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Investing To Save The Planet: How Your Money Can Make a Difference
Investing responsibly is one of the most powerful ways that you can fight climate change.
No longer a niche sector for rebel fund managers, conscious investing has the potential to raise huge sums of money to the companies and organisations on the front line fighting the climate crisis and make investors positive returns in the process.
In this essential introduction to green investing, Alice Ross shows you how you can turn your savings and pensions, however big or small, into a force for change. You will
- Which sectors are leading the charge by developing cutting-edge solutions; from smart farming to renewable energy
- How to cut through 'alphabet soup' jargon and identify 'greenwashing'
- The ways you can maximise your economic power and hold those you're investing in to account
No longer a niche sector for rebel fund managers, conscious investing has the potential to raise huge sums of money to the companies and organisations on the front line fighting the climate crisis and make investors positive returns in the process.
In this essential introduction to green investing, Alice Ross shows you how you can turn your savings and pensions, however big or small, into a force for change. You will
- Which sectors are leading the charge by developing cutting-edge solutions; from smart farming to renewable energy
- How to cut through 'alphabet soup' jargon and identify 'greenwashing'
- The ways you can maximise your economic power and hold those you're investing in to account
240 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2020
20 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 22, 2020
I wanted to read this as it is relevant for my job...but it was much better than I was anticipating!
Firstly, it is written for the general public. Knowledge of investments or asset management is not a pre requisite for enjoying this book. Alice Ross explains things so clearly, as only a professional journalist can. The focus is on how every single person can influence companies and society to bring about positive change, especially around climate.
It is very well researched, which is to be expected. However, it is presented in a way that doesn't just bombard a reader with statistics and confusing opinions. It was written so recently that the pandemic and relevsnt research from the first half of 2020 are included. The book is balanced, laying out the great work being done and the challenges facing investors, asset managers, governments and the companies themselves when it comes to ESG factors and incorporating them into decision making.
For example, if a company has a diverse Board and wonderful governance and oversight....but is hopeless from an Environmental angle....can it / should it be allowed into a Sustainable fund? The data behind ESG is complex, subjective and continually evolving!
At the end of each chapter, there is a "what could you do" section. So, based on your income/risk appetite, how could you engage with companies to influence change for example. Simple things like looking at where your pension is invested. It demonstrates that no matter how small an investment you have, you can drive change.
I found it fascinating and it has really helped me to get a more well rounded view of what is developing in different companies and countries in terms of innvation and ways to tackle climate change and social and governance challenges.
Overall, an excellent read and I will be highly recommending. It is practical, interesting and eye opening!
#libraryatsevern #bookworm #book #reading
#bookstagramuk #londonreader #bookreviewfeature #bookreview #bibliophile
#bookstagrammers #readersofinstagram #reader #igreads #aliceross #financialtimes #bookblogger #goodreads #bookreviewer #bookshelf #penguinbusinessbooks #sustainability #sustainableinvesting
Firstly, it is written for the general public. Knowledge of investments or asset management is not a pre requisite for enjoying this book. Alice Ross explains things so clearly, as only a professional journalist can. The focus is on how every single person can influence companies and society to bring about positive change, especially around climate.
It is very well researched, which is to be expected. However, it is presented in a way that doesn't just bombard a reader with statistics and confusing opinions. It was written so recently that the pandemic and relevsnt research from the first half of 2020 are included. The book is balanced, laying out the great work being done and the challenges facing investors, asset managers, governments and the companies themselves when it comes to ESG factors and incorporating them into decision making.
For example, if a company has a diverse Board and wonderful governance and oversight....but is hopeless from an Environmental angle....can it / should it be allowed into a Sustainable fund? The data behind ESG is complex, subjective and continually evolving!
At the end of each chapter, there is a "what could you do" section. So, based on your income/risk appetite, how could you engage with companies to influence change for example. Simple things like looking at where your pension is invested. It demonstrates that no matter how small an investment you have, you can drive change.
I found it fascinating and it has really helped me to get a more well rounded view of what is developing in different companies and countries in terms of innvation and ways to tackle climate change and social and governance challenges.
Overall, an excellent read and I will be highly recommending. It is practical, interesting and eye opening!
#libraryatsevern #bookworm #book #reading
#bookstagramuk #londonreader #bookreviewfeature #bookreview #bibliophile
#bookstagrammers #readersofinstagram #reader #igreads #aliceross #financialtimes #bookblogger #goodreads #bookreviewer #bookshelf #penguinbusinessbooks #sustainability #sustainableinvesting
April 4, 2021
I so wanted this book to be better than it is. With an impressive blurb from Al Gore no less on the cover and a very promising description, I had high hopes. Especially as someone who is pushing to bring a bit more ESG into my employer's output. I will caveat this at the outset, that this is aimed more at individual investors, whereas my perspective is probably more on the professional side. Nevertheless, it too often reads more like a filled out newspaper article than a fully fledged book.
The book effectively divides into three parts. The first couple of chapters provide some background. They do a reasonable job of that, despite several small, but annoying, errors in Chapter 2.
