According to the US SIF, total US-domiciled assets under management (AUM) using sustainable investing strategies grew from $12 trillion at the start of 2018 to $17.1 trillion at the start of 2020, an increase of 42 percent (SustainFi).

ESG funds have grown steadily since the term was first coined in 2005. With each passing year more and more assets flow into ESG funds.

ESG funds, once thought to be a “passing fad,” continue to grow rapidly capturing more than half the new net money from investors in 2020.

At the Morningstar 2020 Virtual Conference, Hortense Bioy,Morningstar Europe & Asia, moderated a lively discussion between Simon Webber, Schroeders, and Lucas White, GMO, on climate change and the impact on portfolio construction.

Michael Jantzi, Founder of Sustainalytics, spoke at the Morningstar Virtual Conference and shared his insights on the current market and impact on sustainable investing. He believes we’re at an inflection point and change is ahead.

We’re in the midst of a global pandemic and economies across the world have felt the economic strain since early this year.

From January through April of this year, $12.2 billion flowed into ESG funds – which was more than double the amount that flowed in during that same time period in 2019.

Investments in environmental, social and governance funds (ESG) quadrupled in size last year.

Experts anticipate that Responsible Investing will dominate the investment space in the new decade and that Asia is poised to be the frontrunner.

Morningstar has made significant enhancements to the Sustainability Rating for funds.