“This book provides a compelling overview of responsible investment’s contribution to global sustainability goals, where we go from here, and importantly, the critical role of public policy.”
—Martin Spolc, Head of Unit for Sustainable Finance, European Commission
“This is an absolutely delightful candid personal account of the origins of responsible investment and where it stands today. Will combines an eye for pithy quotes with deep knowledge of the subject.”
—Bob Eccles, Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School
“This book is both rigorously analytical and deeply personal – a compelling combination. It draws richly on perspectives from the multiple seats Will Martindale has occupied within the sustainable finance eco-system. His book deserves and will surely find a significant audience both inside and outside the finance sector.”—Catherine Howarth, CEO, Share Action
“Will Martindale’s account of the responsible investment journey is in equal parts interesting, insightful and important.”
—Roger Urwin, Global Head of Investment Content, Willis Towers Watson
“The future of responsible investment is at a crossroads. This book provides great insights and reflections on responsible investment, addressed with skill, and complemented by interesting commentary from experts. I was delighted to contribute.”
—Philippe Zaouati, CEO, Mirova
Responsible investment is going through a period of rapid change, from voluntary to mandatory, with regulators working to tackle greenwashing, investors responding to client and savers' demands, a proliferation of new sustainability themes and increased focus on real-world impact.
Responsible investment is also ‘growing up’. And part of growing up is acknowledging limits and complexities, and making difficult decisions. Responsible investment has got this far by sticking to the script and not talking about the awkward bits in public. But this is no longer an option, and so it’s not surprising that it draws its critics.
Part textbook, part briefing, part storytelling, this book is a personal and accessible account about the growth of an industry, what it’s got right, what it’s got wrong and if responsible investment is to matter, where we go next.
Will Martindale is co-founder and managing director at Canbury. Previously, Will was head of sustainability at Cardano and NOW: Pensions. From 2013 to 2020, Will was director of policy and research at PRI, leading PRI’s global regulatory affairs and public policy activities. Will has a background in banking, joining JPMorgan’s graduate programme in June 2004.
Responsible investment is going through a period of rapid change, from voluntary to mandatory, with regulators working to tackle greenwashing, investors responding to client and savers' demands, a proliferation of new sustainability themes and increased focus on real-world impact.
Responsible investment is also ‘growing up’. And part of growing up is acknowledging limits and complexities, and making difficult decisions. Responsible investment has got this far by sticking to the script and not talking about the awkward bits in public. But this is no longer an option, and so it’s not surprising that it draws its critics.
Part textbook, part briefing, part storytelling, this book is a personal and accessible account about the growth of an industry, what it’s got right, what it’s got wrong and if responsible investment is to matter, where we go next.
Will Martindale
responsible investment ESG sustainable investment stewardship the history of responsible investment private capital for public good net zero greenwashing ESG disclosure framework the shortcomings of responsible investment sustainable finance social finance green finance
“Martindale’s book, Responsible Investment: An Insider’s Account of What’s Working, What’s Not and Where Next, covers a broad swathe of responsible investment topics … . Martindale’s book offers a good overview of the responsible investment landscape and its history, as well as a verdict on the future of ESG. ... For those newer to the industry, the book provides a comprehensive and accessible history of responsible investment and many of the initiatives and standards it uses.” (Dominic Webb, responsible-investor.com, January 5, 2024)
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“This book provides a compelling overview of responsible investment’s contribution to global sustainability goals, where we go from here, and importantly, the critical role of public policy.”
—Martin Spolc, Head of Unit for Sustainable Finance, European Commission
“This is an absolutely delightful candid personal account of the origins of responsible investment and where it stands today. Will combines an eye for pithy quotes with deep knowledge of the subject.”
—Bob Eccles, Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School
“This book is both rigorously analytical and deeply personal – a compelling combination. It draws richly on perspectives from the multiple seats Will Martindale has occupied within the sustainable finance eco-system. His book deserves and will surely find a significant audience both inside and outside the finance sector.”
—Catherine Howarth, CEO, Share Action
“Will Martindale’s account of the responsible investment journey is in equal parts interesting, insightful and important.”
—Roger Urwin, Global Head of Investment Content, Willis Towers Watson
"The future of responsible investment is at a crossroads. This book provides great insights and reflections on responsible investment, addressed with skill, and complemented by interesting commentary from experts. I was delighted to contribute."
–Philippe Zaouati, CEO, Mirova
“Will Martindale is perfectly placed to write an insider's account of sustainable finance. His perspective is both clear-eyed and compelling, charting a middle course between the self-justificatory wishful thinking of so many insiders and the abject disillusionment of theformer insiders who have become out-and-out critics of the responsible investment industry. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand finance's role in addressing the greatest challenges of our time.”
– Richard Roberts, Inquiry Lead, Volans
“Will provides deep insights in clear terms – in a way that can help us build the future of responsible investment.”
– Nathan Fabian, Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Principles for Responsible Investment
“In unpacking the role of responsible investment, Will strikes that rare balance between visionary and practical.”– Erinch Sahan, Business & Enterprise Lead, Doughnut Economics Action Lab
“An invaluable account of the history of responsible investment, highlighting how far we have come and where we must go next, from someone at the forefront of these issues.”
– Stephanie Pfeifer, CEO, Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change
“While terms such as ‘ESG’, ‘sustainable’ and ‘impact’ have become ubiquitous in any discussion on modern investing practice, precise definitions of these concepts remain elusive. For anyone looking to understand what it means to be a responsible investor and to go beyond the jargon, ‘Responsible Investing: An Insider’s Account of What’s Working, What’s Not and Where Next’ provides valuable insights into evolving best practice.”
—Andrew Parry, Head of Investments, J O Hambro Capital Management
“This book rattles along. Will tells the complex story of the evolution of responsible investment and all its complexities in an engaging and personal way, always explaining, never lecturing and encouraging us to think and do more.”
—Joanne Segars OBE, Chair Of The Board Of Directors at LGPS Central and NOW:Pensions