Pioneers and promoters are at the center of the history of the sustainable investing sector. Their dedication and hard work are behind its development and maturation. In the late 1970s, early sustainable investors joined the global anti-Apartheid movement, forcing divestment of South African holdings by both companies and big institutional investors. The end of Apartheid in the 1990s was a pivotal moment, marking how sustainable investing could — and does — create real change.
US SIF: The US Sustainable Investment Forum was founded in 1984, early in the movement’s history. We’ve been delighted to be at the center of a widening network of investors and other capital markets actors who recognize that their role as capital stewards includes driving financial outcomes to safeguard the long-term value of their investments alongside people and the planet.
In 1995, the Trends Report was born from US SIF’s recognition of the need to map the direction and scale of US-based investments committed to sustainability. In the years since, this biennial report has chronicled the remarkable growth and diversification of sustainable investing.
Over the years, the Trends Report has highlighted major developments in the industry, including an increasing focus on climate change, the popularity of negative screening and the focus on sustainability and ESG strategies:
- In 1995, the inaugural Trends Report set a benchmark for sustainable investing in the US.
- In 2006, the Trends Report supported the creation of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
- In the 2010s, the Trends Report documented the notable global expansion of the sustainable investment space, the rise of new sustainable asset classes such as green bonds and the growing diversity of approaches.
- The 2020s have seen the industry grapple with new regulations, political support and scrutiny and the rise of both greenwashing and greenhushing. Investors are increasingly focused on social risks and climate change along with other risks to the natural environment as they seek to achieve sustainable value along with financial returns.
