Companies have already seen 34 majority votes in favour of shareholder resolutions this year, up from last year’s record of 21, according to a review by three organizations that track shareholder engagement on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Of those with majority support, 17 resolutions topped 70 per cent, up from just two last year. (The Logic)

Talking point: The two most popular votes this year were for resolutions related to climate change, including a vote to report on net-zero emissions goals at General Electric that received 97.9 per cent. There were nine votes on diversity and inclusion that garnered majority support. Tech investors point to a confluence of factors that have fuelled shareholder activism this year, including the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice uprisings following the police murder of George Floyd. While shareholder votes are often non-binding—meaning companies don’t necessarily have to adopt resolutions that get majority support—many investors consider proxy voting a better way to engage and influence their portfolio companies than divesting stock.