Investing for a better ocean

Our oceans under attack. The deadly combination of pollution, overfishing and climate change are having a terrible impact on marine life. Getting this message across – and being a powerful advocate for the blue planet – is one of the main aims of World Ocean Day, which fell this year on Sunday, June 8th. Millions of people across the globe will be attending events in a bid to highlight the importance of creating and maintaining a healthy ocean.

This year, the focus is on persuading national legislators and corporate leaders to follow through on promises such as making the best use of existing climate solutions. A faster transition to clean and renewable energy, stopping fossil fuel extraction, and protecting our ocean ecosystems are also high on the agenda.

Please remember that the value of investments will fluctuate and returns may be less than the amount originally invested. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and tax rules can change. Chelsea does not offer advice and so if you are unsure of anything please contact an expert adviser.

How can our investment portfolios help make a difference?

As well as joining in with events such as World Ocean Day, investors can also take a stance by putting their money into companies that help the planet. There are plenty of such portfolios available and most are instantly recognisable by having words such as responsible, green and sustainable in their titles.

Almost 90% of global individual investors have expressed an interest in sustainable investing, according to the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing. This upbeat stance towards such investments comes as sustainable assets under management hit a record $3.56 trillion at the end of 2024*.

Here are five investment funds worth considering if you’re wanting to strike a balance between protecting the environment and making decent returns.

Janus Henderson UK Responsible Income

This is a UK equity income fund that avoids companies that are considered to be involved in activities that may harm the environment. Its aim is to provide an income with the potential for capital growth over the long term, which is defined as being at least five years.

The avoidance criteria focuses on three areas – people, environment and animals – and include industries such as fossil fuel extraction and power generation, and chemicals of concern. We believe this fund is a great option for those wanting a sustainable yield – as well as a fund that’s actively shunning certain parts of the market.

Rathbone Greenbank Global Sustainable Bond

This global fund embraces a best ideas approach and focuses on sustainable themes that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The fund, which is managed by Bryn Jones and Stuart Chilvers, is best described as a versatile bond fund with a green lens.

Every investment must undergo a sustainable screening process by Greenbank’s Ethical, Sustainable, and Impact research team, before being considered for inclusion in the portfolio. This excludes activities viewed as hindering sustainable development, while prioritising those pursuing positive social and environmental outcomes.

Pictet Global Environmental Opportunities

This is a unique environmental fund which invests in global equities. The fund has identified nine environmental challenges including but not limited to; climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity and freshwater use. 

Unlike many of its peers, this fund goes well beyond climate change and addresses a full range of global environmental challenges. This fund has a well-designed process and we like the focus on less obvious, but no less important, environmental themes such as resource efficiency, less intensive agriculture and sustainable packaging. 

CCLA Better World Global Equity

We believe this fund, managed by Charlotte Ryland and Joe Hawkes, should be considered by anyone wanting a global portfolio with an ethical focus. CCLA believes the primary role of sustainable investment is to drive positive change by pushing companies to help address the challenges we face. More broadly, the fund takes a benchmark-agnostic, responsible approach to investing in quality businesses at attractive prices.

CT Responsible Global Equity

Our final suggestion is a fund that invests in quality growth companies from around the world and has a focus on sustainability. Its managers, Jamie Jenkins and Nick Henderson, benefit from the support of an independent sustainability team to ensure standards are maintained. We believe the standalone nature of this unit is what makes this fund stand out from the crowd, along with its in-depth customised analysis of companies. Current sustainability themes include: energy transition, resource efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, health and wellbeing, and sustainable finance.

*Source: Morgan Stanley, Sustainable Signals, 2025

Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. You may not get back the amount originally invested, and tax rules can change over time. The views expressed are those of the author and fund managers and do not constitute financial advice.