Oct 14 -- The Department of Labor (Department) in this document proposes amendments to the Investment Duties regulation under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), to clarify the application of ERISA's fiduciary duties of prudence and loyalty to selecting investments and investment courses of action, including selecting qualified default investment alternatives, exercising shareholder rights, such as proxy voting, and the use of written proxy voting policies and guidelines.
The proposed amendments are intended to address uncertainties relating to the consideration of environmental, social, or governance (“ESG”) issues, including climate-related financial risk, by fiduciaries in making investment and proxy voting decisions, and to provide further clarity that will help safeguard the interests of participants and beneficiaries in the plan benefits. The proposal makes clear that climate change and other ESG factors are often material and that in many instances fiduciaries to should consider climate change and other ESG factors in the assessment of investment risks and returns.
Comments should be submitted by December 13, 2021.
Proposed rule on "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights":
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/10/14/2021-22263/prudence-and-loyalty-in-selecting-plan-investments-and-exercising-shareholder-rights
