(Aug 30): The asset management unit of Goldman Sachs Group Inc has walked away from the world’s biggest climate alliance for investors, marking the latest in a string of similar defections amid continued Republican Party attacks on green finance.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management confirmed its withdrawal from Climate Action 100+ in an email to Bloomberg on Tuesday. GSAM has “made investments in our ability to meet the sustainable investing needs of our clients and remain committed to leveraging our global capabilities,” a spokesperson for the firm said. The comments were reported earlier by ESG Today.

The departure feeds into a broader retreat from such coalitions as financial firms based in the US contend with an increasingly entrenched anti-ESG movement. Key members of the Republican Party have attacked banks and investors for embracing environmental, social or governance goals, accusing them of being “woke” and even anti-American. In some states, members of climate alliances have even faced lawsuits amid GOP accusations of alleged collusion against the fossil-fuel industry.

Other firms to have quit CA100+ include AllianceBernstein Holding LP, the asset management arm of JPMorgan Chase & Co and Pacific Investment Management Co.

CA100+ said last month it was “going through an administrative update with regards to signatories.” The alliance still counts “well over” 600 members representing more than US$50 trillion (RM222.57 trillion) of assets under management, and has attracted more than 80 new signatories since last July, a CA100+ spokesperson said at the time.

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