Tag Archives: environment

From Principles to Profits: Investor’s Priorities Shifting in a Volatile World.

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Lauri Twomey

Short-Term Financial Gain is Resuming Priority Amongst Investors


Over the last decade, there has been an ongoing emphasis placed on sustainable investing. Increased awareness of social inequality, the climate crisis, corporate governance scandals, and advancements in digital technology have each encouraged various individuals to question where to invest their money. Currently Europe holds 85% of global sustainable funds’ net assets. This form of investing for many individuals stemmed from moral concern relating to climate change and emphasizing investing in the future, not necessarily seeking financial gain.


However, in recent times investor’s perspectives have changed. Short term financial gain is resuming the priority in investors’ portfolios. In 2021, there was a surge of sustainable investors, data from Morningstar showed sustainable investing fund inflows which also include ESG products hit 645 billion globally, a quarter of all inflows. This figure has since dropped to 36 billion from an overall 1.5 trillion in 2024. Banks are rethinking their positions in sustainable development.

Did the Corporations Across the World Ever Believe in a Sustainable Future or Did They Utilize Sustainability as a Trend to Promote Their Business?


It is evident that banks have lost faith, with portfolio managers adjusting their previous commitments of divesting from fossil fuel companies, in response to recent political issues that have put financial gain back to top priority. But sustainable investing was never a profit maximizing strategy. Banks across the world were including sustainability as one of their banks core values, investing in the future of the planet. The purpose was not financial gain for a lot of people, it was looking at the detrimental impacts that climate change would cause, with severe weather incidents becoming more prevalent and seeking ways to combat these issues .


However, after the recent US election and the current ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, investors are back to seeking short term gains, in order to maintain competitiveness. Trump removing the US from the Paris Climate Change Agreement has influenced other dominant parties to also divert their interests in investing in the future with major financial institutions such as Blackrock, a company that once praised the ESG investing movement, to withdraw from UN sponsored climate initiatives. Trump’s administration has severely impacted climate tech through encouraging the “anti-climate narrative”, which focuses on the short term financial losses of sustainability rather than looking at how it can enhance competitiveness in the future through innovation.

The Knock-On Effect of the European Union’s Flagship Green Deal on Environment Policy


The recent Green Deal environmental policy has also impacted the EU, as lawmakers discuss adjusting their strategies regarding future developments on climate accounting rules noted in the aforementioned flagship deal, as they worry that implementing these strict regulations will reduce their competitiveness with the US and China. Two major landmark policies being reviewed are the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. These laws were some of the first signs of legislation requiring companies to take accountability for their actions and prioritize the sustainable transition through accounting practices.

However, many companies argue that the cost of implementing these reporting requirements will affect their companies processes. Since the start of the year, countries such as France and Germany are seeking help to withhold on these sustainability reporting rules. Despite this, many groups such as the European Sustainable Investment Forum highlighted that these rules will aid investors when it comes to being able to seek out opportunities, managing risk and direct capital to an equitable and sustainable economy through encouraging transparency amongst corporations. These laws will help sustainable research, analytics and increase individual awareness on what types of businesses they are contributing to.


At the moment it’s difficult to focus on the financial aspect of sustainable investing, due to issues with monetizing climate impacts. There are many flaws in measuring and reporting , as the ESG ratings of companies vary depending on which rating agency they use, thus drawing attention to the inconsistency with the process, which results in conflicting data when investors are looking at sustainable investing. Time and resources are needed to combat these issues, but now these resources are being diverted elsewhere.

Future Demand for Sustainable Practices is Still Anticipated to Grow in the Future


Despite all of this, consumer demand for combating the climate crisis is continuing to grow. A report by Bain & Co. highlighted that due to personal experiences regarding extreme weather events, 60% of consumers are more concerned about climate change now than they were two years ago, with prime events such as Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helen accounting for $500 billion in economic losses. The issue is that the economic losses that result from climate change will only increase. Since 2000, climate related issues have already caused 3.6 trillion in damages and once the tipping point of the planetary boundaries are crossed, there is no backtracking. The prime goal was to be resilient in the future, as managing director at Boston Consulting group Sylvain Seotarata said “if you think of the world in which we operate, there’s a high degree of uncertainty and high degree of volatility” then “in that context, it is essential to ensure that your company is able to handle these uncertainties, this volatility”, that is what resilience meant for her, explaining how long term competitiveness aligns with protecting against physical risk.


