ESG and sustainability investing has become a major trend in the financial industry. Over $35 trillion is now invested according to sustainable investing strategies, representing one third of total assets under management globally. Major asset managers like BlackRock and banks like Nordea are increasingly integrating ESG factors into their investment decisions and excluding companies deemed unsustainable. Regulators are also supporting this shift through new rules requiring companies to report on their sustainability impacts and human rights due diligence practices.

1. Financial
Markets
Indicators
ESG and Sustainability as a major business trend
According to Global Sustainable Investment Review report (published in July, 2021), sustainable &
ESG investments have reached the point of $35.3 trillion of assets under management indicating that
every third dollar is invested into sustainable assets.
i
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has integrated ESG considerations into investment
process and conducts sustainability due diligence of investment targets. Another major player, Nordea
Bank Abp (which currently overseas around $425 billion) announced that it may exclude all investment
not deemed sustainable in as little as half a decade.
ii
117 of major international banks and financial institutions have already joined the Equator Principles – a
framework for determining, assessing and managing ESG risks in finance & debt projects (incl. ESG
due diligence).
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According to the survey of the World Federation of Exchanges (61 stock exchanges participated), 82%
of the stock exchanges either encourage or require ESG disclosures.
iv
According to the Climate Bond initiative, the worldwide annual issue volume of green bonds has grown
from less than 40 billion USD in 2014 to over $269.5 billion USD in 2020 worldwide.
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2. Regulatory
Indicators
ESG and Sustainability as a top business trend
Rapid crystallization of international soft law frameworks (eg, UN Guiding Principles on Business and
Human Rights) into hard law of many countries (in the form of mandatory due diligence and reporting
laws).
i
The US SEC has recently announced the establishment of the Enforcement Task Force Focused on
ESG and Climate Issues. Based on various media sources, the Commission intends to propose new
corporate disclosures on ESG matters.
ii
In March 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for mandatory human rights and
ESG due diligence across the value chain for companies operating in the EU market. The European
Commission has announced that it would soon submit a legislative proposal for the Directive. In
addition, In April 2021, the European Commission adopted the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act
aimed to support sustainable investment as well as the proposal for a Corporate Sustainability
Reporting Directive (CSRD),
Companies are facing increasing demands from investors, proxy advisors and ratings firms for greater
and more detailed disclosure on ESG topics. In 2019 – 90% of the S&P 500 published reports on
sustainability. These calls for enhanced disclosures are driving a need for better governance structures,
practices and policies.
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