Skip to Main Content

Sustainable Views: Time to Re-Energise Investor Climate Action

Picture of Head of Climate Strategy
Simon Hallett Head of Climate Strategy

Simon Hallett, Head of Climate Strategy at Cambridge Associates, recently partnered with Sustainable Views on an article urging investors to move beyond perfectionism and reporting complexity, and focus on actions that deliver real-world impact.

While early enthusiasm for net zero investing led to a proliferation of pledges and reporting frameworks, these efforts have not always delivered the desired level of real-world impact. Instead, investors have become bogged down in complex reporting and alignment exercises that often fail to connect with the practical decisions investors must make.

Hallett proposes shifting the focus from rigid top-down targets to an action-oriented, flexible approach that centers real climate impact no matter how small. He outlines six key principles for this exercise in rethinking priorities: recognize that net zero is a collective effort, focus on the most effective levers of change (capital allocation and ownership behavior), maintain the value of collaboration, develop dynamic strategies rather than fixating on long-term targets, treat climate action as a risk management challenge rather than a maximization problem, and integrate the role of nature into climate strategies.

The article encourages investors to be honest about past missteps, and to prioritize actions that are pragmatic and based in what is realistically achievable. Hallett emphasizes that investors should not strive for perfect alignment or exhaustive reporting, but instead adopt clear, confident strategies that drive measurable change. By doing so, investors can re-energize their climate ambitions, broaden the adoption of effective climate action, and contribute meaningfully to the global transition toward sustainability.

 

Read the full report in Sustainable Views here.

Simon Hallett - Simon Hallett is the Head of Climate Strategy at Cambridge Associates.

 

 

About Cambridge Associates

Cambridge Associates is a global investment firm with 50+ years of institutional investing experience. The firm aims to help pension plans, endowments & foundations, healthcare systems, and private clients achieve their investment goals and maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, staff extension and alternative asset class mandates. Contact us today.

Last Updated: