Channel Eye
  • Man Club
  • PPBF
  • Caring Cooks
  • Man Club
  • PPBF
  • Business
    • Appointments
    • Data Protection
    • Digital & Technology
    • Environment
    • Features
    • Financial Services
    • Interviews & Profiles
    • Leadership
    • Legal & Professional Services
    • People
    • Property
    • Retail & Hospitality
    • Transport
    • Wellbeing at Work
  • Careers
  • Events
    • Events in Jersey
    • Events in Guernsey
    • Events in Isle of Man
    • Events in Alderney & Sark
    • Virtual events
    • All events
    • Past Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Culture
    • Charity & Community
    • Education
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Home
    • Leisure
    • Travel
  • Location
    • Jersey
    • Guernsey
    • Isle of Man
    • Alderney & Sark
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Channel Eye
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Environment

ESG investing – what it means for global islands

May 5, 2021
in Business, Environment, Financial Services, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey
Heart island 01 16-9
Share on LinkedInTwitterFacebookEmail

Welcome to the second part of our series looking into ESG investing.  Today, we take a look at what ESG means for global islands and the importance of ESG investing.

In the first part of our series we took a look at what ESG investing is and why it is positive for both investors and the planet.  If you missed this, click here.

What does ESG mean for global islands?

The rise of ESG investments is expected to have a positive effect on how global decision-makers operate – whether it be via business or policy, ESG represents the next step in sustainability.

By prioritizing solutions that are good for both the environment and the economy, it opens more opportunities for local entrepreneurs to shine through with their own solutions, and potentially find avenues for funding that may not have been there prior to the popularization of ESG. This provides direct economic benefits to island communities, some of which were discussed in-depth at the Island Finance Forum (IFF), but also has the potential to help mitigate the impacts of climate change, which disproportionately affects island and coastal communities.

The combination of increased social pressure, the public’s willingness to financially support sustainable business models, and the ongoing global push for responsible climate policy, are creating an environment in which ESG can thrive.

Of course, one should not forget that ESG investments are not only beneficial in terms of being a good financial investment for businesses and investors but also critical for the environmental health of the planet.  The financial gain from ESG investing should be of secondary importance to the major sustainability and ethical gains that it brings.

Investors increasingly want to invest in companies that are doing good for people and the planet. As this momentum continues to grow, this will lead to increasing numbers of businesses enacting changes that align with the ethical and environmental criteria of investors and consumers. For example, many major corporations have recently announced their plans to become carbon neutral in the next two decades including Starbucks, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Unilever. This exemplifies the potential behind ESG, and how it can have significant long-term benefits in the global fight against climate change – and island communities.

Closer to home, Channel Islands companies are pledging ‘net-zero’ using the ESI Monitor register.

‘Doing good’ is becoming highly profitable, rather than being a cost

It’s clear that taking into account the ethical and sustainable demands of investors is good for business. ‘Doing good’ is becoming highly profitable, rather than being a cost. Examples of this are the growing demand for renewable energy such as solar and wind and electric vehicles such as cars produced by Tesla. Another is the growth in vegan/plant-based diets.

The global vegan food market size was valued at USD 12.69 billion in 2018 and is projected to expand at a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% from 2019 to 2025 (Grand View Research).

Importace of ESG investing

Major corporations and governments have often had issues regarding their actions or investments and how they may betray a short-term bottom-line approach rather than a sustainable long-term solution. Where the populace at large was once less informed of how our actions can impact the planet, they have become more aware and ready to advocate for a transition towards a better economic model.

This has led to a corresponding shift among decision-makers, who are now more likely to be held accountable for their decisions regarding investments, their environmental impact, treatment of their workforce – this is where ESG enters the fray.

Business owners are becoming aware that it is vital to factor in environmental and worker protections. They also know that they need to change their governance structures and lead in more fair and inclusive ways.

ESG investing and other forms of sustainable and ethical investing is leading to fundamental change.


Join us for part three of this series, when we will be looking at aligning investment to sustainable development goals (SDG), the hidden problems with ESG investments and asking whether ESGs really are a ‘good’ investment.


You can catch-up with the Island Finance forum here, featuring…

  • Moderator – Fiona Wilson, Senior Program Manager, Clinton Climate Initiative, Clinton Foundation Speakers:
  • Jackie Marati, Senior Vice President/Chief Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Bank of Guam
  • Mark Lewis, Chief Sustainability Strategist, BNP Paribas Asset Management
  • Steve Weinstein, Chair, Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA); Former Chief Legal Officer, RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd; Chair, RenaissanceRe Risk Sciences Foundation
  • Simone Hudson, CFA, AVP Alternatives and Fund Management

Special report by courtesy of James Ellsmoor at Island Innovation.  Written by Simon Turkas

ShareTweetShareSend

Tim Bullock

Related Stories

New Chair of Sustainable Finance Guernsey Council announced 
Appointments

New Chair of Sustainable Finance Guernsey Council announced 

October 8, 2024
Tim Johnston IoM
Financial Services

Finance Isle of Man launches Sustainable Finance initiative

August 2, 2024
Sustainable Finance Week Conference urged to ‘work with nature, not against it’
Financial Services

Sustainable Finance Week Conference urged to ‘work with nature, not against it’

September 22, 2023
Next Post
Acorn Bargain hunt

Support Acorn by entering a team into the Great Bargain Hunt

Skipton International
Channel Eye subscribe
  • Channel Eye
  • Channel Eye Careers
  • Channel Eye Careers
  • List your event
  • Channel Eye Careers
  • Channel Eye
  • Channel Eye Careers

Be the first to know​

Subscribe to the essential islands business news, direct to your inbox every morning​
Channel Eye Careers
  • Business
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Lifestyle
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

©2025 Channel Eye Limited.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Business
    • Appointments
    • Data Protection
    • Digital & Technology
    • Environment
    • Features
    • Financial Services
    • Interviews & Profiles
    • Leadership
    • Legal & Professional Services
    • People
    • Property
    • Retail & Hospitality
    • Transport
    • Wellbeing at Work
  • Careers
  • Events
    • Events in Jersey
    • Events in Guernsey
    • Events in Isle of Man
    • Events in Alderney & Sark
    • Virtual events
    • All Events
    • Past Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Culture
    • Charity & Community
    • Education
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Home
    • Leisure
    • Travel
  • Location
    • Jersey
    • Guernsey
    • Isle of Man
    • Alderney & Sark
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

©2025 Channel Eye Limited.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.