As concerns over greenwashing grow, the impact measurement industry is booming. But it's still paralysed by fundamental questions. This week's view from the Pioneers Post newsroom.
Whether an impact measure corresponds with reality is irrelevant for impact investors, who want to demonstrate credibility, not truth. So methodological dilemmas are a distraction: third-party certification brings legitimacy.
Impact management and measurement industry faces explosion in demand for services from companies, NGOs, governments and others keen to measure social and environmental impact in addition to financial performance.
Good impact measurement processes supposedly ensure an investment will achieve the desired outcome. But is that the case? New research from NPC suggests we simply don't know – and that's a real problem.
The more that impact measurement is relied on to shape investor decisions, the more worried we should be, says Dr Jess Daggers: the information gathered does not necessarily correspond with reality, and yet few take this risk into account.
Impact verification firm highlights impact investors from global sample which it identifies as best in class at impact management, going above and beyond the Impact Principles.
We need to halt economic growth to save the planet, but sustain growth to meet society's needs. Impact investing can help overcome this paradox, says the co-founder of Astanor Ventures, by focusing on three key principles.
INTERVIEW: Investment firms can affect people and the planet in many ways – and not just through the businesses they back. The leaders of a new project seeking consensus on ‘investor contribution’ tell us why their work is breaking new ground.
