As social issues are brought to the forefront by the coronavirus global pandemic, portfolio manager Nicole Connolly discusses the implications of COVID-19 for ESG across industries and financial markets. The ESG mandate is about aligning your capital, and ESG investing has been maintaining momentum through the pandemic. Nicole is investing in companies that are focused on making the transition to a lower carbon footprint. She notes there have been a lot of catalysts for environmental investing, and the E.U.’s recovery plan is largely driven by climate. One theme she believes to be up and coming is renewable hydrogen; she is focusing on this trend through wind energy companies. Amid the pandemic, racial tensions have been at an all-time high in the U.S., putting the social aspect of ESG front and centre. Nicole has been looking at companies and asking how they’re prioritizing employees, customers and the communities in which they are based. She believes investors are also considering whether they are putting their money behind the changes they want to see in the world.

Recorded on August 18, 2020.