What are the three key sustainable investing factors?
A brief history of ESG
Sustainability is an essential part of facing current and future global challenges, not only those related to the environment.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing seeks to support companies and projects that provide a social benefit, not just profit. Climate change is a major concern for environmentalists, but it also offers potential profit for renewable energy investors.
Sustainable investing is an investment approach that considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in addition to traditional financial factors. Environmental criteria might include factors like a company's carbon footprint, resource use and energy efficiency.
Sustainability is broken into four distinct areas, known as the four pillars of sustainability: Human, Social, Economic, and Environmental Sustainability. Let's take a look into what these pillars cover.
Describes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and their interactions and linkages. Balancing and harmonizing these three dimensions is an essential pre-requisite for achieving sustainable development.
Sustainable investing involves incorporating environmental, social, and governance factors into investment decisions. It recognizes that financial success can go hand in hand with positive societal and environmental outcomes. Environmental factors consider climate change, natural resource usage, and pollution.
The three categories of investment spending namely; business fixed investment, residential investment (housing), and inventory investment tend to be determined by their respective return and how risky their investors can get.
The largest sustainable investment strategy globally is ESG integra- tion, as shown in Figure 6, with a combined USD25. 2 trillion in assets under management employing an ESG integration approach, also being the most commonly reported strategy in most regions.
These questions are about the 3 essential elements of investments – Safety, Liquidity and Returns. Let's see what are you most likely to do if you were to focus on just one of the elements. What is the safest investment? You would typically invest in a PPF, NSC, Government Securities/Bonds, Bank Fixed Deposits, etc.
What are the 4 C's of sustainability?
Segera finds that balance between conservation, community, culture and commerce, and puts the environment at the heart of the development.
Sustainable development can be applied to corporate policy in the business world as it encompasses three key areas: economic, environmental and social. Sustainable development requires that a company must contribute to economic growth, social progress and promote environmental sustainability.
The origins of the 'three-pillar' paradigm have been variously attributed to the Brundtland Report, Agenda 21, and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (Moldan et al.
Financial institutions could follow a four-pillared governance strategy to infuse ESG considerations into their long-term strategic planning: oversight structure, compensation structure, policies and risk management, and transparency and accountability.
Najjar, 2022) 5 Economic, social, ecological, the built environment, political (Allen, 2009) Economic, social/ethical, environmental, technical and institutional (Bhattacharyya, 2012;Ebrahimi & Rahmani, 2019;Iddrisu & Bhattacharyya, 2015;Ilskog, 2008) New five-dimensional sustainability triangle: Place, Permanence, ...
Three Pillars of Sustainability (Sustainability Triangle)
Different aspects of sustainability are often considered using the so-called "three-pillar model" or triangle. The pillars of sustainability stand for ecology, economy and social issues, these aspects are also known as the dimensions of sustainability.
The phrase, "people, planet, and profit" to describe the triple bottom line and the goal of sustainability, was coined by John Elkington in 1994 while at SustainAbility, and was later used as the title of the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell's first sustainability report in 1997.
In economics, the triple bottom line (TBL) maintains that companies should commit to focusing as much on social and environmental concerns as they do on profits. TBL theory posits that instead of one bottom line, there should be three: profit, people, and the planet.
Select specialized sustainable ETFs
Some exchange-traded funds focus on specific sustainability themes like renewable energy, water conservation, or gender equality. Example: Buy shares of the “Invesco Solar ETF (TAN),” which invests in solar energy companies.
According to US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), sustainable finance, also called ESG finance, refers to investments that consider environmental, social, and/or governance factors.
What is sustainable investing called?
Sustainable investing, sometimes known as socially responsible investing (SRI) or impact investing, puts a premium on positive social change by considering both financial returns and moral values in investments decisions.
A robust literature describes the incentives and stewardship practices of the “Big Three” asset managers (BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street Global Advisors), often referring to these asset managers as “passive.” This is so common that the “Big Three,” “index fund,” and “passive manager” are used almost ...
Investors make money in two ways: appreciation and income. Appreciation occurs when an asset increases in value. An investor purchases an asset in the hopes that its value will grow and they can then sell it for more than they bought it for, earning a profit.
