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World Environment Day: Time to put our money to better use

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Today is World Environment Day. Today it is perhaps more important than ever for each one of us to stop and think about all the choices we make and how they affect our planet. And, crucially, how we can change things for the better.

Each year, the World Environment Day - the United Nations' main initiative for encouraging awareness and action to protect our environment - has a theme. This year, the theme is biodiversity. And this year, Nature has given us a wakeup call.

It is no secret that the unprecedented pandemic we are experiencing is at least in part the result of our direct contact with eco-systems we have never come in such close contact with before. It is the result of overpopulation, of course. But it also comes from our disregard for the wilderness of Nature, our inability to leave it alone.

This year, we have been shown a glimpse of how the world can fall apart around us if we continue on this path we have forged. And it is time for change.

It’s time to wake up. To take notice. To raise our voices.
It’s time to build back better for People and Planet.

This World Environment Day, it’s Time for Nature.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, one very significant way we can begin to make this change is through investment. And not just any old investment, but investment in companies that really put effort into making the world a better place.

These can be found in ESG funds – funds focusing on Environmental, Social and Governance issues. These funds invest in companies that are trying to solve world problems, such as climate change, diversity, and a multitude of others.

How successful they are depends on the fund, of course, and some make a greater positive impact than others. A good place to start would be to look at The New Money Guide to Greenwashing (unashamed plug, since I co-authored it).

If you’ve been thinking about investing, consider putting your money towards making the world a better place. There is a revolution happening and we can all make a difference.

NOTES:

You can find out more about World Environment Day and check out a schedule of online events here

I’d be happy to share loads of resources on ESG investing with anyone who is interested.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash