Dear Generation Z, 

 

The world that we grew up in is changing faster than ever before. The start of this decade was marked by the onset of COVID-19 and with it came great uncertainty. As we look ahead, we are confronted by urgent issues ranging from climate change to poverty, inequality, gender discrimination and human rights, among others.

 

I pose a question to you: What are we, Generation Z members, stewards of? In the midst of this crisis, let us distill our values and decide our cause on this planet. 

 

Sustainable investing is about investing in long-term progress. Sustainability will play an increasingly important role in our world’s economic progress and prosperity. Governments, markets and many companies have come to realize this. We are already observing the unprecedented economic costs of climate change – erratic weather patterns are reducing the profitability of agribusinesses, disaster-struck supply chains are affecting the operations of multi-national companies and in 2020 alone, weather-related losses amounted to $210 billion. 

 

While government action and global coordination will define our planet’s shift towards sustainability, the opportunity to rewire the nature of businesses into a sustainable essence lies within the private sector. Companies which can adapt to the increasing risks of our world while innovating solutions to tackle global issues will come out on top. We believe that sustainability-focused investments will yield improved long-term financial returns. 

 

Our mission is to guide this generation towards sustainable investment options. The AMC and GameStop short squeeze, the volatility of cryptocurrency markets – these are punts that might have generated returns in the short-term. However, as we can see, these are not sustainable approaches to long-term profitability. In contrast, a focus on identifying value in sustainable businesses is the key to higher-quality investment returns.

 

As we, Generation Z members, begin to amass wealth over the next few decades, it will become our responsibility to reshape and channel financial resources towards sustainability. Amidst the challenges of this pandemic let us reimagine a better and more sustainable future for ourselves. This movement is about kickstarting that process. 

 

Yours truly,

Matthew Koh

Founder of The BAUM Movement