How big is the sustainable investing market?
The global sustainable finance market size was estimated at USD 519.88 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 623.39 billion in 2023. What is sustainable finance market growth?
London, 8 January 2024 – Global ESG assets surpassed $30 trillion in 2022 and are on track to surpass $40 trillion by 2030 — over 25% of projected $140 trillion assets under management (AUM) according to a latest ESG report from Bloomberg Intelligence (BI).
$30.3 trillion is invested globally in sustainable investing assets. Data published in new GSIA report – Global Sustainable Investment Review 2022 – the 6th edition of this landmark publication.
More than three quarters (77%) of individual investors globally say they are interested in investing in companies or funds that aim to achieve market-rate financial returns while also considering positive social and/or environmental impact.
Sustainable investing encourages the preservation of natural resources by supporting companies committed to sustainable resource management and conservation efforts. Through responsible investment decisions, investors contribute to the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Overall, the survey found that 85% of investors think ESG leads to “better returns, resilient portfolios and enhanced fundamental analysis.” Among executives surveyed, 84% said ESG helps them “shape a more robust corporate strategy,” according to Adeline Diab, BI's director of ESG strategy and research.
- Royal London Emerging Markets ESG Leaders Equity Tracker Fund. ...
- BlackRock Global Funds ESG Multi-Asset Fund. ...
- Federated Hermes Global Equity ESG Fund. ...
- Vanguard ESG Developed World All Cap Equity Index Fund. ...
- BlackRock Strategic Funds ESG Euro Bond Fund.
The key difference between ESG and sustainability is that ESG is a specific tool used to measure the performance of a company, while sustainability is a broad principle that encompasses a range of responsible business practices.
Sustainable investing has moved out of the niche and into the mainstream. In fact, it's so far into the mainstream that PwC Luxembourg's first European Sustainable Finance Series report predicts that the boundary between traditional and sustainable investments could all but disappear, especially in Europe.
There's $35 Trillion Invested in Sustainability, but $25 Trillion of That Isn't Doing Much. Sustainable investment assets grew to $35.3 trillion globally last year amid mounting concerns about societal inequities and climate change.
Is ESG investing growing?
Global investors are increasingly focused on ESG issues in their investment strategies. Roughly 89 percent of investors considered ESG issues in some form as part of their investment approach in 2022, up from 84 percent in 2021, according to a Capital Group study.
The Rise of Green Investments
Today, the demand for ESG investments is higher than ever. According to a 2021 survey, the majority of ESG investors started prioritizing ESG practices within the past five years, and most plan to continue investing in ESG companies.
They have got more concerned about addressing social and governance issues as well. This increased awareness has led to a surge in sustainable investing, which is more commonly known to us as ESG investing. The term was first seen in a groundbreaking 2004 study "Who Cares Wins" by the United Nations Global Compact.
Sustainability is Profitable.
Moreover, reports Morningstar, 72% of all sustainable equity funds ranked in the top half of their respective investment categories in the first six months of 2020.
There is a potential for “greenwashing”
Some companies may make claims about their ESG practices that are not fully supported by their actions which can lead to “greenwashing”. This may make it difficult for you as an investor to identify truly sustainable companies.
BlackRock Sustainable Investing Platform
Across the platform, products use environmental, social and/or governance data as a portfolio construction input and a subset of those products also seek to achieve long-term sustainability outcomes.
Funds that invest using environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, criteria underperformed for a second consecutive year.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the adoption of new rules that will require funds with names that suggest an investment focus on ESG or sustainability-related factors to invest at least 80% of the value of assets in accordance with those factors.
- NGOs. Carbon Disclosure Project is an example of an NGO that produces ESG scores.
- Financial services firms. Bloomberg, MSCI, FTSE Russell and S&P Global are examples of financial services firms that publish ESG scores.
“Republicans and aligned groups are vehemently opposed to ESG,” says Poreda. “They view ESG as a subversive way to enact political and ideological goals through investing.
Does BlackRock support ESG?
Because we believe that climate risk is investment risk, BlackRock's active portfolio managers seek to understand how they can use environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data as a lens to identify new risks and opportunities, and to build more resilient and better performing portfolios.
It is more and more becoming the standard in the investment industry, especially in Europe, where most of the sustainable fund's assets are concentrated. The most common approach to investing sustainably is through ESG integration - by explicitly and systematically factoring ESG issues into the investment decision.
Critics say ESG investments allocate money based on political agendas, such as a drive against climate change, rather than on earning the best returns for savers.
Fidelity's commitment
Fidelity active sustainable funds prioritize one or more ESG factors in their fundamental research and investment disciplines.
Impact investing allows for a more direct and measurable impact on specific issues, while ESG investing provides a broader framework for considering sustainability factors across a range of investments. Ultimately, the "better" approach will vary for each investor.
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