The climate change debate has made it to the top of the news agenda, with many Australians now considering what they can do to help the environment. For some, this will include making changes to their finances in line with their environmental values.

Whether it’s through super, investments or savings, more and more people are reviewing their financial arrangements to ensure their funds are put to work in a way that does no harm, and ideally leaves the world in a better place.

Responsible investment is a process that takes into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the investment process of research, analysis, selection and monitoring of investments. 

It has become a major part of the investment landscape across Australia. Nearly half of all investments in Australia are now being invested responsibly and ethically according to the Responsible Investment Association of Australia (RIAA).ⁱ 

Here are some tips to help Australians who want their finances to be environmentally friendly.

Understand what matters to you

Everyone’s values are different so you need to first work out what’s most important to you. Do you feel strongly about not investing in fossil fuels? Are you interested in discovering cutting-edge solutions for climate change or is improving energy efficiency a greater priority for you? How will these preferences affect your investment performance? From here you can identify the areas where you don’t want to invest or, conversely, where you’d rather put your money to make a positive impact.

Do your research and get to know the ESG principles

Each investment manager has its own investment policy when it comes to ESG investing. For instance, some may apply a ‘negative screening’ or ‘exclusion’ policy, meaning that they steer clear of certain sectors like fossil fuels. Be mindful of exclusion policies as they may lead to increased volatility in your portfolio. Climate change investing tends to be a form of ‘positive screening’—in other words, actively choosing to invest in companies that are making a difference in areas such as renewable energy. RIAA is a good resource to use when you’re starting on this journey as it details the investment strategies of ethical and sustainable funds. Many super funds or investment managers also now have information about sustainability and ESG on their websites. Look to see if they have signed the United Nations backed Principles of Responsible Investing and whether they have published their scorecard.

Start with super

Do you know where your super is invested? Does it offer a socially responsible investment (SRI) option? Make sure you read all the information provided by your super fund about the particular sectors, businesses and investment activities considered for investment. It’s worthwhile knowing that some people believe many SRI options don’t go far enough. Again, it pays to know what matters most to you and then you can find an option that aligns with your values.

Don’t forget the eggs rule

One of the key principles of good investing is diversification—not putting all your eggs in one basket. It spreads risks and ensures you’re not exposed to any single investment or asset class. So consider the risks of crafting a portfolio that’s too narrow and concentrated. Climate-themed funds also haven’t been around for a long time, with many having only launched several years ago. This makes their performance hard to assess.

Ask for help

Being a more responsible investor involves a lot of research and working out exactly how far you want your investment decisions to reflect your sustainable and ethical concerns and can be a minefield (pun intended). For example, you might not want to invest in coal companies, metallurgical coal miners and mining companies, but what about transport companies that freight coal, coal seam gas, oil and conventional gas, electricity generators, or diversified energy generators that may have large investments in renewables as well as coal? 

We are here to help if you need more information about what you’re invested in or how to access more responsible investment options. 

i 'From values to riches: charting consumer attitudes and demand for responsible investing in Australia’, Responsible Investment Association Australasia, Nov 2017 

©AMP Life Limited. First published January 2020