Private credit will play a vital role in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.According to Rob Horn, global head of the Blackstone Credit Sustainable Resources Group, this role is set to get a whole lot bigger. Horn believes that credit will eventually supply as much as 60 per cent of the estimated $100 trillion needed to decarbonise economies around the world providing for a particularly attractive investment opportunity for private credit. An opportunity to drive attractive risk-adjusted returns, while potentially improving societal outcomes. In this exclusive fireside chat with Fiona Reynolds, chief executive of Conexus Financial and former head of the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, Horn outlines Blackstone’s view on energy transition as a key investment theme for the firm; its approach to sustainable finance; and what is needed to encourage more institutional investors into this rapidly evolving space.
Divesting from the oil sector has been a boon for La Caisse’s performance, as the Canadian pension giant says its energy investments have earned billions in value-add compared to the benchmark since the inception of its climate strategy. Head of sustainability Bertrand Millot unpacks the fund’s approach in an interview with Top1000funds.com.
The £11 billion TfL Pension Fund has released its first-ever annual sustainability report. The fund for public-sector transport workers hopes the report will help bring more members on board with its well-established ESG strategy and also make clear to its asset managers what it expects of them.
It began with simple restrictions on investments in tobacco and firearms. Years later, the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund has added new metrics, technology, data sets and engagement, in support of the philosophy that ESG factors and the sustainable development goals breed superior long-term returns.
There are many narratives from asset owners about generating value through strategies based on environmental, social and governance factors. Looking at these value-creation stories through the lens of an integrated reporting framework can separate the genuine successes from the hype.
It’s a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous). In such times, it’s especially important for investors to have guiding principles. The Thinking Ahead Group provides a handful of key themes to manage in the year ahead.
From human rights to executive pay, the list of factors adding to global income inequality is growing, as is investor concern over the rising potential for financial and economic destabilisation.
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