Green Practice News
June 2026

• Sustainable Investing: Aligning Your Values and Your Money
• Investing For a Better World
• Responsible Banking & Investing for Healthcare Sustainability
• Summer Travel

Environmental responsibility can go beyond the choices made at home. You may already recycle, drive an electric car, avoid unnecessary plastics, bicycle or walk when possible, and make thoughtful purchasing decisions that support both personal and planetary health.

But healthcare professionals and clinic leaders often overlook another important opportunity: where their money is invested. Many retirement accounts, institutional funds, and personal investments are supporting investment sectors that conflict with our personal values, such as fossil fuel companies closely tied to pollution and climate change. Increasingly, investors are examining whether their financial choices or those made by their financial advisors align with the healthier future they want to help create.

Environmental responsibility can extend beyond daily habits and into the financial decisions that shape society’s future. For more than a decade, many investors are choosing to divest from fossil fuels and explore more environmentally sustainable investment options.

The Waning of Fossil Fuels
The fossil fuels sector, while occasionally a top performer, has experienced long periods of underperformance. Its volatility has been on full display over the past year, but it was also the most volatile of any S&P sector over the previous decade (2015-2024). Geopolitics are a key driver of the fossil fuel sector’s unpredictability and are likely to continue to be so. For investors looking to minimize sudden or dramatic fluctuations, it makes sense to avoid the fossil fuel industry.

Numerous years of evidence indicate that this strategy may be particularly beneficial for long-term investors who are planning for their futures. Of course, markets and sectors can be unpredictable, and past performance does not guarantee future results. But as world economies and consumers gradually and inexorably shift in this century from a dependence upon fossil fuels towards energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy storage, it makes sense for long term investors to move their money away from the old paradigm.

Fossil Fuel Underperform
The Institute for Energy Economics and Energy reported that during this same period since 2015, the “fossil fuel sector has underperformed the S&P 500 in seven of the last 10 years, delivering the lowest performance of any S&P sector” and stated that “oil, gas, and coal have often been unreliable and inconsistent contributors to long-term investment portfolios.”

Investing Without Fossil Fuels
A fossil fuel free portfolio typically holds 0% in the Energy Sector, thereby avoiding companies involved in the exploration, production, transmission or management of coal, oil and gas, as well as companies that service these industries. Clean and renewable energy companies are not in this sector. Instead, they are categorized in several other sectors, including utilities, industrials, and technology. A clean technology company, for example, might even be listed in the manufacturing sector. A decision to abandon the fossil fuels sector is often accompanied by a decision to direct a portion of one’s portfolio towards the clean energy sector, which might include a range of industries such as solar, wind, and  geothermal energy development or generation, electric vehicles, electricity transmission, sustainable agriculture and construction, recycling companies, and many more options.

Fossil Fuel Free Investing Today
Green investing is no longer a fringe movement. There are hundreds of options such as individual stocks, private equity firms, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds (ETFs). For busy health professional, a wise choice is to find a financial advisor or fund manager with deep experience.  Green Century¹ has been a champion of fossil fuel free investing for decades, offering individuals and institutions a way to invest without supporting the world’s most environmentally harmful industries.

If your funds already are professionally managed, ask that advisor to tell you whether your money is supporting the fossil fuel industry. Coal, oil and gas companies — key drivers of air pollution, water contamination, and climate change — top the list of corporations damaging our health and environment. With your simple instructions, your advisor will responsibly shift your assets to be aligned with your values and your long-term financial goals.

Contact the Green Century team at info@greencentury.com.

Notes:
This material is for informational and educational purposes and is intended for a U.S. audience. It should not be considered investment advice, nor is it a solicitation to buy or sell any specific investment or strategy. No guarantees are made regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.

Green Century is a trade name for Green Century Capital Management, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Some products are distributed by Distribution Services, LLC, an unaffiliated broker-dealer. Green Century Funds are available only through a prospectus and to U.S. residents.

Welcome to sustainable investing!  Some investors believe one of the largest market inefficiencies is a failure to factor in non-financial factors into investment decisions. Impact investing or ESG investing means to consider environmental impacts, social benefits, and corporate governance factors when making investment decisions. Though this has not been traditionally how investments are considered, this lens is useful for screening for big risks and to find opportunities missed by others. All ESG issues have financial ramifications and should be evaluated diligently.  For example, a company with a record of water pollution, a bad reputation in the community, or accused of treating its workers unfairly might have its stock underperform in the long run.

