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Al Gore Opens SIF National Conference As Organization Changes Name to
WASHINGTON--In remarks to the first-ever Washington, D.C. conference of the newly renamed “US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment” former Vice President Al Gore urged conference attendees to radically shift markets towards a more sustainable form of capitalism.
Gore, chairman of Generation Investment Management, was the keynote speaker at the US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (formerly known as the “Social Investment Forum”) conference.
Gore lauded the work of US SIF for its leadership role “in bringing sustainable and responsible investing into the mainstream of the financial world.”
In his remarks to US SIF conference registrants, Gore said: "While capitalism is superior to any other system to organize economic activity, the crisis in global markets has shaken the world's markets. As investors, we can lead the charge to create new and more sustainable investment strategies. These strategies offer unprecedented opportunities and point the way toward a much more sustainable form of capitalism."
US SIF CEO Lisa Woll said: “Our new name -- US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment – reflects an important evolution. The socially responsible and sustainable investing space has shifted considerably over the past 20 plus years since the organization was founded. Additionally, the Social Investment Forum's work and membership advanced significantly in that time, reflecting our status as an increasingly diverse and multi-faceted organization.”
Michael Lent, US SIF Board Chair and CIO of Veris Wealth Partners, added: “US SIF is the umbrella organization for responsible, sustainable, socially responsible, ethical, values based, mission, green, impact and other double- and triple-bottom line investors. We believe our new name is a better fit for a rapidly evolving and growing field that has changed considerably since the days when the Social Investment Forum was first named.”
The inaugural US SIF conference is taking place June 9-10, including a public portion open to the news media on Friday, June 10th. Conference attendees include representatives of investment management and advisory firms, research firms, financial planners and advisors, broker-dealers, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), asset owners such as pension funds and foundations, international financial institutions, along with policymakers and corporate leaders.
Specific issues addressed by US SIF conference speakers include: perceptions of fiduciary duty with particular emphasis on the ramifications for social and sustainable investment; expanding opportunities in alternative asset classes; community investing in the United States; conflict minerals; a status report on implementing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; investor strategies for climate change solutions; ensuring responsible investing in microfinance; strategies for building long-term investing; food security and sustainable sourcing; and foundations entering the sustainable investing space.
To learn more about the US SIF conference, please visit: http://bit.ly/2011SIFagenda.
ABOUT US SIF: THE FORUM FOR SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US SIF) is the US membership association for professionals, firms, institutions and organizations engaged in sustainable and responsible investing (SRI). US SIF and its members advance investment practices that consider environmental, social and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact. US SIF's members include investment management and advisory firms, mutual fund companies, research firms, financial planners and advisors, broker-dealers, banks, credit unions, community development organizations, non-profit associations, and pension funds, foundations and other asset owners. For more information, go to http://www.ussif.org or http://www.socialinvest.org on the Web.