Global Sustainable Infrastructure
In January, US private equity firm General Atlantic announced its acquisition of the UK-based infrastructure investor Actis, expanding its assets under management to approximately $USD 96 billion.
Actis will become General Atlantic’s sustainable infrastructure arm, with a specific focus on energy transition, digital transition, and supply chain transformation. Traditional infrastructure allocations, in any case, offer limited exposure to these growth areas, but we believe they are fundamental aspects of the sustainable infrastructure transition. This sentiment was shared by General Atlantic’s CEO, Bill Ford, who noted significant opportunities in energy transition, particularly in regions like the ‘Global South’. The acquisition of Actis exemplifies the increasing momentum and investor confidence in the expansion of sustainable infrastructure ventures worldwide.3
Sustainable Future of Food
At the COP28 U.N. Climate Change Conference last year, which focused significantly on sustainable agriculture and food systems, Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (“CDFA”), highlighted the climate crisis’s impact on California’s farmers and proposed solutions. Emphasising the urgency of transitioning to sustainable food practices, Ross addressed challenges such as water shortages, invasive species, and extreme weather events, stating, “We’re living our future now.” The CDFA aims to support farmers by investing in climate-smart agriculture, including groundwater recharging and practices like cover cropping and composting. Meanwhile, Fresh Del Monte, an innovative sustainable food company, is actively contributing to these efforts. By dedicating 30% of its privately owned land to conservation efforts, it has been experimenting with regenerative agriculture methods such as composting and cover cropping. This initiative not only improves biodiversity but also reduces emissions, with a reported 26% decrease in 2022. Fresh Del Monte aims to scale these practices to all farms by 2030. Its commitment illustrates leadership in sustainable agriculture and alignment with the sustainable agriculture objectives of COP28.4 5