According to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, between 2016 and 2020, global investment in sustainable assets rose from $22.8tn to $35.3tn. Despite this trend, a recent study by French business school Edhec found that passive exchange-traded funds tracking low carbon, climate change or Paris-aligned indices are often allocating disproportionately in favour of companies with poor environmental performance. Unless the industry takes a more active approach to fund management, it risks hindering the growth of ESG and the shift towards a truly Net Zero economy.
As the ESG movement continues to develop and the sector’s digital footprint grows, financial professionals are increasingly in the position to design impact-driven funds that align with investors’ convictions and satisfy their financial goals. However, without clear guidelines, benchmarks or industry standards to follow, fund managers must be proactive in their approach, to drive the way to a more sustainable economy.
In Episode 9 of The ESG Innovation Hub, we’re taking a deep-dive into the world of impact funds and exploring the evolving role of fund managers in the age of impact investing.
Discussion topics include:
- Towards a Net Zero economy: why fund managers need to rethink business performance
- Harnessing the power of big data and analytics to create impact-driven funds
- The portfolio manager’s guide to investing in impact funds
Speakers:
- Gunter Greiner, Head of Investments, WIWIN Green Impact Fund
- Jean-Charles Prabonneau, Product Research & Innovation Manager - Climate, Clarity.AI
The ESG Innovation Hub is hosted by Georgina Mitchell, Consultant, WellHouse Consulting.