The imperative to accelerate our transition to a more sustainable economy and advance inclusive growth is clear.
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Levers to Progress: Technology
New technologies are inherently disruptive. By harnessing the power of change, we can create massive opportunity.
Levers to Progress: Partnerships
Collaboration and diversity is at the core of Goldman Sachs, and partnership drives our efforts to build a more sustainable world.
Levers to Progress: Data
Measuring for gaps is the first step in building progress, and data informs our approach every step of the way.
Levers to Progress: Innovation
The challenges we face are rooted in history, but the solutions we need will come from innovation.
Latest
Angus Thirlwell, CEO and Co-Founder, Hotel Chocolat
Angus Thirlwell, CEO and Co-Founder of Hotel Chocolat, discusses building a direct-to-consumer confectionary brand, digital growth following the pandemic, and how becoming a cacao grower has further deepened his focus on sustainability.
GS SUSTAIN: Supply Chain Mosaic
Goldman Sachs Research is introducing a new framework for generalists and ESG investors, the GS SUSTAIN Supply Chain Mosaic, to plug gaps in a patchy data landscape for measuring supply chain risks and to assess business resilience. The collaborative framework blends data on supply chain location and concentration with GS SUSTAIN proprietary scoring of suppliers’ ESG engagement and sovereign ESG risk.
The $6 Trillion Plan: Unleashing New Waves of Green Investment
Recent instances of threatened energy supply have the potential to a galvanize investors, corporates and policymakers to prioritize green energy sources that are also secure, reliable and accessible. In order to achieve this, swift and significant capital investment will need to be deployed globally – to the tune of $6 trillion annually. We talked with Brian Singer, global head of GS SUSTAIN, to understand more about Green Capex, which industries will feel the effects, which technologies hold the most potential and where policy can help to drive investment.
ESG of the Future: A Forward Look at Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Potential ESG Improvers
Goldman Sachs Research expects increased focus on corporate emissions of greenhouse gases as ESG markets become more forward-looking and in response to both rising regulations including proposals from the SEC and carbon pricing considerations.
GS SUSTAIN: The Evolution Towards a Circular Economy
The need to move towards a Circular Economy – one in which consumption of ecological resources is equal to or less than what the planet can regenerate – has been discussed for years but not sufficiently deployed. However, we see three catalysts that can push forward deployment of Circular Economy solutions, which, based on a World Economic Forum study, could potentially unlock $1 tn of annual materials savings.
Green Metals: Nickel's Class Divide
Nickel now sits at the intersection of Europe’s push for decarbonisation and energy independence. With Europe’s domestic EV sector already favouring nickel-based batteries, nickel is set to benefit the most from politically motivated demand accelerating already rapid growth in nickel battery use.
Green Metals: Solving Aluminium’s Climate Paradox
At the heart of the coming surge in green aluminium demand lies a paradox: aluminium is a key input required to produce decarbonising technologies like EV’s and solar power, yet its own production is very carbon intensive, generating 2% of all global emissions. This paradox begs the question: how can we secure enough aluminium to effectively decarbonise, while keeping the climate impact of the path to net zero to a minimum?
Green Metals: Copper is the New Oil
The critical role copper will play in achieving the Paris climate goals cannot be overstated. As the most cost-effective conductive material, copper sits at the heart of capturing, storing and transporting these new sources of energy.
The Road to 2050: Balancing Climate Goals with Energy Security
The road to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 has never been more urgent, but geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and rising inflation have led to renewed focus on energy security. In this episode of Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, Kara Mangone, global head of climate strategy, and John Goldstein, head of our Sustainable Finance Group, which recently released Goldman Sachs' 2021 Sustainability Report, discuss how governments, companies and investors are navigating this transition.
Building for the future: Are developers going ‘green?’
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are increasingly driving corporate strategy in asset classes around the world. But when it comes to building real estate, is environmental impact – particularly carbon emissions – a critical concern for developers and investors? We sat down with Nora Creedon, an investor in private real estate within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, to discuss if buildings truly are going “green.”
Jean Case, CEO of The Case Impact Network and Chairman of the National Geographic Society
Jean Case, CEO of The Case Impact Network and chairman of the National Geographic Society, discusses trends in impact investing and the importance of measuring environmental, social, and governance factors to identify risks and growth opportunities.
ESG Regulations: US SEC Proposes Major New Climate Disclosure Requirements
The GS SUSTAIN team believes that 2022 will be a watershed year for ESG-related capital markets regulation in the US. The climate disclosure rule proposal from the SEC on 21 March 2022 opens the door for the broadest federally mandated corporate ESG data disclosure requirement ever in the US.