In 2025, Bloomberg Professional Services reported the total and risk-adjusted returns for global public equities (stocks) and found that companies with higher Bloomberg ESG Scores outperformed those with lower ESG scores between February 2017 and March 2025. (1)  Sustainability was a top-three priority for C-Suite business leaders surveyed by Deloitte in 2025, with 66% of executives saying their sustainability actions have a positive impact on revenue generation. (2)

Responsible investing for a portfolio can achieve specific financial and impact goals by investing in marketable securities as well as with alternative investments. I encourage investors to begin with their own portfolio, but also to consider the portfolios of any family foundation, non-profit, or other organizations that they admire. For health professionals, this could mean asking the health system where you work to align its investment portfolio with its day-to-day efforts building healthy communities. Could your church, synagogue or mosque align its portfolio with its message of love and kindness? Could the climate justice and social equity themes that are important to health and wellness be incorporated into the portfolios of the people and organizations you care about?

Here are some things you can do:

• Learn what you own. Consider researching your mutual fund holdings to learn how well your funds are rated.  Your financial planner or advisor can point you to websites of commonly used ESG rating organizations.
• Ask your financial planner or advisor what options are available to you for sustainable investing.
• Consider getting a second opinion from an advisor who has a track record of solid financial returns and responsible investing.

Here are some questions to ask your advisor:

• How do you approach responsible investing for the environmental and equity?
• How can I integrate these themes throughout my portfolio?
• How do I maintain a diversified asset allocation?
• How will sustainable investing affect my financial returns?
• What are the tax implications based on my existing holdings?

About the Author:  Michelle Schiro is a First Vice President and Financial Advisor in the SRI Wealth Management Group at RBC Wealth Management. SRI consults on $4 billion of assets owned by foundations, non-profits, and families. Their clients wish to meet their financial goals while having their portfolios aligned with their mission or values. SRI assists as well with wealth planning, intergenerational wealth management, estate and trust planning, strategic philanthropy, and legacy planning. Michelle can be reached at 415.445.8232 or michelle.schiro@rbc.com.

Sources:
(1) https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/insights/sustainable-finance/are-esg-scores-relevant-for-portfolio-returns/

(2) https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/issues/climate/c-suite-sustainability-report.html

At RBC Wealth Management, Responsible Investing is an umbrella term encompassing the approaches used to deliberately incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into an investment portfolio. The application of certain approaches may cause a strategy to forgo investment opportunities available to strategies that do not use such approaches. This may cause those strategies to underperform a benchmark that does not consider ESG factors. There is no single definition for the use of ESG data therefore terminology may be different across the industry.
The information contained herein has been derived from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by RBC Wealth Management, its affiliates, or any other person as to its accuracy, completeness, or correctness. All opinions and estimates constitute the author’s judgment as of the date of this publication, are subject to change without notice and are provided in good faith but without legal responsibility.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Neither RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC WM”), nor its affiliates or employees provide legal, accounting or tax advice. All legal, accounting or tax decisions regarding your accounts and any transactions or investments entered into in relation to such accounts, should be made in consultation with your independent advisors. No information, including but not limited to written materials, provided by RBC WM or its affiliates or employees should be construed as legal, accounting or tax advice.

Where we bank and invest is an often-overlooked way to help the natural environment. Financial institutions play a significant role in shaping the global economy. The capital they manage is used to fund infrastructure, energy systems, and industries that directly influence environmental and public health outcomes. For the healthcare community, aligning financial decisions with sustainability goals is increasingly practical and does not sacrifice financial performance.

Why Banking Choices Matter
Traditional banks may finance a wide range of industries, including fossil fuel extraction and high-emission infrastructure. In contrast, a growing number of financial institutions and funds are prioritizing renewable energy, climate solutions, and sustainable development when making loans.

Few of us have examined how our deposits ae used by banks. According to the Rainforest Action Network’s  2024 Banking on Climate Chaos report, the world’s 60 largest banks have provided more than $6.9 trillion in fossil fuel financing since the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted in 2015.

At the same time, the market for sustainable investing continues to expand. A recent report from Morningstar found that sustainable funds continue to attract long-term investor interest despite market volatility:

For healthcare professionals, this raises an important question: do our financial institutions align with the health outcomes and environmental values we promote in our practices?

