Sustainable Investing

This book tells the story of how the convergence between corporate sustainability and sustainable investing is now becoming a major force driving systemic market changes. The idea and practice of corporate sustainability is no longer a niche movement. Investors are increasingly paying attention to sustainability factors in their analysis and decision-making, thus reinforcing market transformation.

In this book, high-level practitioners and academic thought leaders, including contributions from John Ruggie, Fiona Reynolds, Johan Rockström, and Paul Polman, explain the forces behind these developments. The contributors highlight (a) that systemic market change is influenced by various contextual factors that impact how sustainable investing is perceived and practiced; (b) that the integration of ESG factors in investment decisions is impacting markets on a large scale and hence changes practices of major market players (e.g. pension funds); and (c) that technology and the increasing datafication of sustainability act as further accelerators of such change.

The book goes beyond standard economic theory approaches to sustainable investing and emphasizes that capitalism founded on more real-world (complex) economics and cooperation can strengthen ESG integration. Aimed at both investment professionals and academics, this book gives the reader access to more practitioner-relevant information and it also discusses implementation issues. The reader will gain insights into how "mainstream" financial actors relate to sustainable investing.

"Sustainable investing isn't just for socially minded do-gooders, but has become one of the fastest growing parts of the wealth management industry,?and the extraordinary array of contributors to this volume explain why.?If Homo sapiens is to survive to the next millennium, the species will have to put these ideas into practice sooner rather than later." - Andrew Lo, MIT Sloan School of Management

"This is an engaging book encompassing a wealth of knowledge for anyone interested in sustainable investing: from the experienced investor who wants to better understand the field of sustainable investing to the intellectually curious business leader who wants to learn more about what it is and how it can be practiced." - George Serafeim, Harvard Business School

"This impressive book shows why market transformation is imperative and how business and finance can build a safe and livable future." - Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO Volkswagen AG

"This book argues convincingly that sustainable investing is becoming mainstream, as increasing numbers of asset owners, investment managers and companies take steps toward addressing longer-term challenges facing businesses and society. The question is not whether these commitments are welcome ? they are ? but whether they will be anywhere near enough to address our climate crisis and accomplish the Just Transition so necessary in the decade ahead." - Al Gore and David Blood, Generation Investment Management

"As the global Zeitgeist has shifted, the vision of a sustainable future is within reach. The investment universe will play a big role in implementing ESG into the fabric of the economic system. This insightful book shows that we already have the ideas and, yes, the means to get it done." - Asoka Wöhrmann, CEO DWS