New Toolkit Helps Investors Assess Fossil Fuels

Can you share a little bit about Morgan Stanley’s background in and commitment to sustainability? At Morgan Stanley, we are dedicated to accelerating the adoption of sustainable investing, which seeks to deliver both competitive financial returns and positive environmental and social impact.  Through the firm-wide effort we are committed to pioneering scalable sustainable finance solutions, build new sustainable investing tools and generate industry leading insights that inform and empower investors.  The Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Investing with Impact Platform, headed by Hilary Irby was launched in 2012 and the Institute for Sustainable Investing, led by James Gorman and Audrey Choi, was launched in 2013.

In 140 characters or less – what is the Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Tool Kit?

Provides a roadmap to help investors of all sizes navigate ways to address climate change in their investment portfolios.

What was the driver for creating the Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Tool Kit – what gap did it fill?

Despite increasing discussion in the public and private sector around the role of fossil fuels in an investment portfolio today, many investors remain unsure of the impact of carbon risk and climate change on their investments. Navigating the steps to minimize portfolio risk and maximize return opportunity, while also benefitting the environmental can be a daunting process. This Tool Kit helps to clarify different approaches to mitigating risk and seeking opportunity related to climate change and fossil fuels across an investment portfolio.

Who does it primarily serve?

The Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Tool Kit serves Financial Advisors and their clients – both individuals and institutions.

What difference does the Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Tool Kit want to make?

The Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Tool Kit aims to provide clarity and empower investors to take action across the range of approaches related to climate change and fossil fuel investing.

What are the barriers to making that difference?

Access to information/education and awareness; access to innovative investment strategies across the range of approaches; understanding how each strategy fits into the context of a fully diversified portfolio.

Who’s helping you overcome those barriers?

Key stakeholders across the public and private sector – governments, NGOs, business including asset managers, wealth managers and asset owners.

How can people – individuals and organizations – find out more about the Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Tool Kit?

Press release: http://www.morganstanley.com/press-releases/morgan-stanley-wealth-management-introduces-new-tool-kit-to-effe

MorganStanley.com article: https://www.morganstanley.com/articles/fossil-fuels

Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Primerr: https://www.morganstanley.com/pub/content/dam/msdotcom/articles/fossil-fuels/Climate-Change-Fossil-Fuel-Aware-Investing_Primer.pdf