Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment releases guide at http://bcccc.net/Handbook_ClimateRelatedInvesting.pdf

CHESTNUT HILL - April, 21, 2009 - A new guide that helps investors devise a portfolio-wide strategy to account for climate-related risk and opportunity was released today by the Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment.

The "Handbook for Climate-related Investing across Asset Classes", funded by the Brooks Family Foundation, identifies eight asset classes including cash and cash equivalents, fixed-income, public equities, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, commodities and hedge funds that allow for climate-related investing. Each chapter also provides practical examples of climate-related investments that lay out trends in the field. A PDF of the handbook can be found at: http://bcccc.net/Handbook_ClimateRelatedInvesting.pdf.

"Climate change is among the most important issues addressed by today's responsible investment universe," said David Wood, director of the Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment. "Every asset class offers investors an opportunity to pursue climate-friendly investments, to mitigate exposure to climate risk, and to engage stakeholders to improve climate-related performance across the range of investment opportunities."

The handbook released today is a companion guide to the "Handbook on Responsible Investment across Asset Classes" published in late 2007. Responsible investment-understood as the incorporation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information into investment analysis-is a discipline that allows investors to better assess long-term risks and opportunities in their portfolios and align investment strategies with opportunities to create long-term wealth for investors and society.

"This handbook is a tool for investors interested in improving long-term financial returns through enhanced ESG analysis," said Wood. "It is also designed for mission or impact investors seeking to achieve defined environmental goals and targeted rates of return."

About the Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment
The Institute for Responsible Investment, a project of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, provides a platform for dialogue on fundamental issues and theories underlying responsible investing. Our work is meant to identify and promote market structures and investment activity that can best create long-term wealth creation for investors and society alike.

Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship connects professionals with research, insights on corporate social responsibility and management education opportunities. Founded by the Carroll School of Management, we help our member companies know more, do more and achieve more with their corporate citizenship programs. We engage over 400 member companies and more than 10,000 individuals annually to share knowledge and expertise about the practice of corporate citizenship through our executive education program, research, courses, and our annual conference. For more information on our courses, research and membership, visit ccc.bc.edu. Connect with Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship: Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook & Google+.

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