Key Debates in Sustainable Investment

Rory Sullivan is CEO of Chronos Sustainability and Visiting Professor in Practice in the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Rory has advised government agencies and regulators around the world, including in Australia, the UK, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Malaysia and Thailand, on the development and implementation of sustainable finance policy. He has also advised many asset owners and asset managers on the development and implementation of their responsible investment and net zero strategies.Richard Perkins is Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) where he is Programme Director of the MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation. He is also Associate of the Centre for Economic Transition Expertise (CETEx) at the LSE. Richard’s research examines the growing role of financial and corporate actors in governing sustainability.

• 1. Introduction 2. Key Actors and Their Roles in the Investment System 3. Key Concepts in Sustainable Investment 4. Why Do We Disagree about Sustainable Finance? 5. Is Sustainable Finance Consistent with Fiduciary Duty? 6. Does Sustainable Investment Deliver Better Financial Outcomes? 7. Do Sustainable Finance Investing Strategies Lead to Better Sustainability Outcomes? 8. Are Public and Private Finance Delivering on the Goals of the Paris Agreement? 9. Do Better Company Disclosures Lead to Better Environmental Performance? 10. What Is the Value of Collective Action in Sustainable Finance? 11. Can the Financial Sector Be Trusted? Greenwashing, Greenhushing, and Greenwishing 12. Can the Information Provided by Data and Ratings Providers Be Relied Upon? 13. Assessing the Effectiveness of Sustainable Investment in the Global: South Gaps, Contestations and Ways Forward 14. Building a More Sustainable Investment System