Stage three: Supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

""

 

Improving peace and prosperity for the planet and its people was the aim of the 193 countries that agreed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. This was part of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development4, recognising that to end poverty and other hardships, strategies must focus on these 17 areas in the chart above. Investors play a key role in helping these goals to succeed, as we have the ability to:

  • Impact corporations’ behaviour
  • Invest in innovative businesses that are meeting these goals.

The third stage of our impact assessment is to identify businesses that generate revenue from providing goods or services that help to address the UN’s sustainable development agenda.

Each of our businesses offer solutions meeting at least one of the SDGs

When combined with stages one and two (controversial industry exclusion and ESG considerations), we can construct a sustainable portfolio of businesses. This table shows the primary SDG alignment of our businesses:

""

Today’s sustainable and impact industry is in its infancy. While our clients are our primary focus, we also participate in industry initiatives where we believe our experience, sponsorship and support can help its evolution. Working collaboratively on these and other initiatives benefits our clients and supports our aim – a more sustainable financial system. Here are some of the ways we’ve helped:

Sponsoring and advising the Impact Management Project – a global effort to establish a common framework for impact investing, coordinated by Bridges Impact and over 2,000 organisations

Sponsoring the ‘Investing for Global Impact’ report. Now in its seventh year, it’s the largest annual global survey of individuals, families, family offices and family foundations on their philanthropic and impact investing activities

Supporting the leading impact investing body, the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), in its impact investing industry roadmap for the future

Participating in the UK Government’s implementation task force for ‘Growing a culture of social impact investing’ in the UK

Across Barclays, we’re also an active member of several initiatives to improve sustainable investing standards and practices. These include:

The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF)

UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI)

The UN’s Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

The UN’s Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)

Back to start

""

Sustainable Portfolio Management

Sources and references

  1. Sustainable development goals, UN

Investments can fall as well as rise in value. Your capital or the income generated from your investment may be at risk.

You could get back less than you invest. Adding leverage to your portfolio may amplify returns in a rising market, but will amplify losses in a falling market

This communication:

  1. Has been prepared by Barclays Bank PLC (Barclays) and is provided for information purposes only and is subject to change.  It is indicative only and not binding.  References to Barclays means any entity within the Barclays Group of companies, where “Barclays Group” means Barclays and its affiliates, subsidiaries and undertakings.
  2. Is not research nor a product of the Barclays Research department. Any views expressed in this communication may differ from those of the Barclays Research department. All opinions and estimates are given as of the date of this communication and are subject to change. Barclays is not obliged to inform recipients of this communication of any change to such opinions or estimates.
  3. Is general in nature and does not take into account any specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person.
  4. Does not constitute an offer, an invitation or a recommendation to enter into any product or service and does not constitute investment advice, solicitation to buy or sell securities and/or a personal recommendation. Any entry into any product or service requires Barclays’ subsequent formal agreement which will be subject to internal approvals and execution of binding documents.
  5. Is confidential and is for the benefit of the recipient. No part of it may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted without the prior written permission of Barclays.
  6. Has not been reviewed or approved by any regulatory authority.

Any past or simulated past performance including back-testing, modelling or scenario analysis, or future projections contained in this communication is no indication as to future performance. No representation is made as to the accuracy of the assumptions made in this communication, or completeness of, any modelling, scenario analysis or back-testing. The value of any investment may also fluctuate as a result of market changes.

Barclays is a full service bank. In the normal course of offering products and services, Barclays may act in several capacities and simultaneously, giving rise to potential conflicts of interest which may impact the performance of the products.

Where information in this communication has been obtained from third party sources, we believe those sources to be reliable but we do not guarantee the information’s accuracy and you should note that it may be incomplete or condensed.

Neither Barclays nor any of its directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents, accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential losses (in contract, tort or otherwise) arising from the use of this communication or its contents or reliance on the information contained herein, except to the extent this would be prohibited by law or regulation. Law or regulation in certain countries may restrict the manner of distribution of this communication and the availability of the products and services, and persons who come into possession of this publication are required to inform themselves of and observe such restrictions.

You have sole responsibility for the management of your tax and legal affairs including making any applicable filings and payments and complying with any applicable laws and regulations. We have not and will not provide you with tax or legal advice and recommend that you obtain independent tax and legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

This report contains certain information (the "Information") sourced from MSCI ESG Research LLC, or its affiliates or information providers (the "ESG Parties"). The Information may only be used for your internal or personal use, may not be reproduced or disseminated in any form and may not be used as a basis for or a component of any financial instruments or products or indices.

Although they obtain information from sources they consider reliable, none of the ESG Parties warrants or guarantees the originality, accuracy and/or completeness, of any data herein and expressly disclaim all express or implied warranties, including those of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

None of the MSCI information is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such, nor should it be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance, analysis. forecast or prediction. None of the ESG Parties shall have any liability for any errors or omissions in connection with any data herein, or any liability for any direct, indirect, special. punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages.