M&G Says Covid-19 Hinders UN Goals Central to Impact Investing

Covid-19 is hindering progress towards achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals -- lofty ambitions for a fairer and clearer world that have become the bedrock of the $715 billion market for impact investing -- according to M&G.

The London-based asset manager said in a report that 12 of the 17 SDGs are “materially behind schedule” with the socio-economic targets most affected. The development goals, which include the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, as well enabling clean water, green energy and gender equality, improving access to education and a host of other topics, were adopted by U.N. member states in 2015 and are intended to be met by 2030.