue social policy goals without making a clear link to value.

Discussion 0
Questions 133

If a Japanese company's board does not have committees, it most likely:

Options:

A.  

Has a cross-shareholding practice.

B.  

Follows a statutory auditor approach.

C.  

Is in breach of the national Corporate Governance Code.

Discussion 0
Questions 134

According to an OECD Centre for Opportunity and Equality (COPE) 2015 report, the average income of the richest 10% of the population is about:

Options:

A.  

4 times that of the poorest 10 percent across the OECD.

B.  

9 times that of the poorest 10 percent across the OECD.

C.  

14 times that of the poorest 10 percent across the OECD.

Discussion 0
Questions 135

Which of the following statements regarding the impact of social issues on potential investment opportunities is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Social trends impact sectors differently.

B.  

Companies within a sector are exposed to social factors in the same way.

C.  

Analyzing which social topics are material from an investment point of view starts with understanding materiality at the company level.

Discussion 0
Questions 136

ESG datasets are best characterized by:

Options:

A.  

Extensive history.

B.  

Voluntary disclosure.

C.  

Common reporting standards.

Discussion 0
Questions 137

Which of the following is best referred to as secondary ESG data?

Options:

A.  

Bloomberg ESG Disclosure Score.

B.  

Survey results on employee satisfaction provided by Glassdoor.

C.  

A transcript of an interview with a company's chief financial officer (CFO).

Discussion 0
Questions 138

Which of the following statements about executive pay in public companies is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Pay levels are broadly similar in different markets

B.  

Pay structures are broadly similar in much of the world

C.  

Pay is directly negotiated between investors and management

Discussion 0
Questions 139

When considering material ESG factors in real estate, which of the following is classified as an environmental factor?

Options:

A.  

Local job creation

B.  

Community engagement

C.  

Use of renewable energy

Discussion 0
Questions 140

Over the last several years a company has traded at an average price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 12x, compared to a peer group range of 11x to 13x. If the company implements a new risk management framework to better manage material ESG risks relative to its peers, it would most likely justify a P/E ratio of:

Options:

A.  

11x

B.  

12x

C.  

13x

Discussion 0
Questions 141

Which of the following private equity investors is most susceptible to allegations of greenwashing? An investor that views ESG integration as a way of:

Options:

A.  

Adding value

B.  

Managing risk

C.  

Attracting clients

Discussion 0
Questions 142

In the revised 2020 version of the UK Stewardship Code, a significant change is that signatories are now required to:

Options:

A.  

establish clear guidelines for escalating their activities.

B.  

publicly disclose how stewardship is integrated into their investment process.

C.  

report annually how stewardship activities have delivered practical results for clients.

Discussion 0
Questions 143

Bonds that fund projects that provide access to essential services, infrastructure, and social programs to underserved people and communities are best described as:

Options:

A.  

green bonds.

B.  

social bonds.

C.  

transition bonds.

Discussion 0
Questions 144

ESG integration should be considered as part of:

Options:

A.  

systematic strategies only.

B.  

discretionary strategies only.

C.  

both systematic strategies and discretionary strategies.

Discussion 0
Questions 145

Engagement is least appropriate for which of the following investment types?

Options:

A.  

Private debt

B.  

Infrastructure

C.  

Sovereign debt

Discussion 0
Questions 146

If a company faces significant environmental regulations, investors would most likely decrease the company’s:

Options:

A.  

discount rate.

B.  

terminal growth rate.

C.  

cash flow projections.

Discussion 0
Questions 147

A common characteristic of the EU Paris-Aligned Benchmarks and the EU Climate Transition Benchmarks is that they both:

Options:

A.  

permit only green investments.

B.  

permit fossil fuel investments as part of a transition process.

C.  

require a reduction in carbon emissions intensity in the starting year.

Discussion 0
Questions 148

According to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Standards, the emissions associated with suppliers and consumers are classified as:

Options:

A.  

Scope 1 emissions

B.  

Scope 2 emissions

C.  

Scope 3 emissions

Discussion 0
Questions 149

The UK's Green Finance Strategy identifies the policy lever of greening finance as:

Options:

A.  

strengthening the role of the UK financial sector in driving green finance.

B.  

directing private sector financial flows to economic activities that support an environmentally sustainable and resilient growth.

C.  

ensuring that the financial sector systematically considers environmental and climate factors in its lending and investment activities.

