Buy-Side Financial Institutions Survey: ESG Budgets & Priorities

07 Apr, 2022

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Executive Summary

This report, based on a global survey of 30 respondents, assists buy-side firms in benchmarking their firms’ ESG and sustainability investment strategies against industry peers. Additionally, ESG solution providers and consulting firms should leverage the findings to aid development of appropriate solutions to meet the outlined market demand. The data were gathered between November 2021 and February 2022. The survey highlights the extent to which ESG integration has become a necessity within an investing strategy, with all respondents outlining an ESG strategy for investing. However, issues still remain over the quality of ESG financial solutions, with no ESG information source in our survey gaining more than 30% of respondents describing it as ‘high’ or ‘very high’ quality.  

Global Buy-Side Survey Details Role Of ESG And Sustainability Metrics In Investment Decision-Making 
Global Survey Features 30 Buy-Side Executives Across Geographies and Industries

ESG Is Of Paramount Importance In An Investing Strategy 
ESG Investing Grows In Stature
The Broad Nature Of ESG Enables A Variety Of Roles To Engage With ESG Matters

State Of The ESG Financial Solutions Market 
Quality Of ESG Financial Solutions Is Still Up For Debate

What Are The Key Trends Expected Over The Next Two Years In The ESG Investment Market? 
Investors’ ESG Strategies Become Established
Extent To Which Spending On ESG Initiatives Will Change Is Unclear

Figure 1. Rise In Sustainable Funds’ Assets 
Figure 2. Firms’ Investment Approach To ESG 
Figure 3. Decision-Makers Responsible For Firms’ ESG Strategies 
Figure 4. Defining Investor-Grade Data 
Figure 5. ESG Technology Solutions 
Figure 6. Quality Of ESG Financial Solutions 
Figure 7. Priority ESG Financial Solutions For 2022 
Figure 8. Projected ESG And Sustainability Consulting Spend In 2022 
Figure 9. Projected ESG Financial Solutions Spend In 2022 

About the Authors

Sam Renshaw

Sam Renshaw

Industry Analyst

Sam is an Industry Analyst in the ESG & Sustainability practice. His current research agenda focuses on ESG solutions across financial markets including ESG information provid...

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

Research Director

Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...

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