22. Sustainable investment, 12 September 2023

The Livery Climate Action Group with the Guild of Investment Managers held an in-person seminar for members of livery companies to learn more about how their Charity and Livery funds could meet their growth requirements, meet environment, sustainability and governance standards (ESG), and transition to net zero.  I attended with Past Masters and Company Trustees Peter Hall and Rob Casey.  Speakers included: Tessa Younger Stewardship Lead, Environmental at CCLA, Eoin Murray Head of Investment at Federated Hermes, together with the Master of the Guild of Investment Managers Henry Pollard CC.

It was an intensive evening in which fashionable investment ideas were debunked and ESG investing was described as nothing special.


The various risks were put in context.

  •  Sovereign risk – stranded assets
  • Climate risk – physical risk and transition risk
  • Food security – supply chain disruption, crop failure
  • Energy security – energy crisis, inconstant energy supply
  • Water security – droughts, floods, chemical contamination, plastic pollution
  • Biodiversity loss – biodiversity loss leading to insecurity of natural resources relied upon by many sectors globally

Under Biodiversity loss it was estimated that one million animals and plants are threatened with extinction with an average decline in animal populations of 68% since 1970.  Worldwide loss of pollinators (bees, moths, butterflies and other insects) would lead to a drop in annual agricultural output of US$ 217 billion.

By the end of the evening, we were convinced of the value of professional asset management.  We recognised the important influence managers hold over global businesses to do the right thing for sustainability and the environment.  I was reassured that the assets of the Water Conservation Trust are in competent hands.


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