Politicians in Congress and state legislatures have recently attacked sustainable investing, claiming it to be irresponsible, ineffective or politically partisan. It isn’t. It give investors the chance to make positive impacts on our planet and our society through their investments.

Sustainable investing is an investment discipline that considers environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns as well as better social and environmental practices. The US SIF Foundation’s “2022 report on US Sustainable Investing Trends” identified $8.4 trillion in total US-domiciled assets under management (AUM). This represents 13 percent — or 1 in 8 dollars — of the total US AUM.

Here are five reasons why Americans want sustainable investment options and why sustainable investing is here to stay, despite the political opposition:

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