Sustainability risks can materialize for assets and investments in a range of ways, for example: impaired or stranded asset values, increased operational costs, unforeseen liabilities and penalties, loss of access to markets/customers, and reputational damage.
Sustainable investing directs investment capital to companies that seek to combat climate change, environmental destruction, while promoting corporate responsibility.
References
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-were-still-bullish-impact-investing-2024-startingupgood-vlyte
- https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/impact-investing-market-report
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10734927/
- https://www.bunq.com/blog/green-investments-what-are-they-examples-advantages
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/043015/what-difference-between-green-field-and-brown-field-investment.asp
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-do-leading-impact-investing-firms-manage-risk-some-islam
- https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/21/millennials-spurred-growth-in-esg-investing-now-all-ages-are-on-board.html
- https://freakonomics.com/podcast/are-e-s-g-investors-actually-helping-the-environment/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/active-trading/090115/top-5-impact-investing-firms.asp
- https://deq.utah.gov/communication/news/9-ways-to-go-green-this-summer
- https://www.morganstanley.com/im/publication/resources/msim-sustainable-investing-policy-en.pdf
- https://www.intuition.com/green-bonds-explained-and-the-different-types-of-green-asset/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_bottom_line
- https://esgclarity.com/majority-of-private-investors-consider-esg-when-investing/
- https://www.schroders.com/en-gb/uk/institutional/insights/sustainability-vs-returns-can-you-have-your-cake-and-eat-it/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-sustainable-investing-aligning-profits-purpose-prem-senapati
- https://arrowuniforms.co.nz/blogs/stay-sharp-blog/the-pillars-of-sustainability
- https://explorer.aapg.org/story/articleid/65165/is-there-a-dark-side-to-esg
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Sustainable-development-triangle-key-elements-and-interconnections-corners-sides_fig1_295539679
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/made-not-born-dave-ramsey-110000138.html
- https://fastercapital.com/content/Risks-and-challenges-associated-with-impact-investing.html
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Characteristics-of-a-Sustainability-Business-Model_tbl4_249701754
- https://www.investors.com/news/esg-stocks-list-of-100-best-esg-companies/
- https://fortune.com/recommends/investing/what-is-esg-investing/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/17/why-so-many-people-making-100000-dollars-a-year-dont-feel-rich.html
- https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/136715/7/Purvis2018_Article_ThreePillarsOfSustainabilityIn.pdf
- https://www.morningstar.com/views/blog/esg/esg-portfolios-returns
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Social-Impact-Investing-Salary
- https://cpduk.co.uk/news/sustainable-investing-achieving-profitability-with-purpose
- https://www.enel.com/company/stories/articles/2023/06/three-pillars-sustainability
- https://greenco-esg.com/green-investment/
- https://www.koho.ca/learn/what-is-green-investing/
- https://typeset.io/questions/what-are-the-characteristics-of-sustainability-5c9imt051m
- https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2023-03-02/what-is-esg-investing-and-why-do-some-hate-it-so-much.html
- https://inrate.com/blog/impact-investing-vs-esg-difference/
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-key-challenges-risks-social-impact-investing
- https://majorsustainability.smeal.psu.edu/concepts-4/sustainable-investing/
- https://www.bdo.com/insights/sustainability-and-esg/99-of-the-s-p-500-is-reporting-on-esg-and-65-are-obtaining-esg-assurance
- https://www.hudexchange.info/faqs/2945/what-is-a-sustainable-budget
- https://phenixcapitalgroup.com/impact-vs-esg
- https://www.bankrate.com/investing/green-stocks/
- https://ternplc.com/2022/04/what-is-esg-and-its-three-pillars/
- https://www.investopedia.com/sustainable-investing-4427774
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/investing.asp
- https://www.bankrate.com/investing/esg-investing-statistics/
- https://unovest.co/understand-3-essential-elements-investments/
- https://www.gsi-alliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GSIR-20201.pdf
- https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/how-retail-investors-value-esg-and-frame-sustainable-investment-strategies/
- https://theconversation.com/a-beginners-guide-to-sustainable-investing-219421
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/triple-bottom-line.asp
- https://krugercowne.com/the-4cs-of-sustainability/
- https://www.kroll.com/en/about-us/news/kroll-study-shows-stronger-investment-returns-companies-high-esg-ratings
- https://raoglobal.org/blog/blackrocks-shift-from-esg-investing-to-transition-a-bold-move-towards-sustainable-transformation
