Project Syndicate: Time for a Global Financial Makeover
Liu Zhenmin, U.N. under secretary general for economic and social affairs

“…Investment will be indispensable to achieving the [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)], which aim to eliminate poverty, end hunger, combat climate change, build resilient infrastructure, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Yet, three years on, we still have not done nearly enough to leverage our financial systems in pursuit of the SDGs. … Shifting investors from short-termism toward long-term thinking is a prerequisite for achieving all of our economic, social, and environmental goals. But the private sector will not make this transition by itself. Policymakers must step in and provide leadership. … We have all agreed on what we need to do; now we must do it” (4/24).

Financial Times: Sustainability is no longer an option but an imperative
Andrew Parry, head of sustainable investing at Hermes Investment Management

“…Increasingly, the U.N. SDGs are being seen as a lens through which to look for tomorrow’s emerging growth stories today. The SDGs represent the unmet needs in global society and the U.N. estimates that an additional $3tn of capital must be raised every year to meet its 2030 targets. While this seems an unnecessary cost to some, for innovative companies with products or services that address social or environment deficits the figure represents an exciting growth opportunity. … The conversations I had while in Southeast Asia suggested that the opportunities … were not lost on Asian investors or companies. … In Asia more than anywhere, sustainability is no longer an option, it is an imperative” (4/24).