Sustainable Investing - Beyond the Why and into the How & What

TL;DR

Helen Lee, co-founder of Go Impact, discusses her vision for the platform and the growing momentum of sustainable investing, driven by a shift in mindset among asset owners and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transcript

i'm your host effie pilarino and i have the great pleasure today to be in a wonderful company of a fintech lady from hong kong helen lee welcome helen hello evie hello everyone you know delighted to be joining uh this discussion with you effie thank you for having me now for our guests um helen lee is the co-founder of go impact she comes from the ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 The demand for sustainable investing is growing among asset owners, leading to a shift in the finance industry towards more sustainable practices.
• ❓ The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of sustainable investing as it exposed the vulnerabilities of current systems.
• 🤪 Sustainable investing goes beyond financial returns and includes risk mitigation and value-based investing.
• 🪛 The younger generation, particularly millennials, are driving the shift towards sustainable investing and considering the impact of their investments on the environment and society.
• 🖐️ Investor education plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable investing and bridging the gap between the finance industry and asset owners.
• 😮 Geographically, Asia has seen a rise in interest and investment in sustainable funds, particularly in sectors such as energy, climate, and healthcare.
• ❓ The development of globally recognized standards for sustainability reporting and disclosure will enhance transparency and investor confidence in sustainable investments.

Questions & Answers

Q: What motivated Helen Lee to start Go Impact after a career in banking?

Helen Lee was driven by the growing momentum among asset owners to invest sustainably and make a positive impact with their portfolios. She saw a need to provide a platform that made sustainable investing easy.

Q: How does Helen Lee define sustainable investing?

Sustainable investing, according to Helen Lee, is about investing in a future that you want to live in or that future generations would want to live in. It encompasses environmental, social, and governance factors and aims to create positive change.

Q: What role has the COVID-19 pandemic played in driving the paradigm shift towards sustainable investing?

The pandemic has acted as a catalyst, exposing the weaknesses in our systems and forcing investors to reevaluate the sustainability of their portfolios. The urgency of climate change and the impact of COVID-19 on public health have led to increased interest in sustainable investing.

Q: How is Go Impact addressing the lack of universally recognized standards for sustainability disclosure?

Go Impact is involved in the consultation process led by the IFRS to develop global standards for sustainability reporting and disclosure. Standardized reporting will provide investors with better benchmarking and transparency when making sustainable investment decisions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Helen Lee, a former banker with a long career in finance, founded Go Impact to address the growing demand for sustainable investing among asset owners.

• Go Impact aims to make sustainable investing easy and offers a portfolio that combines financial returns with positive impact.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for sustainable investing and forced investors to reevaluate the sustainability of their portfolios.