Impact and measurement

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Impact investing is the next iteration of sustainability but it faces some challenges including the basic notion of how to measure impact alongside risk and return. This session will hear from investors on their approaches and the applicability and power of impact investing across both public and private assets.[vc_quotes layout=”accordion” 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title=”Moderator” el_class=””][vc_empty_space height=”10px”]

Related reading

Beyond green bonds Planetary Boundaries: measuring the business world’s environmental footprint[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]

Key takeaways

Laurent

• Clients want to have a purpose when allocating their money.
• Going forward sustainability preferences will become a key component of financial advice at the very outset when clients are setting their upfront investment objectives.
• Active engagement with investee companies will help drive positive change both financially and environmentally. When you engage you have a much better sense of impact measurability.
• We talk a lot about climate change but sustainability goes far beyond that. Biodiversity should not be neglected.
• There is no downside in incorporating non-financial factors into investment decision-making.
• Sustainability and long-termism are part of Pictet’s DNA – The average tenure of partners at Pictet is around 20 years and these partners act as custodians of the business for future leaders.

Roy

• History has shown that not everyone is able to consistently achieve alpha. Areas such as affordable housing provide a positive financial and social opportunity.
• The Ford Foundation is based on two simple thoughts – 1) Better is good and 2) Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good. In other words, impact measurement can be simple and high-level. Complex impact measurement should not get in the way of tackling major issues that are looming large.
• The Ford Foundation aims to put capital into the hands of those who have been historically disadvantaged.

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Poll results

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