Transition finance is the fastest-growing area in sustainable investment. Over the past two years, the amount invested in transition-focused funds in Europe doubled as inflows into traditional ESG funds stalled.

The appeal of transition finance is obvious. It offers sustainability-minded investors access to a broader range of sectors and companies than “pure green” strategies, while at the same time potentially achieving more real-world decarbonisation.

But what does transition finance actually involve? Is it compatible with net-zero goals? Which industries, instruments and regions offer the best opportunities for returns? And, in the absence of regulatory clarity, do investors in the segment risk being accused of greenwashing?

In this episode, RI editor Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker discusses the rise of transition investing with Jenn Hui-Tan, chief sustainability officer of $800 billion manager Fidelity International.

Topics covered include the hunt for high-quality data, how to assess corporate transition plans and investment opportunities in Asia, as well as the concept of a Just Transition and the shift in focus towards policy engagement.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has put simplicity and consumer testing at the centre of its efforts to roll out fund labels to improve transparency of sustainable investment products.

For managers that are in the middle of applying labels to their funds, the process has in many ways proved more challenging than first expected – so far, only two funds have publicly announced that they have secured a label. The FCA has recognised this, and this week pushed back the deadline for compliance.

In this episode, Responsible Investor senior reporter Dominic Webb talks to deputy editor Elza Holmstedt Pell about how investors are grappling with the process and expectations for the months ahead.

Drawing on insights from conversations with key UK investors, the discussion delves deeper into the strategies of early movers, key challenges in applying the labels, but also why many investors, broadly, are happy with the FCA’s approach.

After two years of rising commodity prices, surging energy sector profits and intensifying anti-ESG rhetoric in the US, it is easy to get the impression that investors are losing their appetite for sustainability.

But industry veteran Lee Clements, now head of applied sustainable investment research at FTSE Russell, says reports of the death of ESG investing have been greatly exaggerated.

In this episode, he talks to RI editor Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker about the numbers behind the headlines, looking at how fund flows have evolved over the past four years, which strategies and sectors have proved most resilient, and why investors should welcome the end of the "ESG hype".

Key topics include the outlook for transition finance [time stamp 14:01], how sustainability funds traditionally fare at times of market meltdown [24:00], and the sustainability case for tech stocks [26:58].

Fast fashion’s climate issues get little investor attention, with household names largely absent from collaborative engagement initiatives and stewardship reports.

This is despite the flurry of challenges associated with the fashion industry, which produces huge amounts of waste and is responsible for an estimated 8-10 percent of global emissions.

But with an increasing regulatory focus on greenwashing and supply chains, as well as the controversial expected IPO in London of instant fashion giant Shein, the sector’s sustainability issues could rise up the agenda of investors.

In this episode, Elza Holmstedt Pell and Gina Gambetta discuss why fast fashion is struggling to decarbonise and – drawing on insights from market participants – outline examples of what investors are (or could be) asking of their holdings in the sector. [Time stamp: 01.17]

Also in this episode, Lindsey Stewart, Morningstar Sustainalytics’ director of stewardship research and policy, talks to Elza about his observations on asset manager behaviour in the 2024 proxy season, and gives his views on recent stewardship developments by US investment giants. [16:05]

Finally, Gina sits down with RI features writer Paul Verney to talk about ESG proposal trends at AGMs this year – which new topics have emerged and how have they fared? [29:31]

Exxon Mobil is taking legal action against activist investors, the UK has relaxed the rules for firms looking to list in London, and companies are holding their annual meetings behind closed doors.

For Jen Sisson, the new CEO of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), these developments are all part of a worrying erosion of shareholder rights in multiple jurisdictions around the world.

In conversation with Responsible Investor's editor, Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker, she explains how and why ICGN is pushing back against this trend, the issues with dual-class shares and virtual AGMs, and why good governance is key to tackling environmental and social issues.

Hundreds of financial institutions with more than $100 trillion in capital have signed up to reach net zero by 2050 or earlier, and many investors have committed to 2025 interim targets.

In this inaugural episode of The Responsible Investor Podcast, Elza Holmstedt Pell and Paul Verney bring you insights from conversations with investors about how likely these targets are to be met.

The discussion covers progress made towards the goals and key hurdles investors say they are grappling with – including legal and reputational concerns – and what this could mean for net zero as a concept for financial institutions.

Also in this episode, RI reporter Fiona McNally cuts through the headlines on the first wave of adoption efforts of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards – with insights from chats with market participants – and our senior reporter Khalid Azizuddin provides an explainer of the hugely popular temperature scores metric.

Introducing The Responsible Investor Podcast, where we'll delve into the latest developments and debates in sustainable investment. Hear our award-winning journalists and influential industry guests share their insights on topics such as net-zero, transition finance, biodiversity and nature, regulation, and ESG data and disclosure. To learn more and see all your subscription options, go to www.responsible-investor.com/podcast