Discussion 0
Questions 150

A portfolio manager of an ESG fund attempting to outperform the general market is most likely to:

Options:

A.  

ignore non-financial risks.

B.  

apply a lower discount rate to companies that poorly manage social factors.

C.  

invest in companies that identify social trends early on and adapt their strategy.

Discussion 0
Questions 151

Which of the following is an example of the internalization of negative externalities?

Options:

A.  

A car manufacturer receiving subsidies for electric car production

B.  

A farmer paying taxes based on the level of soil degradation on its farmland

C.  

An electronics manufacturer retaining more employees after improving working conditions

Discussion 0
Questions 152

The International Corporate Governance Network's (ICGN) Model Mandate Initiative requests two areas of ESG-specific disclosure. Which of the following is not one of the disclosures?

Options:

A.  

A comprehensive ESG-linked performance attribution analysis

B.  

A detailed disclosure of stewardship engagement and voting activity

C.  

The manager's assessment of ESG risks that are embedded in the portfolio

Discussion 0
Questions 153

A globally aging population has resulted in the ratio between the active and inactive parts of the workforce to:

Options:

A.  

decrease.

B.  

remain about the same.

C.  

increase.

Discussion 0
Questions 154

According to the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which of the following is a dimension of sustainable investing applied by fund managers?

Options:

A.  

Public reporting

B.  

Security valuation

C.  

Strategic asset allocation

Discussion 0
Questions 155

Alignment of an investment manager’s performance against a long-term ESG investor’s objectives is best achieved by which of the following?

Options:

A.  

Benchmarking against the market

B.  

Engaging in a monitoring dialogue frequently

C.  

Early reporting of deviations from the expected investment process or style

Discussion 0
Questions 156

With respect to ESG reporting:

Options:

A.  

management has little discretion over ESG disclosures.

B.  

larger companies face more resource constraints than smaller companies.

C.  

business customers may receive ESG information that is not publicly available to investors.

Discussion 0
Questions 157

A mature company has launched a product that reduces customers' electricity usage. This should be incorporated into the company’s discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis by increasing its:

Options:

A.  

cost of capital.

B.  

revenue projections.

C.  

required rate of return.

Discussion 0
Questions 158

Which of the following is best described as a form of engagement that requires institutions to have a formal agreement with concrete objectives and agreed steps?

Options:

A.  

Concert party

B.  

Soliciting support

C.  

Collaborative campaigns

Discussion 0
Questions 159

According to market reviews conducted by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance at the start of 2020, sustainable investing assets in the five major markets stood at approximately:

Options:

A.  

USD 20 trillion.

B.  

USD 35 trillion.

C.  

USD 60 trillion.

Discussion 0
Questions 160

Which of the following statements about the materiality of social factors is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Population aging is more important to emerging markets than developed markets

B.  

The importance of a specific social issue depends on the regional or country context

C.  

The difference between rural and urban areas is greater in the developed world than in emerging markets

Discussion 0
Questions 161

With respect to ESG reporting, company management has:

Options:

A.  

No discretion over ESG disclosures

B.  

Little discretion over ESG disclosures

C.  

Wide discretion over ESG disclosures

Discussion 0
Questions 162

Which of the following ESG integration techniques is an example of policy engagement? An investor:

Options:

A.  

Embedding ESG into their strategic asset allocation program

B.  

Responding to a regulator’s public consultation on ESG issues

C.  

Voting on resolutions at an investee company's annual general meeting

Discussion 0
Questions 163

A family office is best categorized as an:

Options:

A.  

asset owner.

B.  

intermediary.

C.  

asset manager.

Discussion 0
Questions 164

Determining which ESG issues are material:

Options:

A.  

Involves judgment

B.  

Excludes impacts on short-term financial performance

C.  

Is a process that is independent of a company's industry and business model

Discussion 0
Questions 165

Which of the following is an example of indirectly sourced primary ESG data?

Options:

A.  

News articles

B.  

Company reports

C.  

Bloomberg ESG Disclosure scores

Discussion 0
Questions 166

Research on ESG integration in strategic asset allocation has tended to focus most on:

Options:

A.  

environmental criteria.

B.  

social criteria.

C.  

governance criteria.

Discussion 0
Questions 167

Which of the following pension fund actors are most likely exposed to fiduciary legal risks from financial losses caused by climate change?

