Responsible Investment Quarterly Q4 2022
Insights

Responsible Investment Quarterly Q4 2022

2022 was a difficult year with multiple crises, most of which have had both short- and long-term implications for our responsible investment themes: a geopolitical conflict, hyperinflation in energy prices, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and talent turnover

The energy crisis bolstered new climate policy initiatives in the world’s largest economies to spur the growth of clean energy technologies, as we discussed in our Responsible Investment Q3 publication. The tax incentives included in the US IRA are material and are already starting to encourage green investments towards the US.
I believe other regions will likely be forced to match the incentives or risk green investments moving out of their region – which in turn will threaten the energy security they seek. This should provide a virtuous circle of accelerating investment in the energy transition which should drive down prices and lead to an abundance of cheap renewable energy globally.
In the last quarter of 2022 we saw various climate change action and policies. While COP 27 yielded little progress on climate change action, there were positive signposts elsewhere as Indonesia and other Asian countries announced international climate finance deals. As Natalia Luna explores in the Climate Change article in this report, while the effort by large economies to reduce emissions that cause global warming remains critical, COP 27 emphasised that more needs to be done for adaptation and to address the risks climate change poses for livelihoods and activities. This is of critical importance for emerging markets, particularly where we expect increasing investor interest and investment opportunities to arise. Elsewhere in the world, Japan approved a plan to revive its use of nuclear energy, redrafting an energy policy that was paralysed since the 2011 Fukushima crisis to address a serious electricity shortage in the country. In Brazil, Lula’s return as president is raising hopes for environmental action, particularly on deforestation in the Amazon.
Arguably, the most important milestone this quarter came from the recent COP 15 United Nations Biodiversity Conference where 195 countries agreed to protect and restore at least 30% of the earth’s land and water by 2030. Rich nations also committed to paying an estimated $30 billion a year by 2030 to poorer nations. This is clearly a positive breakthrough for biodiversity and will rightly help raise the topic’s profile as we believe it has material investment risk and opportunity implications.
The World Economic Forum has estimated that $44 trillion2 – the equivalent of about half of global GDP – is generated in industries dependent on nature, led by construction, agriculture and food. Furthermore, according to the World Bank,3 collapsing ecosystems could take 2.3% – about $2.7 trillion – off global GDP by 2030, underscoring the significant financial cost from nature loss and highlighting that the long-term resilience of companies hinges on maintaining a balance within nature. Recent research4 highlights that business investments in nature could create $10 trillion of opportunities. In this issue Olivia Watson expands on this sub theme in her article on biodiversity as she looks at the outcomes from COP 15 on biodiversity, the goals agreed at the conference and what they might mean for investors.
Finally, Natalia, in collaboration with Fixed Income analysts Sharon Vieten and Gregory Turnbull Schwartz, has written a follow-up article to her analysis on the state of the hydrogen theme from our Q3 publication. This focuses on the challenges of bringing the market to scale as well as the investment opportunities we see in the hydrogen value chain, particularly in utilities and industrial gas companies.

RI Research Team philosophy: Educate, Collaborate, Engage​

We believe responsible investment (RI) research is fundamental research, so our RI analysts are embedded within the global research team. The team’s philosophy reflects this integration with its mantra: “Educate, Collaborate, Engage”.

Our RI analysts educate portfolio managers and fundamental industry analysts on RI themes and developments based on our intense research in three overarching sustainability themes: climate transition, energy transition, and food and materials transition. We then collaborate with our portfolio managers and industry specialists to highlight risks and opportunities within industries and sectors. Through this collaboration we identify companies we want to engage with on the risks and opportunities we have identified linked to that particular RI theme. Finally, we integrate these learnings into our investment selections and decisions.

This approach allows us to support and provide actionable investment insights. Our overarching sustainability themes are linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which we believe increasingly shape the economic and investment landscape, and our RI thematic research focuses on investment-relevant sub-themes within these.

Our RI themes and sub-themes

Responsible Investment Quarterly Q4 2022

We hope you enjoy reading our analysts’ viewpoints.

23 February 2023
Roger_Wilkinson
Roger Wilkinson
Head of EMEA Equity and Responsible Investment Research
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Responsible Investment Quarterly Q4 2022

1 Responsible investment research may not be conducted on every security and, when conducted, may be in varying degrees. Although RI research is made available to all portfolio managers, each portfolio management team within our firm makes its own investment decisions and certain teams may place more, less or no emphasis on ESG factors in any given investment decision.
2 World Economic Forum, Nature Risk Rising: Why the Crisis Engulfing Nature Matters for Business and the Economy, 19 January 2020.
3 World Bank, The Economic Case for Nature : A Global Earth-Economy Model to Assess Development Policy Pathways, 29 June 2021.
4 Jefferies, The Convention on Biological Diversity—What to Watch For at COP 15, December 2022.

