The increasingly acute recognition among institutional investors that traditional portfolio theory does not capture the systemic risks in investment portfolios, coupled with the desire to understand the overall impact of investments, is driving investors to seek strategies based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. Additionally, the proliferation of stewardship codes across the world have raised corporate governance expectations and led to pressure on investors to adopt ESG frameworks.
Institutional investors — also known as limited partners in private equity funds, or LPs — are increasingly seeking ESG strategies, as they are becoming more relevant in their portfolios, said Sid Vittal, senior infrastructure specialist at investment consultant Mercer, at a recent CleanTechIQ forum.