Options:

A.  

Trustees

B.  

Members

C.  

Executives

Discussion 0
Questions 168

When using a threshold assessment to integrate governance factors into the investment decision-making process, fund managers most likely focus on the:

Options:

A.  

cost of capital

B.  

quality of management

C.  

level of confidence about future earnings

Discussion 0
Questions 169

A company’s emission reduction commitments are best evaluated using:

Options:

A.  

Scope 3 emissions.

B.  

science-based targets.

C.  

financial modelling of material environmental factors.

Discussion 0
Questions 170

Which of the following is an example of secondary data?

Options:

A.  

A news article

B.  

A letter to shareholders

C.  

A Bloomberg Disclosure score

Discussion 0
Questions 171

Which of the following would credit rating agencies (CRAs) most likely focus on in order to test how well an issuer’s management uses the assets under its control to generate sales and profit?

Options:

A.  

Efficiency ratios

B.  

Capital structure analysis

C.  

Profitability and cash flow analysis

Discussion 0
Questions 172

Natural language processing (NLP) is employed as a tool in ESG investing to:

Options:

A.  

backtest short time series of ESG data.

B.  

quantify online text relating to ESG risk areas.

C.  

interpret satellite imagery to assess deforestation.

Discussion 0
Questions 173

For engagement strategies to deliver meaningful results in a cost-effective and time-effective manner, investors must:

Options:

A.  

identify which company in their portfolio is most in need of engagement

B.  

raise all possible concerns with the company which has the most risk in their portfolios

C.  

frame the engagement topic into a broader discussion around strategy and avoid discussing long-term financial performance with a company's board

Discussion 0
Questions 174

Which of the following actions is best categorized as an escalation of engagement?

Options:

A.  

Arranging a meeting with the investor relations team

B.  

Engaging management through an operational site visit

C.  

Submitting resolutions and speaking at general meetings

Discussion 0
Questions 175

EU regulators manage the independence of audits for public companies by:

Options:

A.  

requiring companies to rotate auditors after a maximum of ten years.

B.  

setting a monetary limit on advisory services provided to companies.

C.  

preventing audit partners from joining audit and risk committees as non-executive directors.

Discussion 0
Questions 176

In which of the following circumstances is Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) most applicable?

Options:

A.  

Members agreeing to a social media platform’s privacy policy

B.  

Company constructing a fish farm next to a native waterfront community

C.  

Governments passing international standards against forced labor practices

Discussion 0
Questions 177

What type of provider of ESG-related products and services is CDP (formerly known as Carbon Disclosure Project)?

Options:

A.  

nonprofit

B.  

large for-profit

C.  

boutique for-profit

Discussion 0
Questions 178

Measuring a portfolio's carbon intensity using the European Union's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) accounts for:

Options:

A.  

Scope 1 emissions only.

B.  

Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions only.

C.  

Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions.

Discussion 0
Questions 179

Which of the following would most likely be the initial step when drafting a client’s investment mandate?

Options:

A.  

Defining how to measure ESG performance

B.  

Clarifying the client's ESG investment beliefs

C.  

Defining how to measure financial performance

Discussion 0
Questions 180

Stock exchanges can contribute to the growth of ESG market by:

Options:

A.  

supporting companies to issue more ESG-oriented bonds.

B.  

increasing the disclosure requirements on ESG data by listed companies.

C.  

considering ESG factors when voting on behalf of shareholders at companies' annual general meetings.

Discussion 0
Questions 181

A materiality assessment to identify ESG issues impacting a company's financial performance is most likely measured in terms of:

Options:

A.  

likelihood only.

B.  

magnitude of impact only.

C.  

both likelihood and magnitude of impact.

Discussion 0
Questions 182

When assessing the investment risk of a coal mining company, the concept of double materiality refers to the company reporting on matters of:

Options:

A.  

current and future materiality

B.  

people and planet materiality

C.  

financial and impact materiality

Discussion 0
Questions 183

Which of the following would most likely see its estimate of intrinsic value increased by analysts?

Options:

A.  

A company with high climate-related risk

B.  

A company facing significant environmental regulations

C.  

A company having launched a service that reduces customers’ electricity usage

Discussion 0
Questions 184

Which of the following governance initiatives was focused on increased oversight of banks?

Options:

A.  

The Dodd-Frank Act

B.  

The Greenbury Report

C.  

