What it is
MSCI's ESG Ratings platform provides environmental, social, and governance assessments for over 8,500 companies and 680,000 equity and fixed-income securities. The free tier offers basic company lookups, while premium analytics include climate Value-at-Risk, implied temperature rise, and transition pathway modeling. As carbon pricing now covers 28% of global emissions ($104 billion in revenues in 2023), ESG screening has shifted from values-based filtering to financially material risk assessment.
Why we picked this
MSCI is the benchmark. When institutional investors, pension funds, and ETF providers screen for ESG, they most often use MSCI ratings. The free lookup tool gives retail investors access to the same ratings used by professionals managing trillions. The climate metrics (Value-at-Risk, implied temperature rise) are particularly valuable as carbon pricing expands.
Key takeaways
- MSCI ESG ratings cover 8,500+ companies across 190+ countries, making it the most comprehensive ESG dataset available to investors.
- The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) enters its definitive phase in January 2026, making ESG screening financially material for any portfolio with exposure to cement, steel, aluminum, fertilizers, or electricity.
- Free basic access lets retail investors check any publicly traded company's ESG rating, while premium tiers add portfolio-level climate scenario analysis.