The climate commitment remains in force despite the recent global political pushback against sustainability and net-zero initiatives. Sixty percent of respondents worldwide plan to increase fund allocations to investments actively fighting climate change over the next 3 years, while nearly three-fifths (59%) believe demand for climate mitigation solutions will remain strong regardless of political direction.
Robeco’s sixth Global Climate Investing Survey was conducted among 200 institutional investors and 100 wholesale investors across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and South Africa. Optimism toward climate-focused investments persists despite growing investor concern over government policy. Only 19% expect an orderly climate transition, whereas 47% believe measures will be delayed and insufficient. Around 44% view the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C as unachievable, while government policy uncertainty is perceived as the single largest obstacle when considering climate change mitigation solutions (according to 45% of respondents). Nevertheless, 94% of respondents who set a net-zero target state that they will maintain their course regardless of government policy.
Climate Risks
According to the survey, the majority of investors believe that physical climate risks will continue to influence physical asset prices, with two-thirds (66%) anticipating a moderate or significant impact over the next 5 years. Likewise, energy security and the drive to develop domestic renewable energy capacity are becoming increasingly important geopolitical and macroeconomic drivers: most investors state that the Middle East conflict will accelerate the transition to renewables, either moderately (60%) or significantly (15%).
“Our 2026 analysis reflects what we call ‘the new reality of climate investing.’ While investors remain committed to their net-zero targets, there is growing recognition that the transition is driven by compelling economic and geopolitical factors. The push for energy security benefits investments in areas such as renewable energy, battery storage, and power grids. The new climate reality also shows us that physical risks are already here, not in a distant future. We believe this will increasingly bolster investor confidence in the coming years,” noted Lucian Peppelenbos, Climate and Biodiversity Strategist at Robeco.
Concerns Over Investment Returns Have Eased
This year’s study indicates that investors are beginning to understand the trade-offs involved in portfolio decarbonization: investment returns remain the largest overall challenge (50%), but this figure has declined significantly from 2025 (67%). Data quality has also decreased in importance as a challenge (34% compared to 48% last year), though balancing targets with real-world impact (41%) and managing complex asset classes (37%) remain high on the agenda.
“Climate investing is becoming increasingly sophisticated, as it relies on more forward-looking data—rather than focusing solely on carbon emissions—and is better integrated into financial performance. As investment engineers, we continue to innovate with data and research to support our clients,” Peppelenbos stated.