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Discussion 0
Questions 185

In response to policy changes, several of the world’s largest automakers made pledges to halt producing cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. Which of the following would an asset manager most appropriately use to address this trend?

Options:

A.  

Factor risk asset allocation model

B.  

Liability-driven asset allocation model

C.  

Regime switching asset allocation model

Discussion 0
Questions 186

ESG screens embedded within portfolio guidelines can be used as:

Options:

A.  

a risk management tool only.

B.  

a source of investment advantage only.

C.  

both a risk management tool and a source of investment advantage.

Discussion 0
Questions 187

Which of the following is an example of collaborative engagement?

Options:

A.  

Follow-on dialogue

B.  

Active public engagement

C.  

Housekeeping engagement

Discussion 0
Questions 188

A bond issued to finance construction of a solar farm is an example of a:

Options:

A.  

blue bond

B.  

green bond

C.  

transition bond

Discussion 0
Questions 189

Organizing companies according to their sustainability attributes, such as resource intensity, sustainability risks, and innovation opportunities, best describes the:

Options:

A.  

Morningstar sustainability rating.

B.  

Sustainable Industry Classification System (SICS).

C.  

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Discussion 0
Questions 190

Impact investment funds most likely align their portfolios with:

Options:

A.  

Sustainable Development Goals.

B.  

ESG frameworks that are norms-based.

C.  

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Discussion 0
Questions 191

Exclusionary screening:

Options:

A.  

reduces portfolio tracking error and active share.

B.  

is the oldest and simplest approach within responsible investment.

C.  

employs a given ESG rating methodology to identify companies with better ESG performance relative to its industry peers.

Discussion 0
Questions 192

In Australia, a managing director of a company is the:

Options:

A.  

executive chair.

B.  

only executive director.

C.  

former CEO of the company.

Discussion 0
Questions 193

Under the UK listing regime, Class 1 transactions:

Options:

A.  

must be approved via shareholder vote.

B.  

can be completed at management's discretion.

C.  

require additional disclosures to shareholders but no approval via shareholder vote.

Discussion 0
Questions 194

A company is accused of surveying employees to prevent them from forming a union. The decision of an asset manager to divest from holding shares in the company is an example of:

Options:

A.  

universal exclusion.

B.  

idiosyncratic exclusion.

C.  

conduct-related exclusion.

Discussion 0
Questions 195

Corporate engagement and shareholder action is the predominant investment strategy in:

Options:

A.  

Japan

B.  

Europe

C.  

the United States

Discussion 0
Questions 196

Which of the following best summarizes the studies on carbon risk?

Options:

A.  

Companies with lower levels of CO2 emissions are associated with higher returns

B.  

Companies with higher levels of CO2 emissions are associated with higher returns

C.  

There is no conclusive evidence on the link between a company's level of CO2 emissions and returns

Discussion 0
Questions 197

New technologies have enabled workers to:

Options:

A.  

improve their work-life balance only.

B.  

adopt more flexible working patterns only.

C.  

both improve their work-life balance and adopt more flexible working patterns.

Discussion 0
Questions 198

The launch of the European Green Deal in 2020 is intended to:

Options:

A.  

make the European Union climate neutral by 2050.

B.  

reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union by 55% by 2030.

C.  

mobilize $372 billion across the European Union of which 30% will contribute to climate objectives.

Discussion 0
Questions 199

Which of the following approaches best describes a goal of creating long-term stakeholder value by focusing on ethical, social, environmental, cultural, and economic dimensions?

Options:

A.  

ESG integration

B.  

Corporate engagement

C.  

Corporate sustainability

Discussion 0
Questions 200

With respect to double materiality reporting, companies often use which of the following when assessing their positive impact on the organization, society and the environment?

Options:

A.  

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

B.  

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

C.  

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct

Discussion 0
Questions 201

Single-tier boards are typical in:

Options:

A.  

China.

B.  

the UK.

C.  

Germany.

Discussion 0
Questions 202

An asset owner’s ESG policies need to address how portfolio managers:

Options:

A.  

establish the rationale for ESG assessment.

B.  

disclose ESG exposures selectively to investors most affected by the exposures.

C.  

assess ESG risk exposures independent of the overall risk management function.

Discussion 0
Questions 203

An ESG contingent asset for a health care company may result from:

Options:

A.  

acting as custodians of its customers’ medical details.

B.  

employee recruiting strategies that trail best practices.

