In 2014, to determine if environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors made a difference to shareholder returns, we analysed five years’ worth of data. In doing so, we proved that ESG investing is more than just a feel-good phenomenon. Since then, we have continued to monitor how ESG factors impact shareholder returns and every two years, we publish an intellectually honest assessment of the ESG investing environment.
COVID-19 has been a test of companies’ sustainability credentials. It has sharpened public and investor scrutiny of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and has notably intensified attention around the ‘social’ component.
Like ESG investing, climate change is an important concern for asset managers and owners, and a new challenge for portfolio construction. Until now, investors have mainly measured carbon risk using fundamental approaches, such as with carbon intensity metrics. Nevertheless, it has not been proven that asset prices are directly impacted by these fundamental-based measures.