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The end of the year is always a time for reflection, and that’s certainly true right now in the world of ESG and impact investing. Some are calling 2022 a year of reckoning, as companies’ ESG initiatives have come under increased scrutiny from regulators and politicians in the last 12 months. Amid that scrutiny, it’s notable that many journalists and analysts are pointing to the tenacity of values-aligned investing.
According to The Economist, sustainable-investment funds have been much more resilient than other funds during this year’s downturn, with $139 billion flowing into sustainable funds by the end of September. Interest in impact investing also continues to grow. A Schoders survey of 700+ institutional investors found around half (48%) are focusing on the impact of their investments, up from 34% in 2020. And Morningstar recently published a thoughtful list of 10 reasons why ESG won’t be stopped. Among the reasons: ESG offers a fuller view of risk and more shareholders are demonstrating their power of influence through proxy voting.
Likewise, we’ve seen strong momentum for inclusive entrepreneurship throughout the year. Inc. Magazine’s latest Best in Business list highlights 240 companies that put purpose above profit. It’s one of several recent roundups of the innovators who are shaping a more inclusive and sustainable world. We highlight more in our newsletter below.
Best wishes for a joyous and healthy holiday season. We look forward to seeing what the near year brings.
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As the first Black woman to see her face on a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Ava DuVernay has a lot to be excited about. But mostly, she’s thrilled that the collaboration will benefit her nonprofit, ARRAY Alliance, which works to advance social justice through art.
A filmmaker and television producer, DuVernay has been recognized for her work on groundbreaking productions such as Selma, a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr., and the Netflix documentary 13th. Her work lifting up other artists of color is just as notable, particularly through her role as creator and executive producer of Queen Sugar, a series for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network that has received critical acclaim for its depiction of Black lives on screen.
DuVernay hired women to direct every episode of Queen Sugar, including many first-timers who hadn’t been given the chance before receiving a call from DuVernay. In a recent interview with CBS News, Oprah says the show's directors have felt what she called the "Ava Effect," moving on to direct multiple series and being “brought into the fold of an industry that they had felt for many years like they were outsiders."
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| The Role of Small Businesses in Solving Climate Change |
| As corporate giants start looking to reduce carbon emissions in their supply chains, attention is turning to the contributions that small businesses can make. Accounting for 44% of US economic activity, small businesses have the power to make a large impact — if they can overcome gaps in knowledge, funding, and time. The BBC looks at how some large companies are partnering with their suppliers to help close those gaps, all with the goal of reducing carbon footprints. |
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| INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
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Entrepreneurs of the Heartland
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| In an uplifting essay for Inc. magazine, the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Right to Start describes the infectious optimism he felt from entrepreneurs across America on a recent road trip. He shares highlights from his meetings with changemakers who are lifting up communities and making the American Dream more accessible for all. |
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| Three Cheers for Next Gen Leaders |
| We’ve long been excited by the impact new entrepreneurs and innovators can make on the world. And it is great when leaders from all sectors get recognized for their work. This year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 includes many Social Impact Changemakers who are fighting climate change, social injustice, and food shortages. And the 2022 Fortune 40 Under 40 is full of inspiring stories of leaders like Wemimo Abbey, whose startup Esusu is using data to bridge the racial wealth gap, and Alice Zhang, who is pioneering innovative new research to develop drugs for difficult-to-treat conditions like ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. |
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Earthshot Prize Winners Demonstrate Human Ingenuity
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| Last week, five visionaries received £1 million to make their planet-changing ideas a reality as winners of Prince William's environmental award, The Earthshot Prize. The awards grant cash to climate scientists, conservationists, and inventors who find and grow the solutions that will repair our planet. Winners include Sathya Raghu Mokkapati of India, who created a “greenhouse in box” to help farmers weather a more turbulent climate, and a group of indigenous rangers in Australia who are rescuing and rehabilitating species on the Great Barrier Reef. As stated by one of the scientists who reviewed the nominations, the winners “remind us all of the inventiveness of humans and our capacity to find solutions in even the darkest times.” |
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