Sustainability as an Opportunity for Returns
The ESG approach is proving its resilience even in a challenging global environment and has become a core component of most investors' strategies. Recent global investor studies from 2025 confirm this trend.
A Clear Commitment to Sustainable Investing
Investor commitment to sustainability remains strong. According to Morgan Stanley's "Sustainable Signals" study, 86% of institutional investors plan to increase their sustainable investments over the next two years. This is corroborated by the "ESG Global Study" from Capital Group, which found that over 90% of current ESG investors plan to either maintain or increase their allocations.
ESG Expands into New Asset Classes
Sustainability criteria are increasingly being applied to new asset classes. While equities continue to lead, fixed-income and private markets are reaching new heights. The proportion of investors considering ESG factors in their bond investments has risen to 70%.
From Risk Management to Return Opportunities
While risk management was long the primary focus, financial performance has now become a key driver. According to the Morgan Stanley study, strong performance is one of the main reasons investors are expanding their sustainable investments. The Capital Group study notes that investors see "transitioners"—companies with credible plans to become more sustainable—as a source of future outperformance.
Focus on Future Themes: Energy Transition, Water, and Health
A clear consensus is emerging on the most attractive investment themes. Both studies identify the energy transition (particularly energy efficiency and renewable energy) as the absolute top priority for investors. The topic of climate adaptation is also gaining significant traction, establishing itself as another key area for the future. Furthermore, water is increasingly capturing investor attention, driven in part by the high consumption of AI data centers.
Leading Marketplace for Sustainable ETFs: Deutsche Börse Xetra
Deutsche Börse is actively supporting this transformation. By the end of 2025, 1,195 of the approximately 2,671 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) already had a focus on sustainability criteria such as ESG or SRI (Socially Responsible Investing)– with the trend continuing to rise. Assets under management in ESG ETFs now amount to €477 billion, representing around 22 percent of the total assets in Xetra’s ETF segment. This extensive selection, combined with an average monthly trading volume of around €26 billion, makes Deutsche Börse Xetra the leading trading venue for ETFs in Europe. With over 65 percent of the order book volume being international, Xetra is an attractive marketplace not only for listings but for investors as well.
Sources:
1) Capital Group: Resilience and refinement in a changing world ESG Global Study — Fifth edition (2025), www.capitalgroup.com/content/dam/cgc/tenants/eacg/esg/global-study/esg-global-study-2025%28en%29.pdf
2) Morgan Stanley: Sustainable Signals Institutional Investors 2025, 2025, www.morganstanley.com/insights/articles/institutional-investor-sustainability-signals-report-2025]