Almost a third of French investors required to report on how environmental, social and governance issues are integrated into their portfolios have so far failed to do so.

Research by Novethic reveals that 69 of the top 100 investors required to report under Article 173 of the energy transition and green growth law have so far done so.

But 31 have yet to publish their reports, even though the law requires that they comply or explain. Investors were required to report by June 2017.

Novethic said that 34 investment institutions had reported on their ESG policies for the first time, though many had done so on a restricted basis.

Novethic said in its report: “Some justify the limits of their commitment by their doubts about the methodologies available.”

Novethic dubbed 20 of the institutions “pioneers” for leading the disclosures, seeing an opportunity to “forge a route” on climate change, and “seized the opportunity” to report their work in this area.

Fifteen of the institutions were described by Novethic as publishing “ambitious” policies that included disinvestment, carbon footprint measurement and data collection on climate risks.