Competitive Returns Are Still Achievable
One of the most common concerns is whether “green” banking or investing leads to lower returns. Increasingly, the data suggests otherwise.
A 2024 analysis from the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing found that sustainable funds modestly outperformed traditional funds during the first half of 2024. The report noted that sustainable investing continues to attract substantial long-term interest from investors globally, even amid market volatility.

Sustainable funds posted a median return of 1.7% compared to traditional funds’ 1.1%.

Practical Steps for Healthcare Professionals
Transitioning to more responsible financial options does not need to be complex. It can begin with a few targeted actions:

• Review whether your bank’s annual report or website for its sustainability commitments or climate-related financing disclosures.
• Explore local or regional banks and credit unions that support renewable energy, community health, and sustainable development.
• Ask your financial advisors to include sustainability-focused investment options in your portfolio, and to remove businesses that drill, mine, transport, or sell fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel fuel.
• Consider starting gradually by reallocating a portion of savings or investments into more climate-conscious funds.
• Ask whether your bank has published targets for reducing carbon-intensive lending.
• Ask your employer, professionals societies, houses of worship, and medical centers to look at their portfolio as well.

The Collective Power of the Healthcare Community
Healthcare is one of the most trusted and influential sectors globally. When healthcare professionals and organizations make aligned financial decisions, the impact extends far beyond individual portfolios.

Environmental sustainability is increasingly recognized as a determinant of health. Air quality, climate stability, and resource availability all shape patient outcomes. Financial systems influence each of these factors. By choosing where to bank and how to invest, healthcare professionals can extend their impact beyond the clinic—supporting systems that promote both environmental and human health.

My Green Doctor supports healthcare professionals with practical guidance and tools to integrate sustainability across operations, patient education, and decision-making. Financial alignment is an emerging and powerful part of that journey.

Further Reading:
1. https://www.bankingonclimatechaos.org
2. https://www.morningstar.com/lp/global-esg-flows
3. https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/sustainable-funds-performance-first-half-2024
4. https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/sustainable-funds-performance-2023-full-year

Summer travel offers restoration, connection, and exploration. But it also comes with environmental and health tradeoffs that are increasingly important to address. How we travel matters: transportation is responsible for nearly a quarter of global energy-related carbon emissions.

For outpatient healthcare professionals, this presents a clear opportunity: to model healthier, lower-emission choices that support both personal wellbeing and planetary health.

Choose Lower-Emission Transportation Options
When possible, prioritize trains, buses, or direct flights rather than multi-stop trips. Aviation remains one of the most carbon-intensive modes of transportation, particularly for short trips. According to the International Energy Agency, rail travel can produce up to 90% fewer emissions than short-haul flights.

For domestic travel, consider combining fewer, longer trips instead of multiple short ones.

Stay in Walkable, Health-Oriented Locations
Choosing accommodations in walkable neighborhoods or near public transportation reduces reliance on rental cars and taxis. It also creates a built-in opportunity for healthy walking while on vacation.

Walking is one of the most accessible and effective ways to support health. Regular walking has been shown to improve cardiovascular function, support healthy blood pressure, enhance circulation, and reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Even moderate daily walking—10 to 20 minutes at a time—can help regulate blood sugar levels, improve digestion, and strengthen the immune system.

Walking also plays a meaningful role in mental wellbeing. Time spent walking outdoors can reduce stress hormones, improve mood, and support better sleep patterns. For healthcare professionals experiencing burnout or fatigue, integrating walking into travel routines can provide a simple but powerful reset.

Minimize Plastic and Medical Waste on the Go
Travel often increases reliance on single-use plastics—from water bottles to takeout packaging. Bringing a reusable water bottle, utensils, and small containers can significantly reduce waste. Healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to recognize the broader impact. A growing body of research links plastic production and exposure to adverse health outcomes across the lifecycle.

A recent analysis published in The Lancet Planetary Health highlights the scale of the issue: “The life-cycle impacts of plastics—from extraction to disposal—pose substantial risks to human health, contributing to disease burdens globally.”
This reinforces that reducing plastic use during travel is not just an environmental choice—it is also a preventive health action.

Maintain Healthy Routines While Traveling
Disrupted sleep, dietary changes, and dehydration are common during travel. Simple strategies—such as maintaining hydration, prioritizing whole foods, and scheduling time for rest—can significantly improve wellbeing.

Further Reading:
Plastics: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00146-8/fulltext