Green Investing
Can your investments help care for God's creation?
Green investing directs money toward companies and funds whose work protects the environment, such as cleaner energy, water conservation, and efficient use of resources. For many Christians it starts with a simple question: if the earth is the Lord's, what does it look like to invest as one of its caretakers?
What green investing means
Green investing is a focused form of values based investing. Where other approaches look at a company's whole record, green investing looks mainly at environmental impact: how a business uses energy, water and raw materials, what it releases into the air and water, and whether its products help reduce harm.
Investors usually pursue it in one of two ways. Some screen out companies with a poor environmental record. Others look for companies and funds that are actively working on environmental solutions. Many combine both.
Where green investments are found
Cleaner energy
Companies that produce or support energy from wind, solar, hydro and other lower-emission sources, along with the technology that stores and delivers it.
Conservation and efficiency
Businesses that help others use less energy, water and materials, from efficient buildings to better waste and recycling systems.
Responsible land and water
Firms working on sustainable farming, clean water supplies, and protecting natural resources for the next generation.
A biblical view of caring for the earth
Scripture gives us a clear starting point. Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." In Genesis 2:15, God put Adam in the garden "to work it and take care of it." Caring for creation is part of how we honor the one who made it.
At the same time, caring for creation is not the only biblical value an investment should reflect. Christian investors also weigh how a company treats people, whether its products are honest and beneficial, and whether it supports causes that conflict with their faith. That is why we never look at the environment on its own.
What to weigh before you invest
Green investing can be a good fit, but it deserves the same careful questions as any other strategy.
- Labels are not guarantees. Some funds use the word green without holding companies that match it, so we look at what a portfolio actually owns.
- Green themes can be concentrated in a few industries, and those industries can swing sharply up or down.
- All investing carries risk, including the loss of principal. A green focus does not promise higher or lower returns.
Our role is to help you decide where environmental goals fit alongside your other biblical priorities and your overall financial plan.
Keep exploring
Learn about the types of values based investing
Values Based Investing
Learn more →Faith Based Investing
Learn more →Socially Responsible Investing
Learn more →ESG Investing
Learn more →Talk with us about green investing
Call our team at (830) 609-6986 or schedule a time to talk. We will help you decide how environmental goals fit with your faith and your financial plan.