May 2014 – Investors are uniquely placed to support economic activity that enhances the environment, sustains livelihoods and contributes to economic stability. And with thousands of signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, support for these values has never been stronger. The imperative now is to convert ambition into effective investment practice.
The Investment Leaders Group (ILG) was created to help shift the investment chain towards responsible, long-term value creation, such that sustainability is delivered as an outcome of the investment process alongside satisfactory, long-term investment returns.
This report explores the moral, financial and economic justification for responsible investment, and the academic evidence underpinning future action. It concentrates on how environmental, social and governance factors materially impact investment risk and returns, clarifying the agency of investors over non-financial value creation.
