Air New Zealand has scrapped its 2030 emissions target, the first major airline...
Shell revises climate targets as it plans to keep its gas business growing…
...In the past year, many have dropped or missed goals to cut emissions
or to loosen ties with polluting sectors...

In recent years, sustainable investing
seemed to be everywhere. The issues commanded the news cycle,
companies set targets, investors discussed ESG,
nations and firms alike pledged to reach net zero.
But in the context of volatile markets,

a year of elections and global uncertainty,
is the honeymoon over? Has sustainable investing peaked?
The overwhelming majority of the economy
as of today, is not green. When we talk about sustainability,
it's actually something that is unfolding at a structural level
over the course of many, many years,

actually many decades.
For instance, in the way we conduct economic activity,
if you were to just plot mid-19th century to 2050,
it's a linear function. But of course it's not.
There's many, many kinds of small booms

and busts along that conversation.
So back to my point about sustainability, there are times of acceleration
where policy moves forward: signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015,
the agreement that was achieved around fossil fuel
in Dubai during COP28.

And in other instances, of course,
backlash and conversations that go the other way around.
And I really wouldn’t be surprised that moment of slowdown
is followed by an acceleration. It just so happens that it's
not a linear transition.

So what is this moment of slowdown caused by? There's been an argument that the transition is actually going to be very costly, not just in terms of we need to deploy a lot of capital, but those upfront costs are also going to cost to

businesses and to consumers, because prices will increase. There's been some very, very high-profile businesses and companies that have actually gone backwards. But I mean, we're still seeing tremendous growth in many businesses, that are actually pursuing new business models as a way to generate revenues,

generate profits, and redistribute those profits to their investors. So it’s two steps forward, one step back, essentially? I think we reached peak fatigue a couple of years ago because it was such a mess. I think there was also fatigue with greenwashing.

What has changed massively, actually, in the last couple of years is that now we are starting to have many different standards. So we're starting to get to a point where there's a level playing field and an understanding around what it means to be green,

what it means to be sustainable, what it means not to be sustainable. That has in some ways revived enthusiasm and trust as well in the system. We've been an investment house for many centuries. And it so happens that now sustainability, we think

is incredibly material to investment decision making. I mean, it's gathered so much momentum, but the momentum is such that it cannot be stopped. It's unstoppable.

Has Sustainable Investing Peaked? | FT Rethink

Interested in unbiased global news and want to make sense of a changing world? The Financial Times YouTube channel showcases the best of our visual journalism, going beyond the headlines to help you navigate the world’s new agenda. Our stories will inform and inspire you to lead the way in business and beyond, to rethink existing political and economic models and follow crucial trends. Join us and gain deeper insight into the news. 

Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2019. FT and 'Financial Times' are trademarks of The Financial Times Ltd. Please do not copy or redistribute FT videos otherwise than in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service. If you wish to purchase rights to syndicate FT videos, please contact syndication@ft.com.



Financial Times

Air New Zealand dropped its 2030 emissions target.

Shell revised its climate targets while maintaining its gas business.

Many companies have missed or abandoned emission reduction goals.

The current state of sustainable investing

Sustainable investing was prominent but faces challenges due to market volatility and global uncertainty.

The majority of the economy isn't green; sustainability is a long-term structural change.

Economic activity isn't linear; there are periods of acceleration and slowdown in sustainability efforts.

The transition to sustainability is costly, impacting businesses and consumers.

Some companies have faced setbacks, but others are thriving with new sustainable business models.

Peak fatigue and greenwashing concerns contributed to the slowdown.

Development of standards is creating a level playing field and clearer understanding of sustainability.

Sustainability is crucial for investment decisions.

The momentum towards sustainability is unstoppable.