U.S. SUSTAINABLE INVESTING TRENDS 2025
Sustainable assets under management (AUM) and investor sentiment show resilience and optimism amid political headwinds. Sentiment across the industry remains optimistic: nearly 70 percent of respondents say they remain committed to sustainability’s long-term future. Despite political pressure, sustainable investing in the U.S. rose to $6.6 trillion in 2025.
BUILDING ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY THROUGH COMMUNITY-OWNED REAL ESTATE
Implementing cooperative models of land ownership strengthens local economies. Instead of treating housing as an investment commodity, having community-owned models for real estate allows families to retain power over their livelihoods and prioritizes well-being.
SUSTAINABLE SIGNALS— INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS 2025
A strong majority of the 900 institutional investors surveyed expect sustainable and socially responsible investments to grow at their firms in the next several years. Despite external factors causing some market uncertainty, sustainability is firmly embedded with climate adaptation and emissions reduction as a key focus.
Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing
TURNING PUBLIC COMPANIES INTO PRIVATE COMPANIES: THE SEC’S RETREAT FROM TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
A commentary piece on the SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins’s recent announcement of his new plan: rolling back disclosure requirements, “depoliticizing” shareholder meetings, and significantly curtailing securities litigation. The article notes that this plan would weaken transparency, restrict shareholders’ ability to hold companies accountable, and leave investors with less insight into key risks related to governance, climate, and social impact.
GLOBAL INVESTORS ARE POURING MONEY INTO CLIMATE TECH
Clean energy companies, EV makers, and other green firms attracted $65 billion in the first nine months of 2025—more than all of 2024. This rebound marks the first annual increase since 2022, despite a challenging political climate and macroeconomic backdrop. Analysts attribute this uptick to a global demand for clean energy and renewed confidence that climate tech is a strong long-term investment.