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Greenhushing on the rise as backlash against ESG grows: ‘It’s like an unhealthy marriage’

Environmental, social and governance criteria are far from dead, but US Republicans’ reaction and fears of greenwashing accusations have led funds to watch their language

Firms are silencing their ESG marketing efforts to avoid a backlash
Firms are silencing their ESG marketing efforts to avoid a backlash Photo: FN Staff

BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink’s 2020 letter to CEOs stated “climate risk is investment risk”.

It felt like a pivotal moment. The $10tn asset manager had been under fire for years to use its scale and influence to tackle climate change, and had finally shifted its stance.

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