Thirteen Predictions For 2021 In Sustainability Private Equity (Part One)

Thirteen Predictions For 2021 In Sustainability Private Equity (Part One)

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It's been a long time since we've entered a calendar year with more uncertainty. Under the challenging circumstances, U.S. sustainability markets like clean energy, water, waste, food and transportation did a surprisingly good job of weathering the storm.

But what does 2021 hold in store? After all, we enter the year in the middle of a global pandemic, we still don't know the shape of the economic recovery, and even under a new Administration and Congress the pathway to new climate and clean energy policies is unknown.

Here are my personal predictions for the year ahead, specifically for private markets in sustainability in North America. Remember, this isn't investment advice, but just a sharing of ideas heading into the new year. And I think 2021 could be a big one for our industry:



1) COVID impacts on these markets will get worse before it gets better... but it WILL get better

COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths are at a new high in the U.S., the winter months are expected to be the worst because of seasonal factors, and the new more infectious strain is already starting to spread. With