January 2025 Newsletter
News & Commentaries by Ron Robins
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New January Podcasts:
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2025 Global 100 list: World’s most sustainable companies are still betting on a greener world. “The green transition may face shifting political winds, but Global 100 companies are staying the course.”
[COMMENTARY] This is my favorite annual global ranking of sustainable companies! In part, it’s because it accounts for the sustainability of what these companies produce, sell, and invest in. Very few companies’ sustainable rankings include these important metrics.
2025 Global 100 list: World’s most sustainable companies are still betting on a greener world, introduced by Shawn McCarthy, winter 2025, Corporate Knights, Canada.
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Trump’s focus on fossil fuels risks sidelining U.S. in global renewable energy shift. “The US risks losing ground in the growing renewable energy market as other countries invest heavily in solar, wind and battery technologies while the Trump administration prioritizes oil and gas production.”
[COMMENTARY] This is an important point as the US risks losing out on new industries that could dominate the future to countries such as China and India!
Trump’s focus on fossil fuels risks sidelining U.S. in global renewable energy shift, by EHN Curators, January 24, 2025, EHN, USA.
Sustainability and ESG investments will keep expanding under Trump, analysts say. “The coming energy policy shift under President-elect Donald Trump and new regulations overseas are prompting investors to be more cautious, but they will likely have a limited impact on the sustainable investment market in 2025 and beyond, analysts and financial firms predicted.”
[COMMENTARY] The thrust globally for investing in sustainable and ESG-focused investments is likely much bigger than President Trump’s administrative efforts to debunk it.
Sustainability and ESG investments will keep expanding under Trump, analysts say, by Karin Rives, January 17, 2025, S&P Global.
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Young Investors’ Support for ESG Dropped Dramatically in 2024. “Young investors’ zeal for ESG (environmental, social, and governance) began to wane in 2023. In the latest survey, conducted in the fall of 2024, it fell off a cliff. In 2022, for example, 44% of young investors thought it was ‘extremely important’ for investment companies to use their size and voting power to influence the environmental priorities of their portfolio companies. The following year, 27% felt that way. This year? A mere 11%.”
[COMMENTARY] This survey is fascinating, though it might not represent young investors globally. Also, it contrasts with what companies say and do: See 85% of Executives Commit to Climate Disclosures, Regardless of Political Changes: Workiva Report. Executives say it’s investors and other stakeholders demanding ESG information on their companies.
Young Investors’ Support for ESG Dropped Dramatically in 2024, by Alexander Gelfand, January 15, 2025, Stanford Business, USA.
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World must urgently streamline green bond ‘taxonomies’ – IFC. “Definitions of what a green bond is must be streamlined urgently to attract funds needed for the green transition, the World Bank Group’s private investment arm said, as markets brace for a backlash on sustainable investments from the incoming Trump administration.”
[COMMENTARY] The International Finance Corporation (IFC) – a major issuer of green bonds- cites the urgent need for global standards on green bonds.
World must urgently streamline green bond ‘taxonomies’ – IFC, by Libby George, January 14, 2025, Reuters, Austria.
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Leading drivers among institutional investors for participating in sustainable investing in select regions worldwide in 2024. “In 2024, the main driver for participation by institutional investors in sustainable investing was demand from clients or other external stakeholders. The share of asset owners and managers who cited this as the reason stood at around 90 percent. Other primary factors driving the shift towards green investments included portfolio risk reduction and compliance with regulators.”
[COMMENTARY] This survey demonstrates that despite the anti-ESG rhetoric in the US, it is investors and external stakeholders demanding ESG and sustainable corporate data that drives companies to continue to report that data.
Leading drivers among institutional investors for participating in sustainable investing in select regions worldwide in 2024, by Statista Research Department, January 13, 2025, Statista, Germany.
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Why are financial advisers shunning green funds? “Financial advisers are neglecting the demand for sustainable investments. To fill in the gap, here’s our guide to the best green funds in 2025.”
[COMMENTARY] I believe the issue of financial advisors shunning green funds is cultural, universal, and goes back decades. However, as time moves on the problem is gradually receding particularly, as investors become increasingly interested in environmental concerns.
Why are financial advisers shunning green funds? By Brenda Bouw, January 8, 2025, Corporate Knights, Canda.
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ESG in 2025: Significant adaptation in sustainability emerges as business-as-usual. “In 2025, companies are expected to undergo significant adaptations in their approach to ESG initiatives, including a shift in focus towards material risks and opportunities, increased importance of corporate governance, and increased legal risks”
[COMMENTARY] This article provides an interesting perspective on companies’ potential ESG policies in 2025. The policy “Prediction 3: ESG integration into core business strategy goes mainstream (finally)” is the type of policy that I’ve been anticipating for many years.
ESG in 2025: Significant adaptation in sustainability emerges as business-as-usual, by Natalie Runyon, January 3, 2025, Thomson Reuters, USA.
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Why ESG initiatives need a solid economic foundation. “Around 85% of the Chief Investment Officers surveyed for McKinsey said that ESG is an pivotal factor in their investment decisions. Around 60% of respondents screen their entire portfolio for ESG issues, and around 80% evaluate individual company positions in terms of how ESG impacts projected cash flows.”
[COMMENTARY] This is an interesting background paper from the World Economic Forum.
Why ESG initiatives need a solid economic foundation, by Joe Kaeser, January 16, 2025, World Economic Forum, Switzerland.
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Comparing the resilience of socially responsible and SIN investment during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This study offers investors actionable insights into the benefits of SRI ETFs, demonstrating their ability to provide stable returns and reduced risk during economic downturns.”
[COMMENTARY] Anti-ESG proponents love to tell you that SIN stocks outperform ESG stocks, particularly in rough economic circumstances. Well, this study says the opposite is true: ESG stocks outperform SIN stocks in rough times.
Comparing the resilience of socially responsible and SIN investment during the COVID-19 pandemic, by David Meehan and Shaen Corbet (both at Dublin City University), Research in International Business and Finance Volume 73, Part A, January 2025, 102537.
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Featured Book
Note: Ron Robins is an Amazon Associate. He thus earns fees from qualifying book or merchandise purchases referred from this website.
Sustainable Investing: An ESG Starter Kit for Everyday Investors. “This book helps each of us to look into the mirror and see an empowered person staring back―ready to use the influence of our wealth to co-create a livable world based on justice and sustainability. — Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow
To invest sustainably does not have to be complicated nor should it be detrimental to financial performance: Kylelane Purcell and Ben Vivari provide a straightforward approach for investors with solid advice and acumen. I highly recommend for new investors who are strongly considering sustainable investing strategies. — Jennifer Coombs, Director of Client Services, Ethos ESG
Ties directly in with people’s understanding of finance and how it doesn’t have to be separate from the kind of person you want to be. I really love the relatable examples―it’s a great way to have the reader say, I want to do this and I can do this!” — David Neun, Learning Experience Designer at State Employees Credit Union –This text refers to the paperback edition.
For more information, visit Sustainable Investing: An ESG Starter Kit for Everyday Investors, by
© 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul
