In 2016, the world’s largest investment firm issued a report saying that climate change must be a factor in money management. On Wednesday, BlackRock Vice Chairman Philipp Hildebrand will discuss sustainable investing.
BlackRock manages $6 trillion in assets across the world, and it was big news when the firm announced it would make investment decisions with an eye on climate change.
“The first words on that paper are ‘investors can no longer ignore climate change,’" said Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) CEO Chris Lane. "When Wall Street says that, that’s big change.”
ACES is hosting the discussion, the first Jessica Catto Dialogue of the summer. Hildebrand will explain BlackRock’s research and approach to investing.
"Protecting the environment is good for the economy," Lane said. "It's good for jobs; it's good for profits; it's good for business."
Lane said the decision by BlackRock has caused more people to consider what their money is supporting, and how that affects the environment. Hildebrand will offer insights into the right questions to ask, to ensure that investors both see profits and protect the environment.
"It's just so much more powerful than recycling and changing your lightbulbs and riding your bike," he said. "It's so much more powerful."
The discussion is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Harris Concert Hall.