The assumption that divestment can hurt the total return of an endowment is based on speculation, according to CJ Ryan, co-author of a recent research paper that found no discernible evidence that divestment of fossil fuels can negatively impact the total return of an endowment’s portfolio.
BlackRock, the world’s largest investor, has joined an influential pressure group calling for the biggest polluters to reduce their emissions, after criticisms that it was undermining action addressing the climate crisis.
Local government pension schemes in Britain pulled money out of hedge funds last year, shifting cash to infrastructure projects such as wind farms and to private equity, a Reuters analysis of annual reports shows.
Nonprofits should focus on the purpose various alternative asset classes serve in their portfolio across market cycles as the unprecedented bull market continues into 2020, industry experts say.