In this article in the Summer 2024 issue of the Journal of Impact and ESG Investing, Syntrinsic Head of Research Mike Sebastian discusses defining clear, realistic goals for investing taking into account environmental, social and governance factors.  

Discussions of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing tend to be complex and vague at the same time, in an attempt to serve the potentially conflicting interests of activists, investment managers and consultants, stakeholders and asset owners. Direct impact (“doing good”) is difficult to achieve with most investment choices, therefore complicating the most common rationale for ESG.