Why ESG matters for this $22bn fund manager

🌳 Should banks stop financing deforestation in Australia? ❓ Question: What role do Australian banks play in deforestation, and how can financial institutions better manage nature-related risks within their lending portfolios? ✅ Answer: According to Max Hamra, corporate accountability analyst at the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Australia's major banks are linked to significant deforestation activity through agricultural lending, highlighting the growing importance of nature-related financial risks. ACF's latest investigation identified more than 16,000 hectares of deforestation linked to properties financed by major lenders, with impacts including the loss of high-carbon forests and critical habitat for endangered species such as koalas and greater gliders. Hamra argues that banks should increasingly treat deforestation as a core risk management issue rather than solely a sustainability concern. He believes nature-related risks should be embedded within credit and lending processes, with leadership from boards, executives and risk teams helping drive action across institutions. Rather than demanding immediate deforestation-free commitments, ACF advocates a more practical approach. It wants banks to first build the data, systems and stakeholder engagement needed to understand the issue, establish clear pathways for improvement, and then introduce commitments that are achievable and measurable. Hamra says the goal is to align banking practices with Australia's broader environmental objectives, including global commitments to halt nature loss and deforestation by 2030. Key insights: 🌟 More than 16,000 hectares of deforestation were identified in the latest ACF investigation The report linked a significant number of deforestation cases to land with bank-financed mortgages, highlighting the scale of nature-related risks within agricultural lending portfolios. 🌟 All major Australian banks were linked to investigated cases 🌟 Nature risk is becoming a mainstream financial issue 🌟 Investor engagement is accelerating 🌟 Some Australian banks are beginning to develop frameworks 🌟 Strong leadership is critical 🚩 Risks: 🚩 Deforestation creates significant emissions 🚩 Biodiversity loss threatens ecosystems 🚩 Agricultural productivity may suffer over time 🚩 Banks face growing reputational and financial risk 🚩 Progress across the sector remains uneven ⚠️ Things to watch: ⚠️ Deforestation-free commitments require substantial preparation Banks need better data, systems and stakeholder engagement before they can confidently implement and monitor meaningful commitments. ⚠️ Most deforestation identified was linked to agricultural expansion The report found that approximately 99% of investigated clearing related to expanding agricultural activity rather than residential development. ⚠️ Global expectations are rising quickly International banks are increasingly making nature-related and deforestation-related commitments, potentially creating pressure on Australian institutions to follow. ⚠️ Nature loss is moving up the ESG agenda After years of focus on climate emissions, biodiversity and natural capital issues are emerging as major priorities for investors and financial institutions. 💡 Why it matters: As global commitments to halt nature loss by 2030 approach, financial institutions will face increasing pressure to understand how lending decisions impact ecosystems, biodiversity and long-term economic resilience. The debate is no longer whether nature matters to finance, but how quickly institutions can integrate it into decision-making. 🎙️ Sources: Max Hamra – corporate accountability analyst, Australian Conservation Foundation Michelle Baltazar – Host, The Greener Way ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Why ACF is focusing on banks and deforestation 01:05 – How the investigation was conducted 02:36 – Key findings from the latest report 04:13 – Emissions impact of deforestation 05:29 – What ACF wants banks to do next 07:07 – Why nature risk is risin

🌏 Is climate tech the next big investment opportunity in Asia-Pacific? ❓ Question: Why are investors increasingly looking at climate technology, and what should Australian investors consider when assessing climate tech opportunities across Asia-Pacific? ✅ Answer: According to Ayush Kapila, co-founder and operating partner of Vitality Capital Partners, climate technology is becoming a major investment theme because many of the technologies needed to achieve net zero have not yet been fully developed or commercialised. He argues that around 30% to 40% of the technologies required for net zero remain in the prototype stage, creating significant opportunities for investors willing to back innovation. Kapila believes the greatest opportunity sits in Asia-Pacific, which accounts for more than half of global emissions and a large share of future energy demand growth. Rather than viewing climate tech as a niche sustainability investment, he sees it as a broad opportunity to support commercially viable businesses solving everyday problems across energy, transport, food systems, agriculture, water, industry and the circular economy. For investors, success depends not only on the environmental benefits of a technology, but whether it can deliver efficiency gains, competitive costs and strong commercial returns. 🌟 Asia-Pacific is one of the world's largest climate tech opportunities More than half of global emissions originate from the Asia-Pacific region, creating a significant need for technologies that can support decarbonisation while meeting growing energy and infrastructure demand. 🌟 Many net-zero technologies are still being developed Kapila estimates that 30% to 40% of the technologies needed to achieve global net-zero targets remain in the prototype or development stage, creating opportunities for venture capital and private market investors. 🌟 Climate tech extends far beyond renewable energy The sector includes innovations across sustainable aviation fuel, water treatment, food systems, transport, industrial efficiency, circular economy solutions, agriculture and blue economy technologies. 🌟 Cost competitiveness is critical for success Technologies that reduce costs and improve efficiency are more likely to gain widespread adoption than those requiring customers to pay a "green premium." 🌟 Australia's climate tech ecosystem is growing rapidly Vitality Capital Partners identified approximately 690 climate tech companies headquartered in Australia, with a median founding year of 2021, highlighting the sector's strong recent growth. 🌟 Commercial returns remain the priority Kapila argues that climate tech investing does not require sacrificing returns and should be viewed as a commercial growth opportunity rather than solely an impact investment. 🌟 Strong founders often emerge from established industries Many successful climate tech founders have backgrounds in banking, funds management, large corporates and institutional organisations, bringing industry expertise to emerging challenges. 🌟 New capital structures are emerging Initiatives involving institutional investors, government-backed organisations and structured finance are helping bridge funding gaps for climate-related businesses. 🚩 Early-stage investing remains high risk Many climate technologies are still relatively young businesses and face significant execution, commercialisation and scaling challenges. 🚩 Fund size mismatches can limit institutional participation Many climate venture funds are smaller than the typical allocation size required by large superannuation funds, making it difficult for institutions to deploy meaningful amounts of capital. 🚩 Liquidity remains a challenge Venture capital investments often take longer to realise returns, creating potential conflicts with institutional investors' liquidity requirements. 🚩 First-of-a-kind projects carry significant execution risk Capital-intensive projects and emerging technologies require experienced managers and o

