Deep Green vs Medium Green Investing: Returns, Volatility & ESG Trade-Offs | The Greener Way

In this episode of The Greener Way, host Michelle Baltazar speaks with financial adviser Alex Jameison of Jamieson Private Wealth about how investors reassess sustainability preferences amid fuel shortages, energy insecurity, and geopolitical shocks.

Jamieson explains starting with a client’s values and ESG preferences, clarifying what they want to exclude or include (such as mining, defense, tobacco), and discussing “levels of greenness” and potential performance trade-offs—especially when sectors like materials or oil and gas outperform. He notes medium-green portfolios may not see major performance trade-offs, while very deep-green approaches can increase volatility due to concentration and may require a more global investment mindset, with Europe offering larger opportunities than Australia.

02:03 Deep green vs returns

03:54 Explaining cycle differences

05:25 Volatility and global diversification

06:15 Investor expectations and greenwashing

07:59 ESG options and advisor role

09:45 Geopolitics and renewables trends

We record on Gadigal land and we pay our respects to the traditional custodians of country and elders past and present.

https://www.fssustainability.com.au/