Outlook 2021: ESG investing to further spread its tendrils Investors’ willingness to engage on ESG issues is set to continue into 2021, as Covid-19 spotlights the need for sustainability and ESG funds generally perform well. The Covid-19 pandemic may have cast a dark cloud over the outlook of 2021’s financial markets, but it has given observers a potential silver lining for environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing. Companies and investors have placed greater emphasis on ESG when investing equities in 2020, as evidenced by more shareholder engagement and active voting, experts told AsianInvestor. One described by past year as “transitional” for sustainable investing.