Maria Lettini, the CEO of US SIF, a group promoting sustainable investing, was surprised by the level of opposition to ESG investing upon returning to the U.S. from the U.K. She discussed sustainable investing and the differing attitudes towards it in the U.S. and Europe. Lettini noted that while people in both regions care about environmental and social issues, there are differences in government responses and investor perspectives.
In Europe, there is generally more support for considering environmental and social risks in investments, while in the U.S., there is more emphasis on immediate financial impacts. Lettini acknowledged the unexpected strength of the anti-ESG movement in the U.S., particularly in Washington, D.C., but highlighted the resilience of sustainable investing principles.
Despite facing pushback and anti-ESG laws in some states, members of US SIF have remained committed to sustainable investing practices. Lettini emphasized the importance of staying focused on advocating for sustainable capital markets regardless of political outcomes and highlighted the growing momentum and benefits of climate-focused investments.
Reflecting on her first year leading US SIF, Lettini noted that members have not wavered in their sustainability goals. She emphasized the industry’s rapid growth and maturation, with investors increasingly prioritizing resilience and leadership in the evolving global market.