Chapters 3 & 4 are, for me, the best of the book. They wade into the divestment versus engagement debate, presenting lots of arguments. Its clear which side the author sits on (engagement in case you are wondering). There's a couple of things covered too quickly, such as whether investing in secondary capital is as influential as investing in primary or missed, such as what is done with divested capital. Although its not really pulled together, generally the author does a good job here.
This is followed by four chapters on individual areas: energy, transport agriculture and efficiency. I found these quite weak - they seem to cover a lot of ground, but I found it all rather superficial and lacking cohesion. At times it just felt like a list of areas that well known companies were working in. Lots of information, but little knowledge.
The conclusion at least touched on the standards issue, which had been highlighted earlier as giving different results. I think there's a proper piece to be done here on digging into these and making more meaningful comparisons. She rightly criticises the alphabet soup, but more sidesteps the issue than resolves it. She also also notes the industry focus on E rather than S or G in ESG: her book does the same, which given the title is not unreasonable, but they are important too!
One small annoyance. Several times she used the phrase there are 'no right or wrong answers'. I disagree strongly with this - there is no single right answer, but there are plenty of wrong ones!
Overall, its a decent attempt and very readable but I look forward to finding something with a bit more insight.
The book effectively divides into three parts. The first couple of chapters provide some background. They do a reasonable job of that, despite several small, but annoying, errors in Chapter 2.
Chapters 3 & 4 are, for me, the best of the book. They wade into the divestment versus engagement debate, presenting lots of arguments. Its clear which side the author sits on (engagement in case you are wondering). There's a couple of things covered too quickly, such as whether investing in secondary capital is as influential as investing in primary or missed, such as what is done with divested capital. Although its not really pulled together, generally the author does a good job here.
This is followed by four chapters on individual areas: energy, transport agriculture and efficiency. I found these quite weak - they seem to cover a lot of ground, but I found it all rather superficial and lacking cohesion. At times it just felt like a list of areas that well known companies were working in. Lots of information, but little knowledge.
The conclusion at least touched on the standards issue, which had been highlighted earlier as giving different results. I think there's a proper piece to be done here on digging into these and making more meaningful comparisons. She rightly criticises the alphabet soup, but more sidesteps the issue than resolves it. She also also notes the industry focus on E rather than S or G in ESG: her book does the same, which given the title is not unreasonable, but they are important too!
One small annoyance. Several times she used the phrase there are 'no right or wrong answers'. I disagree strongly with this - there is no single right answer, but there are plenty of wrong ones!
Overall, its a decent attempt and very readable but I look forward to finding something with a bit more insight.
April 7, 2021
Not a book for the novice investor, or those with only limited funds. But for the more experienced saver with reasonable amounts of money to play with, either directly or in a pension fund, this is an excellent guide to ethical investment.
January 25, 2021
It was what i expected, not more and not less.
Great book if you're looking into investing your money while trying to do good for the environment.
Great book if you're looking into investing your money while trying to do good for the environment.
February 14, 2021
Written during lockdown, Alice Ross is partly reporting on the green/ESG investment bandwagon, and partly hitching herself to it. The book draws heavily on reports and interviews that have featured in the Financial Times, where Ross works, over recent years. This isn't necessarily a criticism, but if, like me, you're an ft.com subscriber, you may have read some of this stuff before, and you won't be getting a broader, more historical or original perspective from this book.
The most telling quote - for me - about factoring the climate and ecological crisis into investment comes near the end:
More than that, the financial industry are slow, notwithstanding the bandwagon, in my experience. Ross writes interestingly about green/climate bonds, which have been around for over a decade. But if I ask my financial advisor about opportunities to invest, she tells me they're "not available on the platform yet."
The reliable ways to make money on the investment market continue to be taking a fee on each transaction - and writing commentaries on it.
The most telling quote - for me - about factoring the climate and ecological crisis into investment comes near the end:
"…the financial industry are lazy," says Jeremy Oppenheim of Systemiq. "The way risk analysis is typically done is that it's backward-looking, based on historic data, and it tends to assume the probability distribution of events is stationary." If something happens that is normally a one-in-100 year event, he explains, financial risk analyst will still assign it that low risk level in the future too. "The problem that climate change poses is that it asks you to take all those three points and turn them on their head."
More than that, the financial industry are slow, notwithstanding the bandwagon, in my experience. Ross writes interestingly about green/climate bonds, which have been around for over a decade. But if I ask my financial advisor about opportunities to invest, she tells me they're "not available on the platform yet."
The reliable ways to make money on the investment market continue to be taking a fee on each transaction - and writing commentaries on it.
May 31, 2022
A good overview of what impact investing is all about. Ross also mentions a few companies and fund names that would be worth looking into, I appreciate that!
February 27, 2021
This books helps to make your own investing decisions that fit with what you're comfortable with. E.g. High vs. Low risk, Transition or Emerging industries and it gives you clear examples of companies, funds, or asset managers that you can follow based on your strategies.
January 29, 2022
Anyone with an interest in ethical investment, or even investment, should start here. It’s a very methodical, detailed and enjoyable read. A massively important book, which anyone looking to invest should read it.
November 16, 2021
A must read for people who want to know how to use their money responsibly. Super accessible and fascinating all around.
