Ethics Sustainability Case Blog

INSTRUCTIONS

We have developed a website containing all of the information and materials you require to complete this assignment. To access it, click on “Ethics Sustainability Case Blog” on Canvas in the course navigation. As early as you can, begin reading through and listening to the case materials on the site to familiarize yourself with the scenario. You will need to make a recommendation based on the following case question:

You are an asset manager at BlackRock, in charge of new investment in British Columbia. It is nearing the end of October 2020. Woodfibre LNG is offering a “green bond” to support development of its project during the COVID-19 crisis. Assume the financial prospects of the investment (e.g., the credit rating and risk-return ratio) are comparable to other profitable investment opportunities in BC. Do you invest in the project?

Your recommendation to either invest or not invest must be based on analysis of the current situation (based on the information provided on the case website) and supported by the tools and concepts covered so far in COMM 186E, especially those on business ethics, sustainability, Indigenous knowledge, and values-based decision making.

Here are some discussion questions to help you start framing your analysis of this situation.

What are the triple-bottom-line impacts of the Woodfibre LNG project?

What ethical factors need to be considered when making this investment decision?

Does investment in this project fit with the mission and values of BlackRock?

NOTE: do not simply answer these questions in your paper; rather, use your answers to guide your analysis and think about the alternatives and recommendations in an integrated way.

Support your analysis and recommendations with some of the frameworks, tools, or concepts learned so far in the course.