A New Paradigm: Capital Institute's Vision for Regenerative Investment
As the ESG movement encounters increased scrutiny and skepticism, the Capital Institute aims to reshape the future of sustainable finance through a new framework known as Regenerative Investment. According to John Fullerton, the founder of Capital Institute and an architect of regenerative economics, this philosophy stands apart from its predecessor, ESG. He emphasizes that regenerative investment leverages capital to ignite genuine systemic change instead of solely focusing on performance indicators and checklists.
Fullerton articulates, "ESG was never meant to be the final goal, but rather the starting point. Our financial systems must evolve to better serve life itself."
In light of current challenges surrounding ESG, including misunderstandings and its appropriation by various entities, the Capital Institute advocates for a profound transformation in the investment landscape. Rather than discarding ESG's principles of sustainability, justice, and governance, they propose a more dynamic approach. This perspective sees the backlash against ESG not as a setback, but as an opportunity to redefine and expand its ambitions toward systemic impact.
To foster this discussion, Capital Institute is organizing a complimentary live webinar titled "Beyond ESG 1.0: The Rise of Regenerative Investment," set for May 15, 2025. This event aims to delve deeper into the nuances of this emerging paradigm. During the webinar, Fullerton will discuss key topics including the signals behind the ESG backlash, contrasting sustainable finance with systemic impact, and transitioning from risk aversion to creating deep systemic value and resilience.
This educational session is only the beginning. Following the webinar, participants will have the chance to enroll in a new four-week immersive course called "Investment for a Regenerative Economy," commencing on June 2, 2025. This course seeks to elaborate on the principles outlined in Fullerton's previous publication, "Finance for a Regenerative World," which tackled the foundational critiques of finance by navigating through regenerative principles.
Fullerton underscores: "The notion of ESG might be struggling right now; however, its underlying intention is sound. It aimed to promote sustainable and equitable businesses. This moment of reevaluation provides a perfect chance to reconsider ESG with the conviction that both humanity and the planet hold significance."
Capital Institute’s commitment extends to inviting investors, sustainability officers, advisors, and other changemakers to this essential conversation, reinforcing the need for unity in transforming the financial landscape.
In conclusion, the Capital Institute is poised to lead a visionary shift from ESG towards a regenerative investment approach. As they encourage a community of forward-thinkers to join this movement, they highlight the importance of understanding investments through a living-systems lens. By engaging in this conversation, we can collectively reshape finance and foster genuine system transformations that prioritize life on our planet.
For further information and registration for the upcoming webinar and course, please visit
Capital Institute's official site, and discover how you can be part of the next wave of investment evolution.