A growing number of Irish asset managers are investing in sustainability-themed funds, according to an industry survey.
The ‘Responsible Investment: State of Play report 2018’, commissioned by the Sustainable & Responsible Investment Forum (SIF) Ireland, surveyed Ireland-domiciled asset managers with a collective €77 billion of assets under management and found that 81% have implemented a responsible investment policy.
Exactly half of respondents operate a sustainability-themed investment strategy, the majority of which cover renewable energy, energy efficiency, forestry, agriculture, sustainable transport, water management and other related sectors.
A further 25% of managers said that they had adopted impact investment into their strategies and cited microfinance, community investment, social business and sustainable natural resources as the areas of investment.
The report has been timed to coincide with the Climate Week Ireland conference which runs all week in Dublin.
SIF Ireland chairman Terence O’Rourke welcomed the findings adding that the association will be able to “tailor our efforts towards accelerating public policy and market engagement with this agenda”.
The findings were also endorsed by Ireland’s minister for financial services Michael D’Arcy as a showing a “strong base of activity as relates to responsible investment in Ireland”.
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