This strategy has an above-average Morningstar Sustainability Rating of 4 globes, indicating that the ESG risk of holdings in its portfolio is relatively low compared with those of its peers in the Japan Equity category. ESG risk provides investors with a signal that reflects to what degree their investments are exposed to risks related to material ESG issues, including climate change, biodiversity, product safety, community relations, data privacy and security, bribery and corruption, and corporate governance, that are not sufficiently managed. ESG risk differs from impact, which is about seeking positive environmental and social outcomes.
JPM Japan Research Enhanced Eq ESG ETF promotes environmental and/or social characteristics within the meaning of Article 8 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. Funds classified by their managers as Article 8 or Article 9 are more likely to deliver positive sustainability outcomes. JPM Japan Research Enhanced Eq ESG ETF has an asset-weighted Carbon Risk Score of 8.6, indicating that its companies have low exposure to carbon-related risks. These are risks associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy such as increased regulation, changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and stranded assets. Its 16.2% involvement in carbon solutions is higher than the 13.4% average involvement of its peers in the Japan Large-cap Equity category. Carbon solutions include products and services related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, green transportation, and so on. The fund aims to avoid or minimize holdings in companies breaching international norms, including the UN Global Compact or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The fund exhibits negligible exposure (1.42%) to companies with high or severe controversies. Controversies are incidents that have a negative impact on stakeholders or the environment, which create some degree of financial risk for the company. Examples of types of controversies include bribery and corruption scandals, workplace discrimination and environmental incidents. Severe and high controversies can have significant financial repercussions, ranging from legal penalties to consumer boycotts. Such controversies can also damage the reputation of both companies themselves and their shareholders.
Currently, the fund has 11.0% involvement in fossil fuels, surpassing 7.1% for the average peer in its category. Companies are considered involved in fossil fuels if they derive some revenue from thermal coal, oil, and gas.
By prospectus, the fund aims to avoid, or limit its exposure to, companies associated with controversial weapons, tobacco, and and thermal coal. The fund mostly fulfills this goal; however, it does exhibit 0.16% exposure to companies involved in thermal coal. This compares with 0.44% for its average peer in the Japan Equity category.