
Taking on ‘toxic’ investment culture
The activists’ aim was to disrupt ‘business as usual’ for the City’s financial giants where protestors blockaded entrances to the Walkie Talkie building, Goldman Sachs, and The Bank of England. While the short term effects of these protests have been crowds of irate city commuters, the goal of the movement is to pressure financial institutions to divest from investing in fossil fuel companies and turn their attention to non-polluting alternatives.How culpable are the financial giants?

While it’s going to be a big deal for multi-billion transnational companies to divest from emissions causing investments and operations, it won’t be as difficult for the more nimble SME.The results of the investigation have shown that the world’s foremost asset managers?(BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard), have built up a staggering $300bn’s worth of funds for fossil fuel investments ? ‘fuelled’ in part by people’s pensions and private savings. What’s more, they’re continuing to grow their portfolio and invest in fossil fuel-producing companies despite the strict anti-emissions terms of the 2015’s Paris Agreement.
Investment choices are shifting…
Climate damaging investment choices aren’t only plaguing the UK’s financial sector, they’re rampant in the governmental and educational spheres too. But thanks to activist pressure from consumers, this is changing. First, there’s The?London Pension Fund Authority (LPFA), that, according to activists, has traditionally invested millions into?fossil fuel companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Shell. However, over the past few years, the organisation has made public statements about reducing?this and instead pursue a policy of divestment. Anti-pollution public pressure has already led some London councils to totally divest from fossil fuel investments.?Camden Town Hall, for example, is set to follow it’s Islington neighbour in completely divesting from these investments very soon.1. Activism can encourage better investments
UK universities have also been known to place their investments in fossil fuel companies. But activism has also played a significant role in this sector by persuading these institutions to pursue the policy of divestment instead: One example is the London School of Economics and Political Science, where out of the university’s ?154 million value endowments, only?half a million pounds,?(?580,255) is tied up in fossil fuel companies ?? a number that’s set to decrease more over time.2. Becoming a ‘greener’ business is GOOD for business
What these examples show is that public, (and therefore consumer) pressure is enough to prove that divesting from fossil fuel investments, and investing in renewable methods, or even simply operating as a ‘green company’ in other ways, will make a business appear favourable to customers in the current ecological-political climate.3. Consumer pressure to ‘change’
According to a survey cited by the London Evening Standard this summer, over half of respondents said they wanted City firms to stop investing in fossil fuel companies, (oil, gas and coal). Furthermore, they wanted customers to have the agency to choose where their personal pension funds are invested, citing they would want alternative investment options where possible.SMEs can lead the charge

Big corporates can try ? but will it be seen as genuine?
A big corporate’s move to become environmentally compliant can be costly and laborious, (just think of giant cruise liner trying to turn in a storm). While it’s going to be a big deal for multi-billion transnational companies to divest from emissions causing investments and operations, it won’t be as difficult for the more nimble SME. A?smaller business with a tighter workforce can implement new company missions and cultures, and communicate them both internally and externally much easier, and quicker.Personable SME culture makes for a great USP

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