When an asset owner develops an ESG investment philosophy, the selection of material ESG factors...

An asset owner’s ESG investment philosophy is fundamentally shaped by strategic considerations such asasset classandgeographic exposure, which determine the types of ESG risks and opportunities likely to be material. The CFA UK manual emphasizes these as structural determinants of ESG relevance.

“Asset owners primarily select material ESG factors based on characteristics of the portfolio such as asset class, time horizon, and geographic exposure. These influence the kinds of risks—such as water scarcity, regulatory landscape, or governance standards—that may be relevant. Manager-level exposure is operational and tactical and does not typically drive philosophy formation.”

Therefore,manager exposureis less influential because it pertains to the implementation of the strategy, not its conceptual foundation.