Climate Investing Rises Among Global Investors
Nearly half of global investors now incorporate climate change into their core investment policy to manage risks.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Investing
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The 2026 Robeco Global Climate Investing Survey shows that 47% of global investors now prioritize climate change within their investment policies, a steady increase from 46% in 2025. This shift reflects growing institutional focus on managing climate risks and leveraging sustainability for long-term growth.
Why it matters
Investors are increasingly prioritizing energy security and climate solutions as critical growth areas, partly driven by geopolitical conflicts and the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This trend signals a transition where climate-related risks and opportunities are becoming core considerations for long-term portfolio strategy.
The Robeco survey of 300 investors found that 47% now include climate change in their investment policies, up from 46% in 2025. While adoption grows, the long-term impact on asset prices remains under assessment, with 66% of investors expecting physical climate risks to affect valuations within five years.
The players
Robeco
An international asset management firm that provides investment research and insights for institutional and retail portfolios.
The details
Institutional investors are utilizing climate transition finance to fund the decarbonization of high-carbon industries, viewing these solutions as a hedge against energy security risks. Concurrently, 63% of surveyed investors expect artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of sustainable infrastructure. These strategies suggest a shift toward proactive climate mitigation as geopolitical tensions, such as potential Strait of Hormuz closures, pressure markets to favor renewables.
Timeline
The sixth annual Robeco Global Climate Investing Survey occurred in 2026.
In 2025, 46% of global investors made climate change central to their investment policy.
Physical climate risks are expected to impact asset prices over the next five years.
Investors project climate risks will affect asset prices significantly over 10 and 20-year horizons.
Money Landscape
The 2026 Robeco Global Climate Investing Survey reveals that climate integration is moving from a niche strategy to a mainstream institutional requirement. This follows a broader trend where capital allocation is increasingly influenced by energy security and long-term climate risk mitigation.
As institutional investors pivot toward green bonds and climate-mitigation assets, the financial products available to retail investors may increasingly feature sustainable mandates. Households should review their own fund holdings to understand how these institutional shifts toward climate-linked assets impact their long-term growth potential.
The takeaway
The institutional shift toward climate-conscious investing is accelerating as firms prepare for long-term physical and geopolitical risks. Investors should monitor how these large-scale policy changes impact the composition and potential performance of their retirement accounts or personal brokerage funds.
Further reading
For broader trends regarding portfolio strategy, visit our Investing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reference Hub.
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