Climate change concerns – investors tune in

The environment and climate change are more concerning to most people than the economy or COVID-19, a new study has found1. Signalling the prominence of climate change in the global debate, out of the ten countries surveyed, the environment or climate change was the primary ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) concern.

Waste management (8%), pollution (6%) and clean air (5%) feature amongst the other environmental issues cited, and over half of consumers are prepared to boycott companies who demonstrate poor ESG performance. Tom Parker, Deputy CEO EMEA at SEC Newgate commented, “There is a widespread interest in and concern about the ethical and sustainability performance of governments and corporates. This is a truly worldwide phenomenon. The surprising consistency in these results illustrates that all local issues are global and that global issues are local.”

Interestingly, another study shows that 57% of consumers want their pension to be invested responsibly to help combat climate change, but only one in seven who have a pension have taken steps to invest it responsibly2.

1SEC Newgate, 2021

2Royal London, 2021

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