Climate change has long been one of the factors driving the growth in sustainable investing. Disturbing new assessments about global warming, including the National Climate Assessment and a new United Nations progress report, will keep investors focused on climate-related risks.
We checked in with Brian Deese, the global head of sustainability for BlackRock , about how investors should think about the new reports. Deese, 40, joined BlackRock last year, after serving as deputy director of the Office of Management & Budget and as a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama, overseeing climate, conservation, and energy policy. Helped by Deese, BlackRock’s iShares united recently rolled out its first full suite of sustainable core ETFs, as well as new tools for sustainable investors, including so-called ESG (environmental, social and governance) and carbon intensity metrics. Assets in the full suite have grown 10% in the month since it was launched.
Barron’s: What do the California wildfires, weather disasters, and new reports about global warming mean for investors?
Barron’s
By Leslie P. Norton
Nov. 29, 2018