SFDR, One Year On: The Trends and Anatomy of Article 8 & 9 Funds
One year after the launch of the first stage of the European Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), SFDR funds are growing significantly compared to non-ESG counterparts. The GS SUSTAIN team has reviewed the implications of the SFDR regulation and disclosure requirements. Their analysis of the various approaches taken across asset managers concludes that not all Article 8 or 9 funds are created equal, in a good way.
Paul Polman, former Unilever CEO and Author
Polman’s new book, Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take, is a close look at how companies can pursue sustainable capitalism. In conversation with John Goldstein, head of the Sustainable Finance Group, Polman talks about his years as CEO of Unilever—where he was able to quadruple shareholder returns while also pursuing an industry-leading sustainability strategy—and what lessons can be shared with CEOs across all industries.
Investing in Climate Change 2.0
Despite mixed progress on global climate action at COP26, a key takeaway emerged: the private sector is stepping up to tackle climate change. In this episode, experts from former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney to Engine No. 1’s founder Chris James debate the role—and effectiveness—of the private sector in driving change.
Accelerating Transition: Public-Private Partnerships
In part 4 of our special miniseries, host Kara Mangone talks to John Greenwood of our Investment Banking Division and Ahmed Saeed of the Asian Development Bank on the role public-private partnerships will play in the drive to Net Zero.
Accelerating Transition: Nature Based Solutions
Part 3 of our special miniseries: Host Kara Mangone talks to Peter Kelly and Lisa Williams from the AIMS Imprint investment vertical in Goldman Sachs Asset Management about nature based solutions in the world of sustainable finance.
Accelerating Transition: Carbonomics
Part 2 of our special miniseries: Host Kara Mangone and Michele Della Vigna, head of Natural Resources Research in EMEA, discuss the role capital markets, public policy, and technology will play in moving toward a sustainable future.
Accelerating Transition
In the kickoff episode of our new sustainability miniseries, Accelerating Transition, John Goldstein and Kara Mangone of Goldman Sachs’ Sustainable Finance Group discuss what it will take from both the private and public sectors to achieve the climate goals necessary for a sustainable future.
Race to Zero: How Companies Are Deploying Decarbonization Strategies
As companies look to reduce their carbon footprints, decarbonization strategies are taking center stage. Goldman Sachs’ John Greenwood and Cindy Quan discuss the efforts by corporations to reach their net-zero goals.
The Changing Landscape of ESG Regulation in Europe
Evan Tylenda of Goldman Sachs Research discusses the significance of the European Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and how it, along with the EU Sustainable Taxonomy, will change the way asset managers classify ESG funds.
Investing in Nature-Based Solutions
Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Lisa Williams explains how nature-based investments like Apple’s Restore Fund can reduce carbon emissions while generating financial returns.
The Evolution of ESG Financing
Jonny Fine of Goldman Sachs’ Investment Banking Division discusses the evolution of ESG financing and what is driving the significant rise in corporate issuance.
The Path to Net-Zero Emissions and Inclusive Growth
Just over a year into Goldman Sachs' 10-year plan to deploy $750 billion toward accelerating the climate transition and advancing inclusive growth, the firm has reached a fifth of its target. We sat down with John Goldstein, head of the firm’s Sustainable Finance Group, to discuss progress, client concerns and the impact of the pandemic on companies’ sustainability goals.
The Future of ESG Finance
Carey Halio, Deputy Treasurer of Goldman Sachs, discusses the firm’s $800 million sustainability bond and how Goldman Sachs is responding to demand for investment opportunities related to climate transition and inclusive growth.
ESG’s Role in Deal-Making
Companies evaluating mergers and acquisitions are increasingly looking at how the transaction may impact their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, according to Goldman Sachs’ Avinash Mehrotra, global head of the Activism and Shareholder Advisory and Takeover Defense practices. We sat down with Avi to discuss how ESG considerations are starting to influence deal-making.
Carbonomics: Innovation, Deflation, and Affordable De-carbonization
Net zero is becoming more affordable as technological and financial innovation, supported by policy, are flattening the de-carbonization cost curve. Goldman Sachs Research updates its 2019 Carbonomics cost curve to reflect innovation across c.100 different technologies to de-carbonize power, mobility, buildings, agriculture and industry, and draw three key conclusions.
The Corporate Commotion - A Rising Presence of ESG in Earnings Calls
Since Goldman Sachs Research's report A Revolution Rising - From low chatter to loud roar (April 2018), a virtuous cycle of ESG adoption has continued, driven by consumers, employees, regulators, corporates, NGOs and investors, leading to ESG strategy becoming a critical component of corporate & investor conversations. This report revisits our analysis using earnings transcript analysis tools to track the development of ESG themes over the past 5 years among global corporates in the S&P 500, STOXX 600 and ASX 200.
