Sustainability and Corporate Governance Report 202
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HANDELSBANKEN FONDER – WORLD AROUND US The 2030 A
genda affects us all – and creates unique driving forces Achieving the 2030 Agenda goals requires investments of around 5-7 trillion US dollars, or the equivalent of 25-40 per cent of global GDP, each year. Many of the world’s leaders have embraced this goal. Over the past year, the EU, the US, China, Japan and South Korea have announced higher levels of ambition and more initiatives within sustainability. These economies together account for more than half of global GDP, so investments made for the climate can have a major impact in many areas. In addition, much of the fiscal stimulus measures brought about by the pandemic will be spent on more sustainable infrastructure. With a new president in place, the US has rejoined the Paris Agreement and announced new infrastructure initiatives, for example in the water sector, where the US has previously lagged behind. China faces a structural shift to renewable energy in the coming years and aims to become climate-neutral by 2060. Since they are the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, enormous investments must be made. Historically, much investment has taken place consistently in order to achieve set goals, and the pace of change can be rapid in one of the world’s largest economies. “ Many stars are aligned for a market where political and commercial interests pull in the same direction, which often provides a good growth and profit environment for companies with the right exposure.” Staffan Lindfeldt, Chief Strategist, Active Management Japan, which is among the countries that emit the most carbon dioxide, now has the ambition to become climate-neutral by 2050. To reinforce this goal, Japan has officially declared that we are in the midst of a climate crisis, and many of the country’s local government officials, including in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kyoto, have declared that they will also work locally towards the same goal. Much points to the fact that progress will be driven by a combination of legislation, financial incentives, such as subsidies for electric cars and sustainable energy, and not least by technological innovation, an area Japan dominates in. 18