Swiss bank targets top companies’ impact on climate change

GENEVA (AFP) – Investors can now assess how the world’s 1,800 biggest companies and their products are contributing to climate change before investing in them, say the developers of a new rating system.

The “Envimpact” rating weighs the most environmentally-sensitive phase in the life cycle of the products or services delivered by 140 corporate sectors, according to Centre Info, a Swiss company that specialises in social and environmental rating tools for investors.

Envimpact also focuses on the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions, which are regarded by many scientists as the main cause of global warming.

Centre Info devised the system along with Swiss private bank Pictet.

AFP