⚕️ Can hospitals cut emissions by 44%? The surprising case for reusing "single-use" medical devices ❓ Question: How can remanufacturing single-use medical devices help reduce healthcare waste, improve supply chain resilience and lower emissions without compromising patient safety? ✅ Answer: According to Daniel Vukelich, president of the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors (AMDR), healthcare's reliance on single-use medical devices has created significant waste, emissions and supply chain vulnerabilities. While many devices are labelled for single use, remanufacturing companies can clean, validate, test and sterilise eligible products so they can be safely used again. Vukelich argues that remanufacturing offers a practical circular economy solution that reduces costs, cuts healthcare emissions, improves supply chain resilience and recovers valuable materials that would otherwise be discarded. With healthcare accounting for around 5% of global emissions and increasing pressure on global supply chains following COVID-19 and geopolitical disruptions, he believes circular healthcare models will become increasingly important for hospitals, policymakers and investors. 🌟 Healthcare is a major contributor to global emissions If healthcare were a country, it would rank among the world's largest emitters. Healthcare-related activities account for approximately 5% of global emissions, making decarbonisation a growing priority for the sector. 🌟 Circular healthcare can reduce dependence on fragile supply chains COVID-19 exposed vulnerabilities in global medical supply chains. Remanufacturing enables hospitals to extend the life of existing devices and reduces dependence on imported products and raw materials. 🌟 Valuable materials can be recovered and reused Many medical devices contain microchips, rare earth metals, gold and other valuable materials. Remanufacturing helps recover these resources rather than sending them to landfill or incineration. 🌟 Hospitals can significantly reduce procurement costs The remanufacturing industry has delivered substantial savings to healthcare systems by allowing eligible devices to be safely reused rather than constantly replaced with new products. 🌟 Emissions can be reduced by remanufacturing devices closer to home Lifecycle assessments suggest remanufacturing can reduce emissions by around 44% compared with manufacturing entirely new devices because fewer raw materials need to be extracted, processed and transported. 🌟 Scope 3 emissions present a major opportunity Around 70% of hospital emissions originate from supply chains rather than hospital operations. Addressing procurement and medical device lifecycles could have a larger impact than operational changes alone. 🌟 Australia is moving closer to developing a remanufacturing sector Several companies have announced plans to invest in Australian remanufacturing capability, while regulators continue to assess the appropriate framework for medical device reuse and remanufacturing. 🌟 Circular business models could become a competitive advantage Vukelich believes medical technology companies that extend product lifecycles and offer circular solutions are likely to be better positioned as healthcare systems focus more on sustainability and resilience. 🚩 Regulatory frameworks are still evolving Australia is still developing the regulatory settings required to support a larger remanufacturing industry while maintaining patient safety and clinical confidence. 🚩 Existing healthcare procurement models favour single-use products Many purchasing decisions remain focused on upfront unit costs rather than whole-of-life costs, supply chain security and environmental impacts. 🚩 Established business models may resist change Manufacturers that rely on selling new devices may be reluctant to adopt circular approaches that extend product lifespans and reduce replacement rates. 🚩 Clinical participation is critical Remanufacturing programs depend on hospitals consiste

