ESG INVESTMENTS THE GOAL IS PLOTTED THE PATH IS WITH OBSTACLES

Il Sole 24 Ore | February 2023

The new and more stringent regulatory standards imposed by the #sfdr have forced many #assetmanagers to backtrack and “downgrade” 420 funds from article 9 to 8 in less than six months as noted by Morningstar.

The latest research carried out by FINER Finance Explorer shows how interest in and appreciation for ESG investments among financial advisors and private bankers have grown (+17%) in 12 months (66% in 2022 vs. 49% in 2021).

Even among Italian investors, the propensity to subscribe to ESG funds is increasing (+19%) in the coming years (55% in 2022 vs. 36% in 2021).

The main barriers to investing in ESG are lack of knowledge (64%), fear that it is “green washing” (59%) and that the returns are lower (47%).

The tightening of the European regulator on ESG criteria is a first step towards a path which, although fraught with obstacles, now seems to be mapped out; the role of professionals in promoting the culture of sustainable investments will certainly also be central.

Gianluca La Calce Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking: “…we are engaged both in training the network and in dialogue with customers”.

Edoardo Fontana Rava Banca Mediolanum: on ESG investments “…they are products that give value to time”.

Lucilla Incorvati