Money doesn’t grow on trees but if it did, you’d find it in a Sustainable Investment Fund
All cameras are at a UN Summit and Greta Thunberg is addressing the world and sticking it to the establishment. “You are not doing enough” , “How dare you”, “You have stolen my dreams”. Was she wrong. Nope! Was she reiterating the feelings of every informed person under 30 years old? Yep! Conversation after conversation after conversation that I had with 100s of people about this particular topic over the last 5 years were unbelievable. It was so far off people’s top agenda that it was depressing thinking about the impending crisis which we are creeping into. Literally no will amongst anybody to do anything. Knowing the world could literally end as you know it, in your lifetime, isn’t exactly inspiring. And I think whilst Greta is portraying the anger of the younger generation to come, there is still (fortunately) room for hope.
ESG, Environmental Social and Governance investing has accelerated at the end of 2020 and Sustainable investing has become a huge winner. According to the FT Green Bonds issued in 2020 topped 250bn from around 50bn 5 years earlier. Social Bonds have also skyrocketted from under 10bn in 2019 to 150bn in 2020. I know the company I work for in the city has sustainable investing as one of its number 1 goals for the future.
Companies are now beginning to face up to the reality that the under 30s won’t put their hard earned £’s into products which are destroying the world, and all of the demand is seeping into sustainable products. From Teslas waiting list for 35k+ vehicle, to vegan fast food and restaurants popping up all over London, to sustainably sourced clothes, to sustainable work places; There is not a part of life that is off limits. We are willing and able to put our money where our mouth is and company’s around the world appear to be taking notice.
It’s really a case for hope. We are finally coming to terms with the reality that is before us and making the shift across all industries that are necessary. There will be winners and losers. There will be masses of money to gain. There will be a blood bath for those just beginning to catch wind. But in the end the momentum is going in the right direction. Lets keep it moving!
