What attracted you to apply to the Endowments Investing Challenge?
We applied to the Endowments Investing Challenge because it’s a unique opportunity to spotlight the needs of future generations. Their voices are often overlooked, even though they are most affected by global challenges like climate change and inequality.
Through our Future Generations strategy and partnership with UNICEF, we’re helping to make the case that children deserve a seat at the table. This challenge puts investing for their wellbeing into the spotlight in one of the world’s financial capitals. We’re excited to share our work, learn from others and increase further awareness for this topic.
Tell us the changes you're most proud of in your organisation that move you towards being more sustainable, inclusive and responsible for a better future for all.
At Triodos Investment Management, we believe that how we invest defines the world we want to live in. Our starting point is a clear conviction: finance should support society, not dominate it. That belief guides every investment we make. All our investments contribute to a resilient, green and inclusive economy.
Launching our Future Generations Strategy in 2022 has made our commitment to sustainability and inclusion more tangible, ensuring our investments actively benefit future generations. Through our engagement with the companies in our Future Generations portfolio we have seen that that many are not yet aware of how their business activities impact children. By starting these conversations and by working together with others, we aim to create that awareness, make a real difference and continue our pioneering role. Ideally in close collaboration with partners who share this ambition.
What opportunities do you see to invest in impact on future generations?
When you focus on the needs of future generations, you unlock a powerful long-term perspective, something rare in today’s short-term world. Further, by treating children and future generations as key stakeholders, we can build a world that stays within planetary boundaries and is more equal and sustainable. This creates clear opportunities to invest in areas such as clean energy, education, healthy food, social infrastructure and healthcare, among others.
What have you learnt through this process?
Investing for the wellbeing of children and future generations turned out to be much broader than we initially expected. Thinking in an intergenerational way opened our eyes to a wider range of investment opportunities, which has been a valuable learning.
We also learned that people are generally very supportive of investing for the wellbeing of children and future generations. In many ways, it moves the conversation beyond politics. This reinforces our belief that when children and future generations are truly recognised as stakeholders, different – and better – decisions are made.
What question would you like to ask the Future Generations Panel?
We would like to ask the Future Generations Panel: What kind of world would you like to live in in 2050, and what role must capital / money / investments play to achieve this?
Response from the Future Generations Panel:
If we look back at our vision as a Future Generations Panel – a sustainable and fairer future where we take pride in communities and we are equitable, with no hate and injustice – in 2050, that’s the world we want to live in.
We’re currently, as a society, getting the basics wrong. This has a negative, circular impact on all but the very rich. We need to get those basics right – affordable and sustainable homes, healthcare that works, decent jobs, fair pay, and places for the community to come together. We think these things will make people happier, healthier, and more equal.
Capital and investments can support that vision, which is why we applied to be part of the Panel. We must use money or endowments to invest in this infrastructure. We think it should start with place-based investments, and partnerships can support this too. Private capital working with public institutions would give the big investment needed for the work. If the places we live are better: people have what they need, their homes are sustainable and healthy, and they’re connected for work and social needs, this creates a positive and increasing impact. And it makes us more resilient – to the changes we can see coming, and hopefully to those we can’t.