The London Accord first started in 2005 when an informal group of financial services organisations, researchers and investors led by Professor Michael Mainelli came together to discuss how investment research expertise could help inform policy-makers on issues such as climate change and other Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) issues.

• The London Accord is the result of a true collaboration. See which organisations contribute with research to the London Accord.

Stemming from  the frustration at the difficulty of getting “joined-up” thinking on environmental issues among policy-makers, NGOs and financial services organisations, and  given the external perception of the financial services industry as neither taking into account nor acting upon climate change, the London Accord's basic idea was to make investment research on climate change available for free to policy-makers, NGOs, investors, entrepreneurs and members of the public.

In 2007, the London Accord released the first “open source” research resource both online and with a CD. Reports set out the context for investments in climate change solutions, analysed individual opportunities and discussed the implications for the construction of investment portfolios.

• Access the 2007 publication. 
• Find out who participated in this publication. 

Since 2007, the London Accord continues to expand its research focus on climate change to include wider ESG issues recognising that today’s extra financial and social issues are tomorrow’s key investment drivers.

The financial services industry produces extensive cutting edge research which examines ESG issues from an economic perspective. However, investment research is produced for a tiny audience and has a very short commercial shelf life before it is lost. 

By making investment research on ESG issues widely available to all, the London Accord acts as a nexus between the financial services industry and society to engage on long-term thinking about ESG issues, finance and policies.

• For additional background information, read "The Road to London"