Press Releases — As You Sow

House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena to Silence Shareholders

House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena to Silence Shareholders

As You Sow, the nation’s leading shareholder advocate, today received a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee demanding the organization provide documents related to its work with companies related to climate risk. This follows an Aug. 1 letter from the Committee arguing that “As You Sow is potentially violating U.S. antitrust law by entering into agreements to ‘decarbonize’ corporate assets and reduce emissions to net zero — with potentially harmful effects on Americans’ freedom and economic well-being.” The Committee sent similar letters to Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), Glass Lewis, Engine No.1, Trillium Asset Management, Arjuna Capital, and Aviva Investor Americas.

As You SowNovember 1, 2023Congress, house judiciary, subpoena, anti-trust

New Analysis Shows Federal Employees Have $35.3 Billion Invested in Fossil Fuels

New Analysis Shows Federal Employees Have $35.3 Billion Invested in Fossil Fuels

A new analysis from As You Sow of the Federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), which manages $725 billion in retirement savings for six million participants, found over $35 billion invested in coal, oil, and gas companies. Just ten oil and gas majors, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, account for $9.7 billion invested.

Invest Your ValuesAs You SowOctober 19, 2023TSP, Federal, Employes, retirement

California Adopts Nation’s Strongest Electronics Repair Law

California Adopts Nation’s Strongest Electronics Repair Law

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the nation’s most sweeping electronics device repair legislation, SB 244, into law on Tuesday. Under the bill, manufacturers will be required to facilitate the repair of covered consumer electronics – including computers – by making certain tools and parts available to consumers and repair shops for at least seven years after production. The bill was supported by Apple and HP, yet opposed by device manufacturer trade associations, including the Consumer Technology Association.

Circular EconomyAs You SowOctober 12, 2023California, Right-to-repair, law

SEC Publishes New Rules to Address ESG Labeling in Mutual Funds

SEC Publishes New Rules to Address ESG Labeling in Mutual Funds

Today, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published new rules to prevent misleading or deceptive use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) terms in mutual fund names. The new rules modernize the Investment Company Act “Names Rule” to ensure that the name of a fund adequately and accurately represents the investment strategy of the fund, as part of the SEC’s efforts to fight greenwashing in the sustainable investment industry.

Invest Your ValuesAs You SowSeptember 20, 2023SEC, ESG, Rule

Amidst Growing Climate Risk, Shareholders Question Impact of High Carbon Investments in FedEx’s Target Date Retirement Funds

Amidst Growing Climate Risk, Shareholders Question Impact of High Carbon Investments in FedEx’s Target Date Retirement Funds

FedEx shareholders will vote on a proposal at the September 21 annual general meeting asking the company to report on how it is protecting employees from climate risk stemming from their retirement plan investment options. This proposal represents a growing concern among employees about the risks of investing retirement dollars in industries that contribute significantly to climate change.

Fossil Free Funds, Invest Your ValuesAs You SowSeptember 20, 2023FedEx, fedex, 401k

UAW Strike Highlights CEO-to-Worker Pay Disparity, a Major Risk to Companies and Shareholders

UAW Strike Highlights CEO-to-Worker Pay Disparity, a Major Risk to Companies and Shareholders

United Autoworkers of America (UAW) last night announced plans for targeted, stand-up strikes in three states against Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler after negotiations fell through. Shrinking the widening gap between CEO pay and workers' pay in years marked by record-breaking profits has been central to UAW’s demands.

CEO PayAs You SowSeptember 15, 2023auto, workers, pay, uaw, united auto workers, union

California Emissions Disclosure Legislation Would Ensure Critical Climate Reporting and Transparency

California Emissions Disclosure Legislation Would Ensure Critical Climate Reporting and Transparency

The California State Legislature passed SB 253 yesterday, which would require Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions disclosures from all companies operating in California with more than $1 billion in revenue. SB 253 now heads to the Governor for signature.

Energy, Climate ChangeAs You SowSeptember 13, 2023california, SB 253, emissions, disclosure

Votes Shift on 2023 ESG Shareholder Proposals, Investor Engagement Increases

Votes Shift on 2023 ESG Shareholder Proposals, Investor Engagement Increases

The Proxy Preview team today reviewed results from the 2023 proxy season during its 2023 Proxy Preview REVIEW webinar. The season saw 335 votes on shareholder proposals asking for disclosure and action on environmental, social, and related corporate governance (ESG) issues at U.S. companies. More than two dozen proposals are still pending.

Proxy PowerAs You SowJuly 27, 2023proxy preview

Amazon Reports Significant Drop in Plastic Use as Sought in Shareholder Proposals Filed by As You Sow

Amazon Reports Significant Drop in Plastic Use as Sought in Shareholder Proposals Filed by As You Sow

Amazon reported a significant drop in plastic use last year and will phase out plastic mailers, actions sought by As You Sow in dialogue and through the filing of shareholder proposals over the last three years.

Waste, wasteAs You SowJuly 20, 2023Ocean Plastic, ocean plastic, Amazon

401(k) Funds Funnel Billions into Nuclear Weapons, Cluster Munitions, and Other Controversial Weapons

401(k) Funds Funnel Billions into Nuclear Weapons, Cluster Munitions, and Other Controversial Weapons

A new analysis from As You Sow has found that the largest U.S. mutual fund managers, responsible for funds found across thousands of corporate 401(k) plans, have significant investments in nuclear and other controversial weapons like white phosphorus and cluster bombs.

