Sustainable-Investing Exam Dumps - Sustainable Investing Certificate (CFA-SIC) Exam

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) (Option C) are based on the "Protect, Respect, and Remedy" framework, which outlines:

State duty to protect human rights.

Corporate responsibility to respect human rights.

Access to remedies for victims of human rights violations.

Option A (CHRB) assesses company performance but is not the foundation of this framework.

Option B (OECD MNE Guidelines) also address corporate responsibility but are broader than human rights.

Fixed income (Option B) is the most sensitive to climate-related transition risk because:

Bondholders have limited upside potential but full downside risk—meaning climate policy changes, carbon pricing, and regulatory shifts can significantly affect credit risk and yield spreads.

Stranded asset risk affects sectors like coal, oil & gas, leading to downgrades in corporate and sovereign bonds.

Option A (Equity) also faces transition risks but tends to be more adaptable, as companies can pivot strategies.

Option C (Alternative investments) (e.g., real estate, infrastructure) are less liquid but not as directly affected by short-term policy changes.

The single-tier board system (Option B) is the most common governance structure globally, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, and many Commonwealth countries. In this system, executive and non-executive directors sit on the same board, overseeing management and strategic decisions.

Joint auditors (Option A) are primarily used in France and India for financial oversight but are not a standard governance structure.

Cumulative voting (Option C), which allows minority shareholders to have a greater voice in board elections, is common in some jurisdictions (e.g., the U.S. for shareholder rights protection) but is not a universal governance structure.

The 2020 version of the UK Stewardship Code emphasizes reporting on the outcomes from ESG activity, highlighting the practical impact of stewardship efforts rather than just focusing on policies or intentions. (ESGTextBook[PallasCatFin], Chapter 6, Page 276)

A company's water management efforts are both a credit strength and an ESG strength (Option C) because:

Credit strength: A stable water supply reduces operational risks, improving financial resilience.

ESG strength: Water sustainability aligns with environmental responsibility, reducing risks of regulatory fines or reputational damage.

Option A (Credit strength only) ignores the environmental and social benefits.

Option B (ESG strength only) overlooks the financial stability aspect.

The first formal corporate governance code was the Cadbury Report (1992) in the United Kingdom.

It established principles of good corporate governance, emphasizing board effectiveness, accountability, and audit transparency.

The U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) and Germany’s Corporate Governance Code (2002) came much later.

The Cadbury Report influenced global corporate governance frameworks, including OECD Principles of Corporate Governance and the G20 Corporate Governance Code.

As populations age, older individuals generally spend less on consumer goods (Option A) because:

They shift spending toward healthcare, services, and retirement-related expenses.

They buy fewer durable goods (e.g., cars, electronics).

Option B is incorrect because the ratio of active to inactive workers decreases as the proportion of retirees grows.

Option C is incorrect because older people typically have higher accumulated savings than younger individuals.

Companies integrating ESG into operations enhance efficiency through improved resource management, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

Why A (Efficiency) is correct:

ESG initiatives lead to cost savings, innovation, and better risk management.

Example: Energy-efficient supply chains reduce waste and increase productivity.

Why not B or C?

B (State intervention) is incorrect—proactive ESG efforts often reduce regulatory risks.

C (Negative externalities) is incorrect—effective ESG integration minimizes externalities, not increases them.