Responsible investment

As individuals, businesses, and governments around the world address the issue of sustainability, the consideration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) opportunities and risks not only drives the creation of better companies but also helps safeguard long-term performance and value for their investors.

Against this background, responsible investment remains a critical priority for private equity and venture capital fund managers and their investors. ESG factors play an important role not only in initial investment decisions, but also in the ongoing development of companies during ownership and beyond.

As the pan-European association for the private equity and venture capital industry, Invest Europe has worked extensively to raise members’ awareness and to promote and facilitate the integration of responsible investment and ESG considerations. Together with like-minded associations and industry initiatives across the EU and globally, we will continue to advance this important agenda by showcasing best practices and offering guidance through the publication of tailored and practical resources, the development of training courses (including e-learning), and the organisation of workshops and events such as webinars.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed – by our members, the wider industry, external stakeholders, and now also the European Commission. We are proud that the Commission recently recognised Invest Europe as “among the more proactive and transparent in its climate performance” and “a leader in aligning private capital with EU climate objectives, setting a benchmark for peer organisations across sectors.”

As part of a briefing pack for the European Commission’s high-level conference “Climate action that works for you – An agenda for competitiveness, prosperity and resilience” on 30 September, where Invest Europe participated (more info here), the Commission acknowledged Invest Europe’s leadership on sustainability. Please find an extract below:

"Its [Invest Europe’s] mission is to promote sustainable long-term investment in European companies, helping them grow, innovate, and create jobs. In the context of the net-zero economy, Invest Europe plays a key role by:

1. Educating and guiding its members on climate performance and ESG standards;

2. Advocating for policy frameworks that support decarbonisation and sustainable finance;

3. Committing to make Invest Europe itself carbon-neutral by 2030;

4. Supporting the transformation of portfolio companies to meet net-zero and ESG goals, thereby aligning private capital with climate action.

Compared to other industry associations, Invest Europe is among the more proactive and transparent in its climate performance. While many associations acknowledge climate goals, few have published detailed carbon accounting or set clear timelines for neutrality. Invest Europe’s structured approach and public reporting position it as a leader in aligning private capital with EU climate objectives, setting a benchmark for peer organisations across sectors."

Working closely with our members across Committees and Working Groups, we will continue to champion sustainability throughout the industry.