For those selling responsible investment funds, the pandemic proved a marketing gift. Covid was a “sustainability” crisis that should focus investors’ minds on the bigger looming crisis of climate change, said the fund managers. Buying sustainable funds would help combat global warming and improve returns at the same time. A win-win.

More broadly, the pandemic added to the pressure on companies to demonstrate a purpose other than making money for their shareholders, and to go beyond legal requirements in terms of environmental, social and governance issues.