Invest Your ValuesAs You SowJuly 18, 2023401k, weapons

25% of ExxonMobil Shareholders Approve Studying a Future With Less Virgin Plastic as Global Negotiators Discuss Reduced Production

25% of ExxonMobil Shareholders Approve Studying a Future With Less Virgin Plastic as Global Negotiators Discuss Reduced Production

While delegates from 180 countries debated a global treaty to combat plastic pollution that might include plastic production caps, one-quarter (25.3%) of ExxonMobil shareholders representing $66.7 billion supported a resolution filed by As You Sow asking the company to study how a one-third cut in demand for virgin single-use plastic would affect its financial position at the company’s recent annual meeting.

Circular Economy, Climate ChangeAs You SowJune 15, 2023ExxonMobil, climate change

Investors Send Strong Third-Year Vote at Amazon Amidst New Plastic Action by Walmart

Investors Send Strong Third-Year Vote at Amazon Amidst New Plastic Action by Walmart

For the third year in a row, nearly one-third of Amazon shareholders supported an As You Sow shareholder proposal asking the company to set a plastic packaging reduction goal. At the same time, competitor Walmart has committed to phase out use of plastic mailers for U.S. online commerce, putting Walmart even farther ahead of Amazon in actions to curtail plastic waste.

Waste, wasteAs You SowJune 8, 2023Ocean Plastic, ocean plastic

18% of ExxonMobil and Chevron Shareholders Support Accurate Reporting on Emissions Targets

18% of ExxonMobil and Chevron Shareholders Support Accurate Reporting on Emissions Targets

Today, 18% of ExxonMobil and Chevron’s shareholders voted in favor of resolutions calling on the companies to begin accurately disclosing the role of asset transfers in their reported greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Climate Change, EnergyAs You SowMay 31, 2023climate change

1 in 3 investors of Yum! Brands and Restaurant Brands International Support Exploration of Reusable Packaging

1 in 3 investors of Yum! Brands and Restaurant Brands International Support Exploration of Reusable Packaging

As nearly 200 countries meet in Paris to negotiate a binding global plastics treaty, investors of parent companies to KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and others have sent a message in strong support of exploring reusable packaging at two recent annual meetings.

Waste, wasteAs You SowMay 31, 2023Ocean Plastic, ocean plastic

ExxonMobil and Chevron to Face Shareholder Resolutions on Accuracy of Emissions Reporting

ExxonMobil and Chevron to Face Shareholder Resolutions on Accuracy of Emissions Reporting

At the May 31 annual shareholder meetings of ExxonMobil and Chevron, the two largest American oil and gas companies, shareholders will vote on a resolution asking each company to begin accurately disclosing the role of asset transfers in their reported greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Climate Change, EnergyAs You SowMay 25, 2023climate change

Investors Support Net Zero Plans for Southern Company’s Natural Gas Business

Investors Support Net Zero Plans for Southern Company’s Natural Gas Business

Today at the annual general meeting of power and gas utility Southern Company announced that 20% of investors voted in favor of a shareholder resolution filed by As You Sow, based on a preliminary vote count.

Energy, Climate ChangeAs You SowMay 24, 2023climate change

Shareholder Pressure Mounts: Protecting Employee Financial Futures in the Era of Climate Risk Takes Center Stage

Shareholder Pressure Mounts: Protecting Employee Financial Futures in the Era of Climate Risk Takes Center Stage

Amazon, Netflix, and Comcast shareholders will soon vote to ask companies how they are protecting employees from climate risk stemming from their retirement plan investment options.

Invest Your Values, Fossil Free FundsAs You SowMay 24, 2023Fossil Free Funds

Shareholders Support Climate Resolutions at Chubb and Berkshire

Shareholders Support Climate Resolutions at Chubb and Berkshire

Chubb Insurance released proxy voting results showing that nearly 30% of shareholders voted in favor of a climate-related resolution filed by As You Sow asking the insurer to report on how it intends to align its underwriting and investment activities with global greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Climate Change, EnergyAs You SowMay 19, 2023climate change

Shareholders Call on JPMorgan Chase to Disclose a Climate Transition Plan

Shareholders Call on JPMorgan Chase to Disclose a Climate Transition Plan

Today, JPMorgan Chase released final vote results for a first-time shareholder resolution filed by investor representative As You Sow, asking the company to provide an actionable climate transition plan outlining how it will achieve its 2030 net zero greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

Climate Change, EnergyAs You SowMay 16, 2023climate change

New Tool Shows Retirement Plans Financing Fossil Fuel Expansion Through Bond Holdings, Putting Savers at Risk

New Tool Shows Retirement Plans Financing Fossil Fuel Expansion Through Bond Holdings, Putting Savers at Risk

Today, As You Sow’s Invest Your Values program released a new tool for analyzing retirement plan exposure to fossil fuel bond holdings, with an accompanying analysis.

Fossil Free FundsAs You SowMay 16, 2023