Of Canadian investors who were asked what motivated their focus on sustainable investing, over half (58%) mentioned having a beneficial impact on society and the environment. This contrasts with 38% of institutional investors in the US and 50% of institutional investors worldwide.
Furthermore, while investing sustainably, Canadian investors place a higher value on being able to observe the impact of their money, with 54% saying that knowing how their money affects society is extremely essential.
Thematic investing (62%) and active corporate interaction (43%) trailed ESG integration into the investment process by a significant margin, with nearly nine in ten Canadian survey participants (88%) ranking it as their favorite strategy for investing sustainably.
ESG integration was also the favored strategy for both international and U.S. respondents, but on a slightly smaller scale, with 75% and 63% choosing it, respectively.
Sixty-two percent of Canadian respondents said they were considering sustainable investment opportunities, which is higher than the global average of 58%. These respondents said they would like to invest in funds or solutions that prioritize financial return generation while deeply integrating ESG factors.