The global market is currently booming with talk of sustainable investing and all things related to environmental, social and governance issues.
However, while the principal and the idea has actually been around for some time, it is only in the last few years that investing gained traction and became increasingly popular. Then the covid-19 pandemic struck. And as it spread like wild waves across the world, many feared the worst for the direction of sustainable investments. Government, regulators, and investors switched attention to short term recovery methods.
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But then, things took a turn, what had been feared to be the worst failed to happen, in fact it was the opposite. The noises about sustainable investing have continued to grow louder, as we become increasingly aware of current trends, as well as the obvious inequality involved in investing.
So, what does this mean to us now? As we move past the pandemic, 2022 appears to be the year that sustainable investing rapidly develops to new levels.
Sustainable Investing Explained
Sustainable Investing is an investment strategy that focuses time and consideration into environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria to create long term competitive financial returns and positive societal actions. Investing involves various other terms and techniques such as responsible investing, impact investing, or ethic investing – while there are slight differences, it is correct to say that the purpose of sharing interest, experience, or other characteristic is to achieve positive change whenever there is a social or environmental project.
However, sustainable investing is not merely about preventing investments in risky companies. There is a new category of investors actively searching for companies that address social and environmental challenges while also delivering financial returns. These companies fall into a wide range of industries and sectors – from food to transportation, from health care to education. This makes the possibilities and opportunities for sustainable investors endless.
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The Role Of Policy And Regulation
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There is a growing consensus in the global policy agenda, which is shaping the way investors are thinking about sustainability. The Paris agreement on climate change provided a global carbon budget and we are beginning to see widespread commitments made by cooperatives and investors alike to achieving the sustainable development goals. Things are looking bright for sustainable investment, and especially now with the United States back in the fray.
Looking Out For Sustainable Stocks
The sustainable investing industry is extensive and ESG is a broad gathering. However, as we look to the future, specific issues and problems will garner more attention than others. The quality over progress is clear as lots of large cooperates continue to make Net-zero commitments. These are companies that are thriving because they can foresee the unavoidable and develop mitigation plans. At the same time, these actions are fueled by a pitch-back against high carbon companies. Investors are beginning to notice and are additionally willing to force companies to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions as fast as possible.
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Jumping On Board
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As recent as five years ago, there was a large disengagement of the global community from discussions about sustainable investing. These interactions remained majorly within niche angles of the industry. However, this is shifting dramatically. With most big investors now believing sustainable investing to be good risk management, leveraging the practice to help manage risk in times of uncertainty. It also helps that some big names are getting more vocal about sustainable investing.
Still Some Challenges To Overcome:
There are still problems to tackle in sustainable investing as the ‘new norm’. Opening and ESG date remain thorny issues. There is largely the holding back of Investors due to with widespread concern about data fragmentation, inconsistency in opening, and a lack of standardization. The important thing is to be aware of green washing. Some companies and funds can do a good job at green washing. Sustainable investors need to do their research, check against third party sources and undertake severe due diligence.
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Reasons For Optimism
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Despite these problems, we have lots of other reasons for Optimism. 2022 Is likely to see a sustainable investing boom. One thing is certain, new listeners will emerge to have new conversations the industry needs to be prepared to deliver.
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Meanwhile, you can look below to find some of our recent articles specially curated for you;
Hi there! I’m Owen, a writer, designer, and a digital marketer. I create and manage content at OG Capital. I am a highly motivated individual who is very passionate about problem-solving. Reach out to me on social media and I will be more than happy to connect with you. Cheers!
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