Will ESG survive the next recession? Should we divest from all fossil fuels? Can sustainability truly coexist with profitability? We all have our own unique ideas of what ESG really means in this way. But when you are part of a team managing $1.5 trillion of other people’s money, the stakes get higher. A lot higher.  This is the reality for Cathrine de Coninck-Lopez, the guest on our latest episode of Conversations on Climate. Fortunately for us, it’s a pressure that has forged some very sharp thinking on the problems of sustainable investment today.   Cathrine de Coninck-Lopez is Global Head of ESG at Invesco, one of the world’s biggest asset managers.   She leads the ESG function with teams across asset classes and geographies, responsible for integration, research, engagement, and innovation.   There is so much behind-the-scenes insight here – and we really went after some of the big debates. ESG: different things to different people What does a Global Head of ESG actually do all day? Connecting sustainability to fiduciary duty To find your flavour of ESG, audit your own values The next big opportunities in ESG: biodiversity, human rights, and impact investing Divestment, ethics and financial performance – do we need more hard lines? Does passive ESG investment make sense Why you’ve got to rate your rating system…and it all comes back to values again "I would say the first thing is make your money matter, right? So think about what you are, what you care about, whether the disclosures on whatever product you're looking at matches those values. And that's how I would just be really critical about what you're investing in." "...first they ignore you, then they fight you and then you win....I genuinely believe we are winning. So I am excited about how ESG is just becoming part of the standard way of operating." REFERENCES: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathrine-de-coninck-lopez-48888318/?originalSubdomain=uk https://www.invesco.com/corporate/en/home.html https://www.invesco.co.uk/uk/about-us/our-people/cathrine-de-coninck-lopez?audienceType=investor   Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables in association with the London Business School Energy Alumni Club.  It brings together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.  For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our youtube channel or follow us on twitter. We’d love to have you join us! Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms. Throughout season 1, we talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We talk to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter. Season 1 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES in association with LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL, ALUMNI ENERGY CLUB. For more information visit: https://www.unitedrenewables.co.uk/resources Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE: https://bit.ly/3GZpd7R  and ring the notification bell Join us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3MnhuSf  Join us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Q5UKcj  Join us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3tFEnK3