Skip to main content
  • Wealth management
  • Asset management
  • Wealth management
  • Asset management
  • United Kingdom
  • Jersey
  • USA
  • MyRathbones login
  • Financial Planning login
  • Donor Advised Fund login
Home
  • Who we help
    Who we help

    We help a wide range of clients invest well so that they can focus on what matters

    Who we help
    • Individuals and families

      Focusing on you and your individual goals

    • Financial advisers

      Working with you, for your clients.

    • Charities

      Helping charities invest in line with their mission and values

    • Professional partners

      We work with lawyers, accountants and other professionals.

  • Our services
    Services

    See our wide range of services tailored for your needs

    Our services
    • Investment management

      Looking for someone to create an investment portfolio for you?

    • Greenbank sustainable investing

      Looking for investments that align with your values? See our sustainable investment options

  • About us
    About us

    A top 3 UK wealth manager with roots dating back to 1742

    About us
    • Careers

      Learn more about what it’s like to work at Rathbones, and search our current vacancies

    • Media centre

      Read the latest Group news

    • Our purpose

      Our driving purpose is to help more people invest well, so they can live well

    • Responsible business

      We believe in doing the right thing for our clients and for others too

  • Insights
    Insights

    Read the latest news and market commentary from our specialists

    Insights
    • Investing

      Read about the key investment themes effecting global markets

    • Responsible investing

      Explore our articles, reports and events on Responsible Investment

  • Contacts
    Contacts

    Whether you have a question about our services, or need to talk someone specific, we can help

    Contacts
    • Our offices

      Find your local Rathbones office. We have 21 across the UK and Channel Islands.

    • Our people

      Find the contact details for your Rathbones team by searching our people’s directory.

    • Let's talk

      Our team will be in touch to help you book a no obligation consultation with an adviser.

    • Other contacts

      Need to contact us about something else? Here you'll find all the options

Let's talk

Search

Rathbone Global Sustainability Fund: US Election — November 2020

9 November 2020

The new tenant of the White House plans to make some major changes to green infrastructure and climate change policies. With America’s sustainability agenda set to head in a new direction, fund manager David Harrison muses about the knock on impact of US President-Elect Joe Biden’s policies on the Rathbone Global Sustainability Fund.

Article last updated 20 January 2023.

It’s hard to know exactly what changes Biden will actually implement, particularly as it is unclear who will control the senate. In the lead-up to any election, politicians can be known to be liberal with their promises. But we can say that almost any green policies Biden implements will be positive compared with his predecessor. Biden’s climate plan is worth about $2 trillion1 which would certainly be a major change of direction. His spending would be positive for many areas, including renewable infrastructure, next-generation grid technologies and electric vehicles, all of which would ultimately have a positive impact on sustainability investment.

At the top level, the big change would be a more coordinated federal government approach to climate change, instead of individual states taking charge of their own plans.

Biden has also said that he plans to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord; a move which would likely be welcomed by the whole world. 

Biden has also said that he plans to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord; a move which would likely be welcomed by the whole world. Rejoining the agreement would give the US a net-zero target which would have significant implications for the de-carbonisation of the economy. At the moment, the US is one of the only major countries not to have a net-zero target and the country’s lack of involvement in net-zero plans globally is a real concern.

The implications for the de-carbonisation of the economy would be significant for multiple sectors, the most obvious of which is wind and solar investment. Investment here would be positive for the fund as we invest in a number of renewable businesses with exposure to the US. The US is currently lagging in several areas, such as the electrification of its transport fleet, so we’re likely to see more subsidies and a more targeted approach to bring these areas up to speed with the rest of the developed world. This would also benefit our positioning in the fund.

Within our renewable energy exposure, we hold a number of industrials which would benefit from the wider repercussions of increased climate change commitment

Within our renewable energy exposure, we hold a number of industrials which would benefit from the wider repercussions of increased climate change commitment. There will be a greater focus on green infrastructure so infrastructure spend will probably increase too, which would also be good for the fund.

The Biden victory opens the US economy up to one of the largest fiscal stimulus plans we have seen and we believe the increased focus on climate change and infrastructure will ultimately be positive for our fund.

Download article PDF

1 https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/joe-biden-unveils-green-jobs-and-infrastructure-plan-during-2020-election.html?swg_a2bc=1

Let's talk

Ready to start a conversation? Please complete our enquiry form, we look forward to speaking with you

Enquire
Rathbones Logo
  • Important Information
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Important Information
    • Complaints
    • Accessibility
    • Cookies
    • Update cookie preferences
    • Sitemap
  • Important information 2
    • Financial Services Compensation Scheme
    • Banking services
    • Consumer duty manufacturer request for information
    • Financial Ombudsman Service
    • Interest Rates
    • Keeping you safe
    • ScamSmart
    • Status of our websites
Address

Rathbones Group Plc
30 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7QN

© 2025 Rathbones Group Plc
Incorporated and registered in England and Wales.
Registered number 01000403

Follow us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • X
  • Youtube

The value of your investments and the income from them may go down as well as up, and you could get back less than you invested.