Important information

For use by professional clients and/or equivalent investor types in your jurisdiction (not to be used with or passed on to retail clients). This is an advertising document. This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered representative of any particular investment. This should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments, or to provide investment advice or services.
Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal. Your capital is at risk. Market risk may affect a single issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. The value of investments is not guaranteed, and therefore an investor may not get back the amount invested. International investing involves certain risks and volatility due to potential political, economic or currency fluctuations and different financial and accounting standards. Risks are enhanced for emerging market issuers.
The securities included herein are for illustrative purposes only, subject to change and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell. Securities discussed may or may not prove profitable. The views expressed are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change and may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) associates or affiliates. Actual investments or investment decisions made by Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, may not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not take into consideration individual investor circumstances. Investment decisions should always be made based on an investor’s specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Asset classes described may not be appropriate for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and no forecast should be considered a guarantee either.
Information and opinions provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This is an advertising document. This document and its contents have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority.
In Australia: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited [“TIS”], ARBN 600 027 414. TIS is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence under the Corporations Act and relies on Class Order 03/1102 in marketing and providing financial services to Australian wholesale clients as defined in Section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. TIS is regulated in Singapore (Registration number: 201101559W) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289), which differ from Australian laws.
In Singapore: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited, 3 Killiney Road, #07-07, Winsland House 1, Singapore 239519, which is regulated in Singapore by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289). Registration number: 201101559W. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
In Hong Kong: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services Hong Kong Limited 天利投資管理香港有限公司. Unit 3004, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Hong Kong, which is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) to conduct Type 1 regulated activities (CE:AQA779). Registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622), No. 1173058.
In Japan: Issued by Columbia Threadneedle Investments Japan Co., Ltd. Financial Instruments Business Operator, The Director-General of Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No.3281, and a member of Japan Investment Advisers Association.
In the USA: Investment products offered through Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA. Advisory services provided by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. Collectively, these entities are known as Columbia Management.
In the UK: Issued by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited. Registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 573204, Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AG, United Kingdom. Authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.
In the EEA: Issued by Threadneedle Management Luxembourg S.A. Registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Societes (Luxembourg), Registered No. B 110242, 44, rue de la Vallée, L-2661 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
In Switzerland: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services AG, Registered address: Claridenstrasse 41, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland.
In the Middle East: This document is distributed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments (ME) Limited, which is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). For Distributors: This document is intended to provide distributors’ with information about Group products and services and is not for further distribution. For Institutional Clients: The information in this document is not intended as financial advice and is only intended for persons with appropriate investment knowledge and who meet the regulatory criteria to be classified as a Professional Client or Market Counterparties and no other Person should act upon it.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.

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Important information

For use by professional clients and/or equivalent investor types in your jurisdiction (not to be used with or passed on to retail clients). This is an advertising document. This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered representative of any particular investment. This should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments, or to provide investment advice or services.
Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal. Your capital is at risk. Market risk may affect a single issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. The value of investments is not guaranteed, and therefore an investor may not get back the amount invested. International investing involves certain risks and volatility due to potential political, economic or currency fluctuations and different financial and accounting standards. Risks are enhanced for emerging market issuers.
The securities included herein are for illustrative purposes only, subject to change and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell. Securities discussed may or may not prove profitable. The views expressed are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change and may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) associates or affiliates. Actual investments or investment decisions made by Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, may not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not take into consideration individual investor circumstances. Investment decisions should always be made based on an investor’s specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Asset classes described may not be appropriate for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and no forecast should be considered a guarantee either.
Information and opinions provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This is an advertising document. This document and its contents have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority.
In Australia: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited [“TIS”], ARBN 600 027 414. TIS is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence under the Corporations Act and relies on Class Order 03/1102 in marketing and providing financial services to Australian wholesale clients as defined in Section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. TIS is regulated in Singapore (Registration number: 201101559W) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289), which differ from Australian laws.
In Singapore: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited, 3 Killiney Road, #07-07, Winsland House 1, Singapore 239519, which is regulated in Singapore by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289). Registration number: 201101559W. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
In Hong Kong: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services Hong Kong Limited 天利投資管理香港有限公司. Unit 3004, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Hong Kong, which is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) to conduct Type 1 regulated activities (CE:AQA779). Registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622), No. 1173058.
In Japan: Issued by Columbia Threadneedle Investments Japan Co., Ltd. Financial Instruments Business Operator, The Director-General of Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No.3281, and a member of Japan Investment Advisers Association.
In the USA: Investment products offered through Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA. Advisory services provided by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. Collectively, these entities are known as Columbia Management.
In the UK: Issued by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited. Registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 573204, Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AG, United Kingdom. Authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.
In the EEA: Issued by Threadneedle Management Luxembourg S.A. Registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Societes (Luxembourg), Registered No. B 110242, 44, rue de la Vallée, L-2661 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
In Switzerland: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services AG, Registered address: Claridenstrasse 41, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland.
In the Middle East: This document is distributed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments (ME) Limited, which is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). For Distributors: This document is intended to provide distributors’ with information about Group products and services and is not for further distribution. For Institutional Clients: The information in this document is not intended as financial advice and is only intended for persons with appropriate investment knowledge and who meet the regulatory criteria to be classified as a Professional Client or Market Counterparties and no other Person should act upon it.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.

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