The whole idea of socially responsible investing is skyrocketing. When you're putting a lot of money into something, you want to get a good financial return, but you also want your money to do good things.

He not only cares about how things are made and if they are recycled and making sure they are non-toxic, but he also cares about the people who make them.

It's clear that the combination of competitive performance, screening, and advocacy on behalf of their investors offered by SRI mutual funds are making them an increasingly attractive option for a wide range of investors. SRI mutual funds have grown from $12 billion in 1995 to $178.7 billion in 2005, far outpacing the overall growth of mutual funds in the US.

These fund families collectively control $1 trillion, 70 percent of the US mutual fund market. The bottom line is this: mutual fund companies have the clout to hold the companies in their portfolios accountable for climate change impact, and furthermore they have a duty to do so.

Mutual funds, which are responsible for the retirement investments of millions of investors, should be at the forefront of investors encouraging companies to address global warming. Instead, all of the largest funds of America's major mutual fund families -- including Fidelity, Vanguard and American Funds -- failed to vote in favor of any resolutions in 2005 encouraging companies to address global warming. Getting these funds to vote in favor of resolutions to address global warming would make a tremendous difference for investors and the environment.

More institutions are screening out the very worst social but also using shareholder advocacy to improve those that don't make the grade.