Leading sustainable investment for a transitioning world :: Environmental Finance

Philippe Zaouati, CEO of Mirova, discusses the firm’s recognition as “Asset Manager of the Year” award and its leadership in sustainable investing. Looking ahead to 2030, he shares ambitious goals to double assets under management and deepen Mirova’s commitment to driving meaningful change in the transition to a sustainable future.

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Environmental Finance (EF): Mirova has been awarded “Asset Manager of the Year.” What do you believe sets your firm apart in the impact investing space?

Philippe Zaouati (PZ): We are honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects our unwavering commitment to combining financial performance with positive environmental and social outcomes. What truly sets Mirova apart is our unwavering commitment to integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into every aspect of our investment strategies.

Our holistic framework aims to align financial performance with positive societal outcomes, ensuring that our investments contribute meaningfully to global sustainability challenges. Additionally, our purpose-driven DNA and our B Corp certification reflects our dedication to high social and environmental performance, further solidifying our role as a leader in responsible investing. We prioritise transparency and accountability, providing our clients with detailed insights into the impact of their investments. This comprehensive approach not only builds trust with our investors but also reinforces our mission to drive significant positive change in the world.

EF: What specific initiatives or products have you developed recently that demonstrate Mirova’s leadership in sustainable finance?

PZ: In 2023, we launched the Mirova Biodiversity Equity Fund, which focuses on investing in companies that contribute to biodiversity conservation while achieving financial returns. Additionally, our Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund outperformed its benchmark by 6%, showcasing our commitment to effectively integrating ESG criteria. We have also initiated the Mirova Gigaton Fund, which has raised $282 million to date to accelerate the clean energy transition in emerging markets.

Furthermore, we established the Mirova Research Center to enhance our understanding of sustainable finance and support our investment strategies with cutting-edge research and insights. This center enables us to stay at the forefront of industry developments and deepen our analysis of environmental and social impacts. Together, these initiatives reflect our proactive approach to addressing critical global challenges through innovative investment solutions.

EF: As you look toward the future, what are Mirova’s key objectives in the impact investing landscape by 2030?

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PZ: Our consolidated approach significantly enhances our impact investment strategies by adopting a cross-asset class perspective. By 2030, we aim to solidify our position as a leader in sustainable investing. This will translate into doubling our assets under management, increasing the weight of our private assets platform and investing massively into research and engagement.

We are integrating our energy transition infrastructure, natural capital, and private equity activities into a dedicated private assets platform, leveraging specialised expertise to maximise our impact and meet the evolving needs of our clients.

In the realm of listed assets, we are committed to financing the transition by refining our engagement policies and focusing on companies pursuing sustainable practices. With upcoming changes to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), we recognise the need to enhance our accountability regarding impact and support effective transition plans. We are investing in technology and AI to improve our extra-financial analysis, enabling us to better evaluate and engage with transitioning companies.