Another core group that are increasingly aware of the climate crisis is Gen Z (born between 1997-2012), a report by Bain found that they are willing to pay more for goods and services that align with their sustainability beliefs. With more and more universities educating their students on the impact of climate change and new sustainability focused courses being implemented, (particularly within business schools), sustainability demand is only going to grow. Within Trinity College Dublin, sustainable business practices are being taught to students and previous modules are being adjusted incorporating sustainability into investment modules and marketing. Many other universities are adopting similar approaches.


The world’s major leaders have neglected their responsibility to prevent the severity of the climate crisis, cutting back on regulations and influencing the “anti-climate narrative”. Banks have also highlighted to us that they never had much faith in the sustainable transition, creating mistrust among clients. While sustainable finance has many flaws in its practices, such as poor reporting procedures, the only way to combat this is investment and further research. Now is the time to push for innovation, and with significant developments in AI and other new age technologies we are now more capable than ever to help tackle key environmental issues. But if sustainable investing is ever really going to become part of every investor’s portfolio in the future, the banks must believe in it themselves.

Cop-27: A Meaningful Step in the Fight Against Climate Change

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While some may consider Ireland’s unprecedently warm weather in early November as an excuse to forget the jacket when going into college or get in a few more outdoor pints before we head into the depths of winter, this weather is quite a harrowing glimpse into the future of our planet.  This warmer weather coincided—almost mockingly—with the beginning of COP-27, the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference.  As if nature’s way of saying “go ahead, give it your best shot.”  While unfortunately this view is extremely foreboding, as the generation gearing up to bear the burden of rising sea levels and increases in both natural disasters and air pollution, it’s difficult not to be experiencing heightened levels of climate anxiety.  

COP-27 brings together world leaders to brainstorm and negotiate a global approach to tackling climate issues.  This year, the conference took place in Sharm El-Sheikh, a beautiful city in Egypt that boasts lush beaches sat nicely on the coast of the Red Sea.  The city is nicknamed the ‘City of Peace’ due to the large number of international and diplomatic conferences that it has hosted over the years.  While it is easy to get overwhelmed with the future implications of climate change, it is important to push forward and take each win as it comes.  That being said, it is important to acknowledge the historical decision made this year at COP-27 to establish a “loss and damage” fund.  This fund will assist developing countries who have unjustly fallen victim to the adverse effects of climate change that have been mostly perpetrated by developed countries.  The idea of a loss and damage fund has been on the COP agenda for over a decade, so this monumental decision is a significant point of progress.  It is clear that this year’s COP conference has taken a more action-based approach, with commitment to the implementation and adaption of programs to tackle climate change.  This is a refreshing change to past years, where the conference has seemed to focus more on discussing and planning rather than taking immediate and tangible action. 

To further examine the role of business in the context of sustainability and adapting to a more climate friendly business world, it is stimulating to take a look at sessions hosted by EU COP-27 Side Events.  COP 27 Side Events is a series of sessions held by observer organisations, such as NGOs or IGOs, giving a platform for these groups to lead discussions or present their current projects all while engaging the audience through interactive discussions and Q&As.  

One noteworthy Side Events session was titled ‘Documenting the Multiple Benefits and Engagement Mechanisms of Nature Based Solutions: Applying a Common EU Impact Assessment Framework.’ The event was led by Verónica Ruiz, a Resilience Programme Manager at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  Nature based solutions (NBS) “involve working with nature to address societal challenges, providing benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity.” This virtual and interactive NBS Side Event discussed the importance of measuring the impact of NBS, using the EU handbook on impact assessment as a helpful guide, as it will support additional projects and the ongoing development of more sustainable cities and business activities.  

