A mining engineer holds up a tablet to a rock quarry. Credit: Morsa Images/iStock.
As the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) wave continues to build around the world, many are wondering what this year has in store. According to Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, investors plan to double their allocations to sustainable investments over the next five years, and 20% say that Covid-19 is accelerating those allocations.
The pandemic has greatly intensified the growing societal concern over rising inequality and the negative impacts of human activity on our planet. Investing towards good for the planet and society is now front and centre, and the demand for transparent disclosure on ESG performance is not letting up. Over half of institutional investors are looking for companies to disclose more details about their social or “S” factors, according to RBC Global Asset Management’s annual Responsible Investment Survey.