October 27, 2022
I picked up this book and was drawn in by the first chapter. Since we are in a position to make small but smart investment choices I thought "This is the book for me". As I waded through it however I realise that it is a much bigger scope than I first thought.
This book is a collection of interviews, statistics, report highlights, examples, strategic thinking and some practical advice that for a low-medium risk retail investor, as the book classifies me, is mostly too much of the former and not enough of the latter. Having said that, the material is not terribly dry, but not a breezy read either.
I did think that the sections that were dedicated to actual investment decision-making were a bit light on practical examples to apply in you own choices, and the outcome for me was that I had a much broader knowledge in the sphere of 'green' investing but I would still have to either do a lot of legwork myself or have a long conversation with a financial advisor (but as the book also says to be wary of financial managers who may not hold the same ESG position or philosophy as you). But at least I would be much more prepared.
I am awarding 4 stars (maybe a little less) simply because the depth and breadth of the book means that although only 240 pages long you are unlikely to not find something that is relevant to you. If anything the extensive index may make it a good desktop reference. So if you want to increase your general knowledge and discover statistics, trends and reports that are likely to influence your future choices, or if you are moving into an economic space that involves green/ESG investing, then I recommend this book. If you are a simple retail consumer perhaps just looking to adjust your pension fund then this book will be overwhelming and I suggest looking for something a bit friendlier.
This book is a collection of interviews, statistics, report highlights, examples, strategic thinking and some practical advice that for a low-medium risk retail investor, as the book classifies me, is mostly too much of the former and not enough of the latter. Having said that, the material is not terribly dry, but not a breezy read either.
I did think that the sections that were dedicated to actual investment decision-making were a bit light on practical examples to apply in you own choices, and the outcome for me was that I had a much broader knowledge in the sphere of 'green' investing but I would still have to either do a lot of legwork myself or have a long conversation with a financial advisor (but as the book also says to be wary of financial managers who may not hold the same ESG position or philosophy as you). But at least I would be much more prepared.
I am awarding 4 stars (maybe a little less) simply because the depth and breadth of the book means that although only 240 pages long you are unlikely to not find something that is relevant to you. If anything the extensive index may make it a good desktop reference. So if you want to increase your general knowledge and discover statistics, trends and reports that are likely to influence your future choices, or if you are moving into an economic space that involves green/ESG investing, then I recommend this book. If you are a simple retail consumer perhaps just looking to adjust your pension fund then this book will be overwhelming and I suggest looking for something a bit friendlier.
January 4, 2021
A very good book to read if you want to habe a comprehensive comparison of how different investing strategies may impact the invironment. However, I didn't find the proposed investing strategies that helpful when it comes to making up my mind in which environmental stocks or bonds I need to consider.
October 6, 2022
Nice book with a real hands-on approach to investing with the aim of helping to solve the climate crisis. It very usefully explains the pitfalls for (mainly greenwashing) and limits to certain investment strategies, like divestment. Also to my delight, it doesn't shy away from offering advice to low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk investors.
November 2, 2022
If you need an additional push to give you the confidence to invest with the planet in mind, reading this book is a great way to get it. Ross gives a very accessible introduction to the world of ESGs, and how to look critically at investment opportunities for both risk and how truly green they are.
March 26, 2022
Easy to digest, with some interesting points.
December 17, 2023
A practical toolkit that cuts through the alphabet soup of acronyms and jargon, showing that everyone, irrespective of their level of wealth, has a role to play in addressing the climate crisis!
July 23, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
A nice simple read to increase my general knowledge into this niche area. Was interesting and the concepts were all well explained.
A nice simple read to increase my general knowledge into this niche area. Was interesting and the concepts were all well explained.
September 13, 2022
This was less of a "how to" book than I expected, and rather a very general overview of the topic. It's clearly written for a finance audience (the author is a writer for Financial Times), but as someone who's coming from the climate change side of things, I still found the writing a bit too superficial. It was interesting but rather like reading a long read that asks a lot of questions and answers very few.
It's definitely readable if you find finance jargon confusing and want to have a simply introduction.
It's definitely readable if you find finance jargon confusing and want to have a simply introduction.
November 20, 2025
Pretty interesting read, particularly the sections on different investment forms (equities vs bonds vs angel investing etc). It has definitely changed the way I am going to look at investment opportunities and where to put my savings in the future. I have already made changes to my pension as a result.
The main issue with the book is it is a victim of the fast-moving world of sustainability, with a lot of the information out of date (it was written in early 2020, so the pandemic also dominates the conversation). This did hurt it in the second half of the book when it goes industry by industry talking about development, a lot of which are now either old news or obsolete.
But the right sort of book for a financial writer to be creating in my opinion, and I hope a lot more people read it.
3.5/5
The main issue with the book is it is a victim of the fast-moving world of sustainability, with a lot of the information out of date (it was written in early 2020, so the pandemic also dominates the conversation). This did hurt it in the second half of the book when it goes industry by industry talking about development, a lot of which are now either old news or obsolete.
But the right sort of book for a financial writer to be creating in my opinion, and I hope a lot more people read it.
3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews