Uncertainty governs the world and all the spheres that make it. One thing that is certain though, is the increasing need for the world to move towards sustainability. And this is only possible if enough people say, “enough is enough, we need to consciously do something to make a difference. It’s time we turned a problem in the future (the world dying) into a problem for the now, according to Kartik Garg, Entrepreneur and Investor.
“If this is overlooked, it’ll turn into not just a planetary limitation, but a material risk, a financial risk, and most of all a human risk. So, we know of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), let’s talk about SIGs (Sustainable Investing Goals),” he said.
“When you’re investing in sustainability, you’re buying community awareness, status, safety, and the feeling of being an early adopter (it might be a little late for that, but sooner the better.) It’s about pioneering better ways to look at the future so that it doesn’t come down to a halt, it’s about promoting long-term environmental goals and finding better ways of doing business,” he said.
“A greater emphasis on sustainability issues is fueling investor demand globally, resulting in an explosion of sustainable investment options. With this, something known as the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) dimensions of corporations is coming to be at the core of discussions,” he said.
“ESGs seek to address the problems of environmental issues, societal issues, and governance issues within companies. Sustainable Investing doesn’t just deliver a real-world benefit, it drives along with it financial returns and success as well, one which is ever-growing according to recent statistics of the industry,” he stated.
“Sustainable investing is undoubtedly a win-win for both the investors and the environment. The governments are also expanding their focus on incorporating sustainability into investment information and decision-making,” Garg said.
“Morgan Stanley lays out a four step simple strategy to start your journey of investing sustainably including, addressing your motivations and investment philosophy, identifying your implementation strategy, defining your investment approaches, designing your operational model,” he informed.
“Additionally, once you set foot on the journey of sustainable investing, you will often be faced to answer these questions such as Who’s it for?, What’s it for?, What change is it seeking to make?, What’s the hard part?” he told.
“Where I realize, that sustainable investing is about finding better ways of doing business, building momentum, and encouraging more and more people to give a damn about the planet and to join the movement of creating the future we seek. It’s about investing in progress and recognizing that companies that solve the world's most difficult problems are best positioned to grow,” Garg said.
“Sustainable investing begs for you to let your investments make a meaningful difference, and not let it be just a privilege, but rather a moral imperative. You can start off by investing in stocks that support companies with low carbon emissions and green projects, and in companies that align with your values,” he said.
“Investors can use several strategies to build and diversify their portfolios to ensure financial and sustainable success and become more attuned to how their investment bucks can propagate or hinder the causes they care about. Trust me; the world is going to miss you if you stop caring for it,” Garg added.