Most ‘sustainable’ investors have money in banks that fund fossil fuels

A majority of investors that picked their ISA based on sustainability credentials actually have their cash in providers classified as ‘worst’ for their environmental impact, new research has revealed.

Analysis from Triodos Bank UK found that investors were failing to understand the sustainability implications of where they put their money.

The research found that a majority of people (55 per cent) that have a stocks and shares ISA with a provider classified as the worst on sustainability, according to Ethical Consumer rankings, actually think that their money is in a ‘green‘ ISA.

Investors are also not fully informed about the extent of what labels can be applied to ISAs, especially if they seem counter-intuitive.

For example, half of consumers don’t believe a fund or savings account can be classed as ‘sustainable’ if it includes fossil fuel companies – even those that also invest in renewable energy.

However, a sustainable label can still be slapped on a fund that invests in fossil fuels, especially if the fund claims it is working on engaging with the polluter to pressure it to cut its emissions.

Meanwhile, 55 per cent of investors said they didn’t even know if they money was being used in an environmentally friendly way by their ISA.

Investors are clearly pushing for more sustainable investment, as 47 per cent of people said that banks should not be investing in fossil fuel expansion, rising to 57 per cent of 18–34 year olds.

Young investors are also more sceptical of the claims made by financial institutions, with 36 per cent thinking their ISA providers are likely to be engaging in greenwashing, compared to just 10 per cent of over 55s.

Roger Hattam, director of retail banking at Triodos Bank UK, said that the findings demonstrated “the worrying truth about how well-intentioned consumers are being misled about how their money is being invested”.

The Financial Conduct Authority is set to bring in new anti-greenwashing rules later this year, but the research found only 10 per cent of investors were aware of the new rules.

However, Hattam described the new rules as “desperately needed”, and more than half (59 per cent) of investors said they were concerned about greenwashing in the financial services industry,

“There are millions of consumers wanting their money to align with their values, but this is not yet matched with real industry commitment to clearly signpost what causes their money is actually supporting,” added Hattam.

“As well as actively screening out negatives – such as never investing in fossil fuel companies – to truly invest in people and the planet, banks need to actively fund areas that are changing the world for the better.”