Where can managers find the best opportunities to make environmental impact? Panellists at yesterday’s Impact Investor Global Summit were asked this very question. Here’s what they said:
Circular economy
“If I were to pick the most exciting sector for the time being, it would be everything in connection to circularity and recycling,” said Anja Gräf, head of private markets impact at HSBC Global Asset Management. The opportunities range from early-stage growth investments, through “certain services and technologies that need to scape up”, to “the real infrastructure bit of it”.
Net-zero buildings
Ambienta head of sustainability Fabio Ranghino had a different view: “I’m particularly keen at this point in time on anything that relates to the build environment. Both on the materials side and the technology” that can help “buildings to get to net zero”.
Middle-ground finance
Julia Mattox, head of IR at Capricorn Investment Group, agreed that the built environment was the standout area, but added: “Financing the gap between where venture capital and growth capital/equity [sit], and [where] infrastructure and the later-stage players come in, I think is a huge opportunity.”
Nurture nature
Natural capital is a “particular area of interest” for Adamantem Capital director Rajiv Viswanathan: “We had a lot of success with an investment in a business called Climate Friendly, which is a carbon project developer. Australia and New Zealand I think [is] particularly unique for the opportunities that abound in natural capital.”
Wood for the trees
Steven King, senior vice-president of timberland management specialists Resource Management Service, unsurprisingly also cast his vote in favour of forestry. “We don’t do agriculture or other real assets, we focus on trees,” he said.
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