For over 25 years, USGBC has supported its members – which include corporations, small businesses, government entities and nonprofits – to achieve their green building goals through its LEED program, the world’s most widely used green building rating system and promotes the use of strategies that reduce environmental impact, enhance human health and support economic development.
The case for sustainable investing is clear. The impact of addressing sustainability issues, from climate change to racial and social justice, has become a compelling investment case and, not factoring these issues represents an investment risk. Companies and investors are accelerating the transformation to greener and more sustainable economies.
Buildings consume 40% of global energy and create 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With that data, it was logical for the focus of ESG investors to be on energy use reduction. It was also an easy ROI. Reduce the energy use, reduce the utility bill. That’s good for the planet, and good for profit too. But what about the people?
In 2017, the Clean Energy Credit Union received its federal charter and became the first “thematic,” online-only, federally insured depository institution with an exclusive focus on clean energy lending. Since then, CECU has experienced tremendous success with thousands of members and is influencing both the banking and clean energy sectors.
Indigenous people are on a journey together. Money is love. Money is medicine. These enterprises are cultural capital. We undertake these entrepreneurial deals as Native Americans. This regenerative agricultural enterprise is taking back the Buffalo, our relatives, and bringing our people back to their health.
Betterment Harvest is currently building on the regional momentum to bring a scalable and community-based approach to sustainable Ag which utilizes state-of-the-art, science-based practices that maximize productivity and profit while minimizing environmental damage, like installing indoor hydroponic systems in renovated industrial buildings in KY.
During the pandemic, farmers and food producers selling locally showed their strength, as the global food system showed weakness. Local farms provided good food, while stewarding the land and strengthening communities. Our local food ecosystem’s resilience is a result of the incredible work ethic of farmers, buoyed by varied collaborations and the growing role of investors.
Regenerative farming involves nurturing the land through healthy soil biology, crop rotations, pollinator habitat, and other science-based practices focused on making that land more vital and productive to the roots. We look at each 20 to 40 acre field on each farm and identify its ideal crops and develop a 10-year crop rotation plan to increase soil health, plant happiness and the best economics.
Founded by Claire Smith, Beyond Investing is an advisor to the world’s first cruelty-free and eco-friendly ETF. Beyond Impact Advisors, invests in plant-based and cruelty-free start-ups and animal-replacing foodtech and biotech. And Beyond Animal, works to grow the vegan economy.
My firm focuses on the preservation of biodiversity as an investment theme allowing investors to align their investments with their values – an approach to investing that often has a special appeal for women. It inherently recognizes that we cannot continue to take from nature and not give anything back. It also recognizes that the future of our planet will require a more nurturing approach as is often used in ESG investing.
