Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing

Chapter 1

Introduction

Abstract

This chapter provides a summary and overview of the organization of the book. In the last decade, the amount of assets being invested in socially responsible investment products has increased dramatically, and with the growing importance of the Millennial generation and the emergence of Generation Z, this trend is likely to accelerate. Roughly one-quarter of all global assets under management (AUM) are now being invested with a consideration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. It’s estimated that ESG AUM global totals are over $23 trillion. In the United States, ESG-focused AUM were estimated to be $12 trillion at the start of 2018. This is about 26% of total assets under professional management. ...