SRI Conference Poll Confirms Growth of Focus, Interest in “Low Carbon” Investments
NEW YORK CITY AND COLORADO SPRINGS – May 14, 2014 – The number of investment professionals in the U.S. offering fossil fuel-free portfolios to investors jumped by more than 50 percent over the past year —from 22 percent to 36 percent among those polled—amidst signs of growing retail and institutional investor interest in such choices, according to The SRI Conference 2014 Fossil Fuels Divestment Survey released today by First Affirmative Financial Network.
The 2014 Fossil Fuels Divestment Survey is being released in advance of the 25th annual SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing, the largest annual meeting of responsible investors and investment professionals in the U.S. The SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com) takes place November 9-11, 2014 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Based on 587 responses primarily from SRI investment professionals, the survey also contains these highlights:
- 76 percent of respondents believe that there are growing risks associated with investing in fossil fuel extractors/manufacturers.
- A growing number of SRI professionals see 2014 as the year that investors will rethink their investments in fossil fuels, as compared to last year (72 percent in 2014 vs. 67 percent in 2013).
- About half (49 percent) of survey respondents say institutional investors are interested in fossil fuel free investing. More than three-fifths (62 percent) responded that retail investors want fossil-free investing choices.
- Many more survey respondents (56 percent) are concerned about “stranded asset” risks to investors created by climate change than those who are not (14 percent). Fewer than one-in-three (30 percent) either don’t know or are unsure about this “carbon bubble” risk.
- First Affirmative President, Steve Schueth, producer of The SRI Conference, said: “If there is a hot topic around SRI office water coolers, this is it. The 2014 Fossil Fuels Divestment Survey results confirm that interest in fossil fuel free investment strategies is on the rise. We expect this to be a major topic of discussion at The SRI Conference in November.”
Looking forward, Schueth said: “In my view, the growing drumbeat of responsible investors seeking investment strategies with little or no exposure to coal, oil, and gas extraction companies will only increase as more evidence of the negative effects of climate disruption reverberate from the recent IPCC and National Climate Assessment reports, and as more analysts and investors understand the stranded asset risk equation.”
The full survey findings are available online at: http://www.sriconference.com/documents/SRIC14FossilFuelDivestmentSurveyResults.pdf.
The SRI Conference 2014 Fossil Fuels Divestment Survey was conducted between April 14 and May 2, 2014. More than 3,000 SRI industry professionals were asked to weigh-in on 14 questions regarding fossil fuel free investing and related investor concerns. The survey was completed by 587 industry investment professionals, including advisors, asset managers, institutional investors, and representatives of SRI investment companies, community development financial institutions, and social research/proxy voting organizations.
ABOUT THE SRI CONFERENCE
The 25th annual SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com), the leading North American forum for investors and investment professionals involved in sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) investing, is November 9-11, 2014 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado (http://www.broadmoor.com/). For more information about the conference or about supporting the conference as a sponsor, please contact Krystala Kalil, at 888-774-2663 or Krystala@SRIconference.com.
Conference participation is open to all SRI industry practitioners, investment professionals, institutional investors, and related organizations and individuals. The conference experience features an outstanding series of educational sessions and a focused opportunity to network with hundreds of like-minded individuals, organizations, and industry leaders.
ABOUT FIRST AFFIRMATIVE FINANCIAL NETWORK
First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC (http://www.firstaffirmative.com) is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (SEC File #801-56587) offering investment consulting and asset management services through a nationwide network of investment professionals who specialize in serving socially conscious investors. First Affirmative produces The SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com).
