Investors are continuing to support sustainability with 42% indicating they want the option to invest in companies enabling the green transition, research from Quilter shows.
Of those signalling their support for investing in these companies, 29% said at least half of their portfolio should be invested in such a way, while 54% wanted a minimum exposure of 25%.
Meanwhile 24% did not want the option to invest in companies supporting the green transition and 34% were unsure, the survey of Quilter’s customer panel found.
Among those canvassed about investing in net zero, 44% said they want their investments to play a role, of which 41% believe their portfolio should exclude companies not meaningfully transitioning to net zero. Among this cohort, 60% want to see investments avoided in high-emitting sectors such as oil, gas and aviation.
Ido Eisenberg, head of responsible investment at Quilter, said: “Recent years have brought an increasingly challenging backdrop for the green transition, with a rise in populist rhetoric pushing back against renewable energy and policies.
“Despite this, consumers clearly recognise that climate change is real, happening now, and is already influencing their daily lives. They understand these impacts extend to their portfolios, regardless of who holds political power. The recent weeks have clearly demonstrated how reliance on fossil fuels can drive market volatility.”
Eisenberg highlighted the “marked disconnect” between the high level of climate concern among investors and the relatively low adoption of investment products that integrate climate considerations or support the transition.
“This is the gap we want to close,” he said. “People intuitively grasp that their investments can influence climate outcomes, just as climate change can influence their financial outcomes. Yet this understanding is not consistently translating into action. As an industry, we aim to bridge this gap through better education and by offering products that meet investors’ climate‑related needs.”