C.  

its data analytics business allowing the company to create cheaper health care options for governments.

Discussion 0
Questions 204

A smaller and older workforce in some countries will place a greater onus on productivity for driving growth according to which of the following ESG megatrends?

Options:

A.  

Emerging markets and urbanization

B.  

Climate change and resource scarcity

C.  

Demographic changes and wealth inequality

Discussion 0
Questions 205

According to the fundamental conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which of the following should not be supported as a labor right by companies?

Options:

A.  

Forced labor

B.  

Equal remuneration

C.  

Collective bargaining

Discussion 0
Questions 206

Concerns about the capital structure and financial viability of an investee company are most likely reflected in an active investor’s voting decisions in relation to:

Options:

A.  

dividends.

B.  

the auditor's compensation.

C.  

the reelection of non-executive board directors.

Discussion 0
Questions 207

The primarily used ESG indices:

Options:

A.  

use similar criteria and weightings.

B.  

are available for both equity and fixed income asset classes.

C.  

provide data to back test performance across multiple market cycles.

Discussion 0
Questions 208

Which of the following reporting practices by an investee company is most likely a red flag for an investor?

Options:

A.  

Limited disclosure of ESG information due to cost constraints in reporting

B.  

Non-disclosure of ESG data which management deems commercially sensitive

C.  

Non-disclosure of detailed information regarding the basis of long-term incentive plans for a new chief executive officer (CEO)

Discussion 0
Questions 209

The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C was first set out in the:

Options:

A.  

Kyoto Protocol.

B.  

Paris Agreement.

C.  

Glasgow Climate Pact.

Discussion 0
Questions 210

Which of the following best supports a company’s claim to a commitment to internal social factors?

Options:

A.  

It supports freedom of association through a pro-union stance

B.  

It incurs increased costs to avoid sourcing raw materials from a conflict zone

C.  

It was the first in its industry to incorporate fire-resistant materials in its products

Discussion 0
Questions 211

An institutional asset owner of a listed power company can best assess the quality of a fund manager's engagement by using:

Options:

A.  

milestones.

B.  

voting counts.

C.  

performance measurement of change achieved.

Discussion 0
Questions 212

Which of the following represents the majority of the largest asset owners?

Options:

A.  

Pension funds

B.  

Insurance companies

C.  

Sovereign wealth funds

Discussion 0
Questions 213

Brown divestment:

Options:

A.  

screens out fossil fuels from portfolios.

B.  

invests only in companies with a positive environmental impact.

C.  

involves publicly traded firms exiting polluting businesses by sales to third parties.

Discussion 0
Questions 214

A concept that attempts to describe what would happen to global temperatures if CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere were to double relative to the pre-industrial average is best described as:

Options:

A.  

climate change.

B.  

climate sensitivity.

C.  

transient climate response.

Discussion 0
Questions 215

Applying constraints in ESG portfolio optimization:

Options:

A.  

can be applied through exclusionary screening.

B.  

is currently confined to carbon data due to data limitations.

C.  

requires defining an upper and lower bound for a given variable.

Discussion 0
Questions 216

Weighted-average carbon intensity and attributed emissions of sovereign debt most likely measure ESG exposures at the:

Options:

A.  

country level.

B.  

security level.

C.  

portfolio level.

Discussion 0
Questions 217

Which of the following ownership mechanisms best protects minority shareholders?

Options:

A.  

Dual-class shares only

B.  

Pre-emptive rights only

C.  

Both dual-class shares and pre-emptive rights

Discussion 0
Questions 218

By 2050, the percentage of the global population that is expected to live in urban environments is:

Options:

A.  

34%.

B.  

50%.

C.  

68%.

Discussion 0
Questions 219

An ESG investment approach that allocates capital to address the bottom of the pyramid is best described as:

Options:

A.  

impact investing.

B.  

social investment.

C.  

thematic investing.

Discussion 0
Questions 220

Which of the following actors most likely engage with investee companies to improve their ESG performance?

Options:

A.  

Fund labellers

B.  

Asset managers

C.  

Investment platforms

Discussion 0
Questions 221

According to the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Biodiversity Framework, which of the following elements best reflects the close association between climate-related and nature-related risks and opportunities?

Options:

A.  

Land

B.  

Ocean

C.  

Atmosphere

Discussion 0
Questions 222

A governance structure that features non-board members on the nominations committee is most likely present in:

Options:

A.  

