Fixed on ESG

Food prices have been rising globally for some time now. While the Russia/Ukraine conflict has exacerbated food instability, many other factors have also come into play including the COVID-19 pandemic, increases in demand from growing populations, extreme weather events, among others. The war in Ukraine has shown us how the world has become increasingly reliant on a few crops grown in a few countries and how vulnerable food supply chains are to external shocks. The implications are significant for ESG as net food importers face food insecurity which could lead to rising hunger, undernourishment, inflation, and an increase in global inequality and poverty as food security issues tend to have disproportionate impacts on the poor. Nuvneet Dhillon, PGIM Fixed Income ESG Specialist, digs into the economic and investment implications of this critical topic with guests, Giancarlo Perasso, Lead economist for the CEEMA region, focusing on Africa and the former Soviet Union, and Todd Petersen, Emerging Markets Debt portfolio manager.

Recorded on May 18, 2022.

Like most nuanced subjects, ESG is a highly intricate topic with many more complexities than most might initially consider. And incorporating ESG-factors into portfolio construction introduces additional challenges, even to the most seasoned investors. However, PGIM Fixed Income is dedicated to helping our clients navigate the ESG landscape. Our dedicated team of ESG research experts have extensive insight and experience into what it takes to be ESG-forward, which we’re excited to share with you.  

In this inaugural episode of Fixed on ESG, our Co-Heads of ESG Research, Armelle de Vienne and John Ploeg, CFA, take part in an illuminating Q&A session, which explains what ESG means to fixed income investors, details the difference between ESG risks and impacts, and provides their take on a common question posed to asset managers, “Does ESG have to come at a cost to returns?” John and Armelle walk us through the biggest concerns for investors looking to invest in ESG strategies and the market-impacting events that they’ve been focused on in the last year. This episode is hosted by ESG-advocate and PGIM Fixed Income’s Head of EMEA, Sarah McMullen, CFA.

Recorded on April 21, 2022.

PGIM Fixed Income is proud to bring you, Fixed On ESG, a monthly podcast series exploring the latest topics and trends of ESG investing. A rotating lineup of PGIM Fixed Income ESG-expert hosts will provide our take on the investment implications and value opportunities we see in this space and how changes in the market may directly affect our decision making. Subscribe to hear from PGIM Fixed Income thought leaders, as well as industry professionals and some of our clients.