Sustainable ESG Investing: Turning Promises into Performance
Steve Strongin discusses the future of ESG investing, based on a new report from Goldman Sachs Research.
Carbonomics: The Rise of Clean Hydrogen
Clean hydrogen has a major role to play in the path towards net zero carbon, providing de-carbonization solutions in the most challenging parts of the Carbonomics cost curve - including long-haul transport, steel, chemicals, heating and long-term power storage.
Sustainable ESG Investing: Turning Promise into Performance
Environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) investing is at a deep level all about sustainability, yet we rarely ask the question, “How sustainable is ESG investing itself?” Here, we seek to provide a clearer sense of where ESG investing fits in the broader scope of active asset management, examine the gaps it fills and use that assessment to better structure the ESG investing processes, assess its place in asset allocation and rethink the metrics we apply to it.
Carbonomics: The Green Engine of Economic Recovery
Clean tech has a major role to play in the upcoming economic recovery. Leveraging our Carbonomics cost curve, we estimate that clean tech has the potential to drive US$1-2 tn pa of green infrastructure investments and create 15-20 mn jobs worldwide, through public-private collaboration.
Markets Update: How ESG is Changing
Goldman Sachs’ John Goldstein and external speakers provide an update on ESG and COVID-19.
How Investors Are Approaching ESG Today
Kara Mangone, Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs’ Sustainable Finance Group, discusses how the global pandemic is impacting the way corporates and investors approach ESG.
Investing In Climate Change
In this episode, we dig into what may be the most important issue of our time: climate change. On the heels of a climate-focused World Economic Forum in Davos, the unveiling of Europe’s new Green Deal, and increased attention on climate change by the world’s largest asset managers and banks, climate change is undoubtedly Top of Mind.
Is Sustainable Finance the Next Big Commercial Opportunity?
John Goldstein of Goldman Sachs discusses the firm’s sustainability goals over the next 10 years and explains the commercial opportunity across two core themes–climate transition and inclusive growth. Listen Now
Sustainable Finance Innovation Forum 2018
On November 13th, Goldman Sachs hosted the Sustainable Finance Innovation (SFI) Forum, which convened 400+ leading corporates, investors, public sector representatives and non-profit organizations alongside Goldman Sachs representatives to discuss the key themes shaping markets and sustainability. Learn More
Martin Wolf, Climate Change and the Future of Global Governance
Award-winning Financial Times commentator Martin Wolf CBE discusses how growing up during the Cold War shaped his world view, his rigorous approach to covering global economics and his projections for international cooperation on climate change. Watch Video
Tim Brown and Joey Zwillinger, Making Footwear Sustainable, Comfortable and Cool
The Allbirds co-founders discuss leaving professional soccer and biotech behind to launch the sustainable, direct-to-consumer footwear company and why they believe natural materials make for better products and a better planet. Watch Video
A Sea Change for the Global Shipping Industry
The global shipping industry has a sulfur problem. Although the world’s shipping fleet accounts for just 7% of the oil used by the transportation sector, it generates 90% of its sulfur emissions, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in humans. With a new cap on marine fuel sulfur emissions set to take effect in 2020, there could be a significant impact across multiple sectors. Watch Video
An Inflection Point in the Global Expansion of Electric Vehicles
The global market for electric vehicles (EVs) is poised for further growth as the cost of batteries continues to decline and major auto manufacturers commit significant resources to electrifying their fleets, explains Chris Buddin of the Investment Banking Division. Watch Video
ESG Revolution Rising: From Low Chatter to Loud Roar
Widespread company focus on environmental, social, and governance metrics has faced something of a chicken-and-egg problem: investors often don't hear from companies why these metrics matter to the business, and companies perceive the lack of questions they're receiving as a lack of interest. But the tide may be turning. Read More
2017 Environmental, Social and Governance Report
We strive to provide leadership on environmental and societal challenges suited to our skills and reach, where we can make a difference. Read More
Edward Norton, Capitalism and Creative Disruption
From his breakout role in 1996’s Primal Fear, Academy Award nominated actor Edward Norton has gravitated towards complex characters in both film and theater, but intertwined with his public life as an actor is an entrepreneurial drive focused on solving complex problems – both in business and the nonprofit sector. Watch Video
Julia Steyn, Car Sharing and the Future of Auto
General Motors head of urban mobility Julia Steyn discusses the company’s efforts to drive innovation while capitalizing on its century-old legacy. Watch Video
Clean Energy Impact Report
After achieving our initial goal of financing and investing $40 billion in clean energy, we put the number in context as we look ahead to our expanded target: $150 billion by 2025. Read Report and Watch Video
Environmental Policy Framework
We believe that a healthy environment is necessary for the well-being of society, our people and our business, and is the foundation for a sustainable and strong economy. Learn More