The US SIF Foundation using a new modified methodology for their 2022 Trends Report identified 497 institutional asset owners applying ESG incorporation practices across $6.6 trillion in assets under management. The group included institutional asset owners and plan sponsors such as public funds, insurance co, educational and faith-based institutions, foundations, labor funds, hospitals, and family offices.
Using the US SIF Foundation’s new modified methodology, the 2022 Report on US Sustainable Investing Trends identified 349 money managers and 1,359 community investment institutions incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria into their investment decision-making processes across a total of $5.6 trillion in assets under management (AUM).
The US SIF Foundation’s 14th edition of the biennial Report on US Sustainable Investing Trends identifies $8.4 trillion in total US sustainable investment AUM at the beginning of 2022. This represents 13 percent of the total US assets under professional management. These totals reflect the Trends Report’s new modified methodology.
“Protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems is critical to ensuring sustainable economic growth. It is also a key component of our response to climate change mitigation, resilience, and adaptation. The private sector has a central role to play. This guide is a compass for businesses and investors seeking to align their activities with the goals of sustainable growth and a healthy planet.” said Makhtar Diop, IFC
ESG investing has been all the rage over the last several years, and today’s investors can choose from hundreds of stocks, mutual funds, and municipal bonds. Eco-friendly investing puts money behind companies that claim to be better for the environment by actively trying to lower their carbon emissions. But investors who want to make decisions with the environment in mind can find themselves trying to navigate a confusing landscape.
Calvert Impact recently announced the publication of its 2022 Impact Report: Responding to the Need for Transformative Change. The report showcases Calvert Impact\’s portfolio partners\’ work in communities around the globe and the impact of its investors\’ capital. It also highlights key internal trends, with particularly noteworthy increases in Calvert Impact\’s climate and small business portfolios.
Vert Asset Management, a dedicated ESG investment manager, recently announces the 5th anniversary of Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate Fund, an open-end mutual fund which seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Fund invests across the globe in publicly listed real estate investment trusts (REITs) using evidence-based environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.
Can financial instruments such as green bonds and other sustainability-related products deliver enough financing for a multi-trillion-dollar energy transition? The cost of transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy seems fantastically astronomical. Current estimates of the capital needed to decarbonize the global economy and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 offer some eye-watering figures. They range from about $1 trillion to $9 trillion annually. So, based on those annual projections, a final price tag from now until 2050 could be anywhere between $30 trillion and $275 trillion. (Dec. 2022)
Women are at the forefront of the movement towards a new kind of capitalism – one where companies don’t simply focus on maximizing profits for shareholders, but consider their impacts on all stakeholders, including the environment, their workers, and the communities in which they operate. Also we’ve seen companies where women hold top leadership roles tend to meet higher ESG standards than their industry peers.
Compared to just two years ago, our clients are far more aware of ESG as an investment approach. This includes awareness that ESG is, to some, a controversial topic. Part of our role as financial advisors is to dig into investment opportunities to ensure we understand them and how they match up with our clients’ goals for a more sustainable future – that includes a better planet and society over the next five, 10 and 20 years.