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/what-financial-advisors-have-to-say-about-the-esg-controversy
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/impact-investing.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/030316/3-trends-watch-esg-investing.asp
- https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Mindi-Reardon_Genoa-Twin-River-HS_Who-Wants-To-Be-Millionair-Lesson-Plan.pdf
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/good-intentions-perverse-outcomes-impact-investing-aswath-damodaran
- https://www.arideden.org/home/wolwedans-sustainability/5cs
- https://action.deloitte.com/insight/3813/the-four-pillars-of-esg-infused-governance
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriscarosa/2023/03/27/who-supports-esg-investing-and-whos-against-it-and-why/
- https://esg.conservice.com/esg-scores-why-they-matter/
- https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4406204
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/esg-investing/
- https://climateimpact.edhec.edu/does-esg-investing-improve-risk-adjusted-performance
- https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/3-pillars-of-sustainable-development
- https://sleek.com/au/resources/esg-advantages-disadvantages/
- https://www.carboncollective.co/sustainable-investing/green-fund
- https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/green-investments/
- https://thegiin.org/characteristics/
- https://homework.study.com/explanation/the-three-categories-of-investment-spending-are-residential-investment-housing-inventory-investment-and-business-fixed-investment-what-determines-each-of-these.html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140988321005909
- https://www.uvex-safety.co.uk/en/about-uvex/how-we-work/sustainably/corporate-sustainability-models-and-strategies/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esg-principles-practices-common-criticism-sanjay-roye-j4uvc
- https://www.novata.com/resources/blog/esg-impact-investing-differences/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact-investing-market-set-reach-45-trillion-1eqyf
- https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/sustainable-funds-performance-2023-full-year
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinero/2023/01/29/whats-behind-the-esg-investment-backlash/
- https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/esg/esg-predictions-2024/
- https://www.unbiased.com/discover/investing/impact-investing-statistics
- https://www.impactinvest.org.uk/learning-hub/the-impact-investing-market/
- https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Private%20Equity%20and%20Principal%20Investors/Our%20Insights/From%20why%20to%20why%20not%20Sustainable%20investing%20as%20the%20new%20normal/From-why-to-why-not-Sustainable-investing-as-the-new-normal.ashx
- https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/how-does-esg-emphasis-impact-a-companys-value/
- https://impact-investor.com/guide-2024-taking-impact-investing-to-the-next-stage/
- https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda-retired/
- https://news.bloomberglaw.com/esg/esg-campaigns-seen-falling-out-of-favor-with-activist-investors
- https://www.usbank.com/investing/financial-perspectives/investing-insights/what-is-greenwashing.html
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Five-Dimensions-Model-of-Sustainable-Development-source-Authors-own-draft_fig3_349947350
- https://www.barrons.com/articles/esg-fund-performance-2023-3d89618e
- https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=31f770b0-2222-4b5e-98a4-c300fb3682c8
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2023/02/16/esg-stocks-what-is-esg-and-do-esg-stocks-outperform-the-rest/
- https://www.spglobal.com/en/research-insights/articles/what-is-the-difference-between-esg-investing-and-socially-responsible-investing
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/sustainable-investing
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-investing-creating-secure-financial-future-investbanq-yiukf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental,_social,_and_governance
- https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/the-5-principles-of-green-economy
- https://www.undp.org/blog/three-cs-sustainable-development-data
- https://irrc.org/examples-of-sustainable-investments/
- https://www.barrons.com/articles/esg-funds-etfs-stocks-blackrock-e517a15c
- https://aplanet.org/resources/esg-risks/
- https://esg.conservice.com/how-esg-supports-lgbtq-community/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-social-and-governance-esg-criteria.asp
- https://www.esma.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2023-03/C_2022_7545_F1_ANNEX_EN_V3_P1_2289249.docx
- https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/how-well-has-environmental-social-and-governance-investing-performed
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140988321005909
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/investor.asp
- https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/how-can-you-make-the-change-to-green-finance
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esg-investing-pros-cons-how-comply-osvaldo-berrios