European impact investments need an acceleration

A new study published the 1st december by the EVPA, the European investing for impact network, and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG) shows that European impact investments are growing, but not quickly enough to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

FAIR was in Brussels last week with the EVPA, the GSG and all the national impact ecosystems to present the study’s results :

• A market estimated at 80 billion €, in 18 countries
• A substantial growth of 26% from 2020 to 2021

Despite of this impressive increase, the European impact investment market still represent only 0.5% of the European mainstream investment market. 

The top areas covered - decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities and climate action - include a mix of social and environmental goals, which shows how impact investors represent a force for change on both impact categories.

This report is the result of the first harmonised European impact investment market sizing, a joint effort by EVPA and GSG, as well as several of GSG’s National Advisory Boards and their academic partners. It is the beginning of many future collaborations to scale up impact finance in Europe.

We hope that the European Commission Social Europe will be on board for our "Data harmonization journey" and support this extensive dynamic !