The politicisation of responsible investment – Kirsty Hewitt

In 2026, we are witnessing a rise in populism and widespread disinformation unfurling across Europe. This follows a year of backlash across the US against environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns, net-zero, responsible investing, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). Whilst good reasons can explain some of this behavioural shift, the misinformation being spread, particularly across social media, is concerning.

At our recent online all-member Community event, Investors for Purpose hosted a discussion about the polarised world in which we live, focused upon the politicisation of responsible investing and the implications this holds for investors. Our Head of Community, Laasya Shekaran, chaired the event, and invited panel speakers Tom Powdrill of the Predistribution Initiative, Luke Hildyard of ShareAction and Charlotte O’Leary, CEO of Investors for Purpose.