· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Australian Financial Review or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore quietly convened a closed-door gathering of climate-focused investors in Sydney, amid a global political shift away from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities
• Held alongside the 20th anniversary summit of the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC), the private event was designed to bolster morale and strategic coordination among Australia’s green finance community in the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election and waning support for climate investment
🔭 The context: Once a central pillar of sustainable finance, ESG investing has recently come under intensified political and cultural scrutiny — particularly in the U.S., where federal support for climate finance and disclosure rules is retreating
• Gore, a longtime climate advocate and founder of Generation Investment Management, has historically used such forums to rally investors around science-based, long-term approaches to capital allocation
• His unpublicised Sydney appearance signals a shift toward quieter coalition-building as public momentum cools
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Sustained private investment is crucial for advancing the clean energy transition and climate resilience, especially as public sector commitments weaken
• Gore’s private rally reflects both a tactical retreat from the spotlight and a continued belief in mobilising capital markets to meet climate goals
• With political headwinds rising, informal networks and investor coalitions could become more important in keeping momentum behind sustainable finance and ensuring that green capital flows are not derailed by shifting national policies
⏭️ What's next: Green financiers in Australia and beyond are expected to double down on strategic collaboration, data-sharing, and cross-border initiatives as top-down climate mandates stall
• Al Gore’s discreet engagement suggests a renewed focus on reinforcing investor resolve through private forums, thought leadership, and behind-the-scenes influence
• Attention now turns to how climate-focused funds navigate a changing regulatory and political climate while preserving credibility with both stakeholders and asset owners
💬 One quote: “It’s difficult to properly gauge how out of favour climate investing really is... the near-total media silence around Gore’s visit is a good clue that ESG ain’t in a good place.” – Mark Di Stefano, columnist
📈 One stat: Australian superannuation funds manage over AUD 3.5 trillion, a significant portion of which is exposed to climate risk and opportunity, making their role in climate finance increasingly critical
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