Sustainable Investment

Responsible and ethical investments have local and global impacts

Highlights

“Emory University does not currently hold direct stock or bonds in public companies producing fossil fuels. Emory performs quarterly negative screening of its investment portfolio.  Emory holds many investments in sustainable businesses and businesses with exemplary sustainability performance.”

– 2025 Sustainability Vision

In 2019, Emory invested over $54 million of its total investment pool of $7.4 billion in green tech, conservation, renewable energy, energy optimization, energy efficiency, alternative and renewable energy companies, sustainable forestry, and waste management.

Benefits

Sustainable investing strategies can have additional positive impacts like:

  • improving the long-term health of endowments
  • encouraging better corporate behavior
  • supporting innovation in sustainable products and services
  • supporting sustainability in the community
  • contributing to a more just and sustainable financial system

How It Works

  • EIM’s investment process actively incorporates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations in external manager and direct investment decisions to help achieve its goal of maximizing support for endowment stakeholders’ missions.
  • Emory University and EIM objectives are generally aligned with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.
  • In 2014, The Executive Committee of Emory University indicated that in extraordinary circumstances Emory may divest from companies which violate the university’s most deeply held values to separate Emory from the immoral activity of the companies in question. These circumstances include companies engaging in or supporting morally evil activity such as genocide, apartheid, slavery, and systematic cruelty to children.
  • EIM first shares its mission and goals with partners and engages dynamically on ESG related topics in order to ensure an alignment of interests. It selects external investment managers on the basis of investment ability, judgement, and alignment of interests with Emory University objectives.
  • EIM has a close relationship with peer institutions and regularly reaches out to discuss various issues, such as ESG concerns, and compare best practices.