In India, we're seeing businesses created to solve social and environmental problems that are maturing, gaining revenue tractions, and achieving profitability, but they struggle to access equity capital. These same businesses are driving climate solutions, financial inclusion, and affordability, empowering the most vulnerable to participate in an inclusive transition to a low carbon economy. With decades of experience, we are uniquely positioned to contribute to their growth and impact.
Impact
/'im-pakt / noun
The positive or negative, intended or unintended outcomes for society and/or the environment from an investment.
CASE STUDY
An investment in fast and flexible loans offers opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs
With its rapidly expanding middle class, India has sustained the highest rate of economic growth of the largest global economies. Despite this growth, large swaths of people across the country lack access to high quality basic services such as financial services and reliable renewable energy, introducing an enormous opportunity for commercial businesses to meet their needs.
The Nuveen Private Equity Impact Investing team saw an opportunity to invest in a profitable Indian solar irrigation and cold storage manufacturer and marketer, operating at the intersection of inclusion and climate change mitigation and resilience. The company is a leader in providing smallholder farmers with reliable off-grid irrigation as well as increasing farmer incomes. Nuveen’s PE Impact team will work with the company to drive product affordability and access for low-income consumers.
Source: Nuveen Private Equity Impact, 2023
Glossary: G-N
Global Real Estate Sustainability Initiative (GRESI) and Benchmark (GRESB)
An investor-driven organization that assesses the sustainability performance of real-asset-sector portfolios and assets in public, private and direct sectors worldwide. The index offers environmental, social and governance data, scorecards, benchmark reports and portfolio analysis tools.
Green
Generally refers to the consideration of climate change and environmental impacts in portfolio construction, i.e., investments in clean tech, renewable energy and energy efficiency. See responsible investing – other RI approaches .
Human capital management
A comprehensive set of practices for recruiting, managing, developing and optimizing an organization’s human resources.
Human rights
Moral principles or norms that describe standards of human behavior and are protected as natural and legal rights in municipal and international law.
Impact
Seeking to drive positive environmental and social outcomes.
Impact investing
Investing to achieve positive social and environmental impacts. This requires measuring and reporting on impact metrics, KPIs and demonstration of intentionality of investee and investor.
Just transition
The consideration of a range of social metrics as the world shifts to a low carbon economy.
Low carbon strategy
Seeking to lower a portfolio’s overall carbon footprint by favoring companies with lower current carbon emissions, no fossil-fuel reserves, or other green investments. Low carbon strategies may satisfy clients seeking “fossil-fuel-free” and “green” investments. See responsible investing – other RI approaches .
Low carbon economy
An economy based on low carbon power sources that has a minimal output of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the biosphere, but refers specifically to the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The Paris Agreement commits to the transition to a global low carbon economy over the next 30 years, which many believe will bring substantial benefits both for developed and developing countries and avoid catastrophic climate change.
Materiality
Information that is of significance in the investment decision-making process. Increasingly, ESG issues are being viewed through a materiality lens.
Natural capital
Natural capital refers the world’s stock of natural resources.
Negative/norm based screening
Exclude sectors, companies, countries that do not meet minimum standards due to unacceptable downside risk or value misalignment. Also referred to as exclusionary screening.
Net zero carbon emissions
Achieved by reducing absolute emissions to the maximum level and balancing remaining emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting or sequestration) or by eliminating emissions from the atmosphere.
The term net zero is increasingly used to describe a broader and more comprehensive commitment to decarbonization and climate action.