The discussion opened with a description of the EU Evaluating the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions: A Handbook for Practitioners and the associated Appendix of Methods and Summary for Policy Makers.  This handbook provides a detailed description and guidance for developing and measuring the impact of NBS plans.  Five guest speakers talked through NBS projects they have been working on and how they have been measuring and evaluating their impacts.  Among the speakers was Trinity’s very own Mary Lee Rhodes, Associate Professor of Public Management at Trinity Business School.  Rhodes talked through her work on the Connecting Nature Project, focusing mainly on the economic impacts of the plan.  Connecting Nature “co-works with local authorities, communities, industry partners, NGOs and academics who are investing in large scale implementation of nature-based projects in urban settings.”  The results of the project found that NBS in front runner locations not only increased net jobs in the areas, but also increased the number of new businesses in the surrounding NBS area.  Rhodes explained that measuring the impact of imbedding nature into activities of the cities has led to the discovery that firms in front runner locations are engaging in new ways of planning business in a more sustainable way.  

Projects such as those discussed by Rhodes and her colleagues are inspirational and lay the foundation for the future of a more sustainable business world. NBS is a key tool that can be used to engage local communities and businesses under the common shared goal for increased climate action and responsibility. EU Side Events allow those working in the field to engage with everyday observers, providing a bridge between the general public and the deliberations of global leaders at the COP 27 conference.  This helps to make the content more digestible and relevant to the average person’s everyday life.  The recordings of the EU Side Events session are still available for viewing on their website.

To conclude, given the current backdrop of global energy and debt crises, natural disasters, and increases in the spread infectious disease, it is important to consider one’s role and what each individual can personally achieve in regard to tackling climate change.  The projects discussed at this year’s EU COP-27 Side Events are inspiring and give a glimpse into the future of a more globally sustainable business world.  As a business student eager to enter the workforce, it is crucial to understand the importance of encouraging sustainable business practices.  Employing NBS in future business endeavours should be a fundamental consideration as the next generation steps into management and leadership positions.  COP-27 and the associated Side Events help to shine a light on an otherwise bleak and anxiety-inducing matter, calling for action by global leaders, businesses, and local communities alike.

NBS definition: 

https://www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/what-are-nature-based-solutions

Connecting Nature Project:

https://connectingnature.eu/

EU Side Events:

https://digital.cop27eusideevents.eu/event/eu-side-events-cop27

Billionaire is ‘Going Purpose’ by Donating $3 Billion Company to the Earth

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5 years after claiming that ‘We’re in business to save our home planet’, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard has followed through on his promise by donating his company to the earth. Chouinard founded Patagonia in 1973, and his values have always been central to the company. The company also donates 1% of its profits to charity each year and promotes an environmentally friendly business model, even going so far as to encourage customers not to buy Patagonia clothing new and instead reuse old ones.

In his open letter to stakeholders, it was clear that in selling the company Chouinard wanted to ensure both the financial success of the company and the charitable success of his donations. According to Chouinard, ‘there were no great options available to us, so we created our own.’

Chouinard decided to sell his businesses to two different entities. The first entity, the Patagonia Purpose Trust, received all off the voting stock which is equivalent to 2% of the company. The Chouinard family received nothing from this sale and paid $17.5 million in taxes.

However, by doing this Chouinard believes he and his family can ‘maintain our values’. The Patagonia Purpose Trust’s board will include the Chouinard family as well as directors equally committed to the success of the company and the planet.

As well as this, 100% of the non-voting shares will go to the Hold Fast Collective. These shares are equivalent to 98% of the company and will receive 100% of the profit. The Hold Fast Collective is a non-profit organization that advocates for clause and political candidates that fight for the environment. Patagonia expects to generate $100 million in profit to help the Hold Fast Collective.

Chouinard closed his statement with a message of hope: ‘Despite its immensity, Earths resources are not infinite, and it is clear we’ve exceeded its limits. But it’s also resilient. We can save our planet if we commit to it.’ Chouinard has set an example for all companies and governments, and one can only hope that his example is followed in time.