🌿 Australia's climate capital challenge: Why investors want to spend billions but can't find enough opportunities ❓ Question: Why are Australia's largest investors struggling to deploy more climate capital locally, and what needs to change to attract the investment required for the country's net-zero transition? ✅ Answer: According to Rebecca Mikula-Wright, chief executive of the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC), institutional investors remain highly committed to climate-related investing despite geopolitical uncertainty, energy security concerns and market volatility. Australia's superannuation funds and institutional investors increasingly view climate change as both a financial risk and a major investment opportunity. However, while investor appetite for climate solutions continues to grow, there remains a shortage of investable opportunities that meet required risk and return thresholds. Mikula-Wright argues the challenge is not a lack of capital but a lack of policy certainty, project readiness and market signals that allow large-scale investment to flow efficiently. With Australia's super funds managing approximately $4.5 trillion and the nation requiring up to $630 billion of investment to meet its 2035 climate targets, she says getting policy settings right will determine whether that capital stays in Australia or moves elsewhere. 🌟 Clean energy remains the dominant climate investment theme Renewable energy generation, transmission infrastructure and energy storage continue to attract the strongest investor interest. These sectors are viewed as critical to both emissions reduction and future energy security. 🌟 Climate adaptation is emerging as a major opportunity Investors are increasingly moving beyond mitigation and emissions reduction to focus on adaptation and resilience. Around a third of investors now view climate adaptation as an investment opportunity rather than simply a risk that must be managed. 🌟 Asia is becoming more attractive for climate capital Investor interest in climate opportunities across Asia is growing rapidly. As Australia competes for global capital, investors are increasingly evaluating overseas markets that offer stronger policy certainty and larger investment pipelines. 🌟 Energy security is reshaping investment decisions Geopolitical tensions and concerns about energy supply are reinforcing support for electrification, renewable infrastructure and low-carbon fuels. Climate investment is increasingly being viewed through a national security lens. 🌟 Climate risks are being integrated into mainstream portfolios Rather than limiting sustainability considerations to dedicated ethical funds, investors are increasingly embedding climate risks and opportunities across their entire portfolios and investment processes. 🌟 Climate adaptation finance could become a significant new asset class Historically, governments have funded adaptation projects. As private investment markets mature, opportunities are emerging in infrastructure, resilience solutions and technologies designed to address physical climate risks. 🌟 Stewardship remains a key tool for investors Shareholder engagement, voting and corporate stewardship continue to play an important role in influencing company behaviour. However, investors increasingly recognise that broader policy and market reforms are needed to drive system-wide change. 🌟 Mandatory climate reporting could improve investment decisions As climate disclosure frameworks develop, investors expect to gain better visibility into how companies identify, manage and prepare for climate-related risks and opportunities. 🚩 A shortage of investment-ready projects remains a major barrier Many investors say they want to allocate more capital but cannot find enough climate-aligned investments with suitable risk-return characteristics. This remains one of the biggest obstacles to scaling climate finance. 🚩 Policy uncertainty continues to slow capital deployment Investors remain conce

🔥 Ethinvest: A call to make impact investing accessible for everyday Australians ❓ Question: Impact investing has matured significantly over the past decade, but many of the most attractive opportunities remain out of reach for everyday investors. What is changing in the impact investing landscape, and how can investors use both their capital and their shareholder influence to create positive environmental and social outcomes? ✅ Answer: According to Trevor Thomas, managing director of Ethinvest, impact investing is evolving from a niche market into an increasingly sophisticated asset class that is attracting institutional-grade fund managers and larger pools of capital. While impact investing has traditionally been dominated by wholesale investors, efforts are underway to make high-quality impact opportunities more accessible to retail investors. Thomas explains that true impact investing differs from simply buying shares in companies with positive environmental or social credentials. Impact investments are intentionally designed to address a specific problem, measure the outcomes achieved and provide capital directly to projects that generate positive change. This can include renewable energy, affordable housing, environmental restoration and social impact initiatives. Alongside capital allocation, Thomas argues investors should not underestimate the power of shareholder engagement. Over the past decade, shareholder activism and engagement campaigns have helped drive change across issues including climate disclosure, gambling, plastic waste, deforestation and biodiversity protection. Investors increasingly have two powerful tools available: where they invest their money and how they use their voice as shareholders. 🌟 Impact investing is becoming more institutional and mainstream The first generation of impact investments was often innovative but relatively small in scale. Today, institutional fund managers are launching larger, more diversified impact funds with the potential to deliver market-like returns while creating measurable environmental and social outcomes. 🌟 True impact investing goes beyond buying ethical shares Thomas distinguishes impact investing from traditional share investing. When investors purchase listed shares, the money typically goes to another shareholder. Impact investments, by contrast, direct capital towards creating new projects, assets and solutions that address social or environmental challenges. 🌟 Renewable energy and environmental infrastructure remain major themes Some of the most prominent opportunities today include renewable energy infrastructure, battery storage, environmental water projects and decarbonisation initiatives. These investments are attracting increasing interest as governments, institutions and investors seek practical solutions to sustainability challenges. 🌟 Democratising impact investing remains a key goal One of the biggest challenges facing the sector is accessibility. Many of the highest-quality impact funds remain restricted to wholesale investors. Thomas says efforts are underway to create investment vehicles that combine leading impact funds into structures that retail investors can access more easily. 🌟 Superannuation funds could play a larger role Large super funds are increasingly allocating capital towards impact investments and are becoming more active participants in addressing challenges such as climate transition, clean technology development and affordable housing at scale. 🌟 Shareholder activism can drive meaningful change Investor engagement has played a significant role in influencing corporate behaviour. Thomas highlights campaigns involving climate change, banking policies, biodiversity protection, plastic reduction and gambling exposure, demonstrating that investors can create change even when shareholder resolutions do not ultimately succeed. 🌟 Success is not always measured by winning the vote Some engagement campaigns fail to achieve immediate out