Italy.

B.  

Sweden.

C.  

Australia.

Discussion 0
Questions 223

Which of the following principles is most likely understated in stewardship codes drafted by the fund management industry? The principle requiring investors to:

Options:

A.  

regularly monitor investee companies.

B.  

have a public policy regarding stewardship.

C.  

manage their conflicts of interest regarding stewardship matters.

Discussion 0
Questions 224

Which of the following statements about potential bias in ESG credit ratings is most accurate?

Options:

A.  

Higher unionization levels in Europe explain sector bias

B.  

Industry bias stems from rating providers overcomplicating industry weighting and company alignment

C.  

Larger companies may obtain higher ratings given the ability to dedicate more resources to nonfinancial disclosures

Discussion 0
Questions 225

Investors are most likely to successfully engage with a company when:

Options:

A.  

the company has recently experienced a significant share price fall.

B.  

investors wish to keep exposure to the company for performance reasons.

C.  

the company has reputational concerns and the capacity to implement change.

Discussion 0
Questions 226

ESG integration is most likely enforced by regulating:

Options:

A.  

Stewardship

B.  

Asset owners

C.  

Corporate disclosure

Discussion 0
Questions 227

A challenge for the positive alignment ESG approach is the:

Options:

A.  

relative complexity of implementation

B.  

diversity of ESG ratings methodologies

C.  

reliance on stewardship and engagement activities

Discussion 0
Questions 228

A portfolio approach in which bottom-up analysis is complemented with consideration of ESG factors, resulting in a relatively concentrated portfolio, is best described as:

Options:

A.  

Systematic

B.  

Index-based

C.  

Discretionary

Discussion 0
Questions 229

The quality of a company's ESG disclosures is most likely affected by:

Options:

A.  

its size only.

B.  

its location only.

C.  

both its size and its location.

Discussion 0
Questions 230

The world’s first formal corporate governance code emerged in the:

Options:

A.  

Netherlands.

B.  

United States.

C.  

United Kingdom.

Discussion 0
Questions 231

Compared to public companies, creating private company scorecards is challenging as:

Options:

A.  

less information is available in the public domain

B.  

rating agencies are more critical of private companies

C.  

management is more unwilling to disclose commercially sensitive information

Discussion 0
Questions 232

Scope 3 carbon emissions are accounted for under:

Options:

A.  

The UK Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) only

B.  

The European Union's (EU) Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) only

C.  

Both the UK Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the European Union's (EU) Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

Discussion 0
Questions 233

Which of the following is one of the four realms of nature described by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)?

Options:

A.  

People

B.  

Oceans

C.  

Biodiversity

Discussion 0
Questions 234

ESG engagement is a two-way dialogue to share perspectives between:

Options:

A.  

investors and investees

B.  

asset owners and fund managers

C.  

senior executives and board of directors

Discussion 0
Questions 235

Under the "shades of green" methodology developed by the Center for International Climate Research (CICERO), a bond that funds transition activities that do not lock in emissions is considered:

Options:

A.  

Yellow

B.  

Light green

C.  

Medium green

Discussion 0
Questions 236

Which of the following parties is most likely to help investors identify the extent and depth to which investment funds integrate ESG?

Options:

A.  

Fund labellers

B.  

Investment platforms

C.  

Investment consultants

Discussion 0
Questions 237

Credit-rating agencies are most likely classified as:

Options:

A.  

algorithm-driven ESG research providers

B.  

“traditional” ESG data and research providers

C.  

“nontraditional” ESG data and research providers

Discussion 0
Questions 238

The first step in the effective design of an investment mandate is determining the:

Options:

A.  

client's ESG investment beliefs

B.  

impact of ESG factors on risk and return characteristics

C.  

fund manager's investment approach to reflect ESG issues

Discussion 0
Questions 239

Which of the following most likely outlines an investment firm's ESG integration approach?

Options:

A.  

ESG policy

B.  

Statement of Investment Principles

C.  

Corporate social responsibility report

Discussion 0
Questions 240

Which of the following ESG megatrends relates to issues around human rights, including free speech, and tensions between big social media companies and sovereign nation-states that point in the direction of a possible new ordering of societal power?

Options:

A.  

Technological innovation

B.  

Emerging markets and urbanization

C.  

Demographic changes and wealth inequality

Discussion 0