Climate Denial Crock of the Week

FierceEnergy.com:

Results from an April 2015 survey of financial professionals demonstrate a strong interest among investors in low-carbon and fossil-free portfolios.

The number of investment professionals in the United States offering fossil fuel-free portfolios to investors nearly doubled from 2013 to 2015 — up from 22 percent to 42 percent — amid growing signs of retail and institutional investor interest in such choices, according to a survey by First Affirmative Financial Network —  in which 510 socially responsible investment (SRI) professionals, including advisors, asset managers, institutional investors, and representatives responded.

Fossil fuel divestment has become a high priority for many investors over the past couple of years, and the steady growth in the number of investment professionals offering fossil-fuel-free portfolios is an indication the trend will continue, according to First Affirmative Financial Network.

The survey suggests that the majority of respondents believe 2015 is the right time for investors to assess and even alter their investments in fossil fuels, with a full 73 percent holding this view. Respondents indicate that institutional investors are even more interested in divesting of fossil fuels in 2015 — rising from 49 percent in 2014 to 61 percent in the 2015 survey. Another two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) indicated that retail investors want fossil-free investing choices.