Defining and doing sustainable investing: understanding the European approach.

I propose to research how the European approach to sustainable investing merges financial goals with altruistic goals toachieve best outcomes. A Fulbright grant to study in Belgium will give me critical access to the policymakers (EuropeanCommission), think tanks (European Sustainable Investment Forum or Eurosif), and asset managers (Candriam, Robeco,Amundi, etc.) who are leading voices in the field of sustainable investing. Further, I am confident my affiliation with astrong group of academics at the University of Antwerp will provide me with the advice, care, and partnership I will needto bring this research to fruition.Sustainability -- in particular, climate change -- has become a critical global issue. Any solution to this problem will requirevast sums of investment. My research will shed light on how investments can best be deployed to achieve financialoutcomes, but also create positive impact for the environment. Having become increasingly jaded by traditional, profitonlyoriented capitalism, this research is personally important to me. I plan to use this research in my doctoraldissertation, and upon graduation I will use this knowledge as a platform to raise awareness and to re-enter the field ofasset management with new focus and vigor.

Keywords:SUSTAINABILITY, INVESTMENT DECISIONS

Disciplines:Financial economics