Breakdown of Sovereign Wealth Funds Investments

With their distinct role, Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) can invest for the public good while also securing long-term returns, similar to private firms, ensuring alignment with their financial objectives.

However, traditionally, SWFs have been bastions of conservative investment strategies, prioritizing long-term financial stability over rapid growth or risky ventures.

This approach often resulted in a cautious stance towards sustainable investing.

As recently as 2019, only a small fraction of SWFs were actively engaged in publishing sustainability reports (UNCTAD, 2020) or even integrating ESG principles into their investment strategies (State Street Global Advisors, 2019).

However, recent trends suggest a shift, with SWFs increasingly embracing investments aligned with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.