Sustainable investing climbed to $23 trillion worldwide based on a global survey, buoyed by the Paris Climate accord last year and changing market demands. Impact investors are also responding to the new administration's executive orders and proposed budget cuts to the EPA and climate change initiatives.
Foundations continue to make strides, and more social enterprises and investors are adopting SDG and ESG measurement practices. One highlight - more investing in women-owned enterprises - $560 million now invested with a "gender lens" in public equities and debt, five times the amount invested in 2014.
TPG Capital's $2 billion investment fund focusing on seeding social ventures in emerging markets like Africa was major news as was the new U.S. administration's inauguration in January. Trump's policies are expected to impact the social venture space in areas such as climate change, energy and the environment. Funding will likely shift to the private sector via foundations and family offices or the public sector via city/state driven bonds.
Impact investing grew by 18% in terms of assets under management, according to annual report by GIIN, as more social enterprises with innovative products are gaining visibility and as more SDG practices are widely adopted. Financial inclusion and social good-tech are likely to be bigger in 2017.