7. Conclusion

The conclusion brings together the dominant strands within the book and demonstrates the interconnectedness between them. The trajectories of two of the leading political components within the Western development of the concept of sustainable finance are pursuing particular and different objectives, but neither have a strong chance of success. The American trajectory has dismissed the usage of ESG within the financial services (although that may change under the Biden Administration, whilst this also highlights the fragmented development of the American experience), and Europe has pursued a progressive agenda that is more ideologically sound than it is practical, with obvious consequences regarding a lack of authority to truly impose the model of sustainable financial practice now coming to bear. The two developments are actively impacting the battle to serve the mainstream investor. Yet, some private developments are reviewed and concluded here and adjoined to the chances of success for the two industries the book focuses on.