BACK HOME
Climate Change
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- In 2025, more than 90% of the heat generated by increasing greenhouse gases was absorbed by the oceans, marking a new high in ocean heat content.
- In 2024, over 40% of the corals tracked near the Great Barrier Reef died as a result of bleaching caused by rising ocean temperatures.
- In May 2025, monthly average atmospheric CO2 levels hit a record 430.5 ppm, about 22% higher than January 1990. In 2024, the global annual average CO2 concentration reached 424.61 ppm.
Statista.com — Global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide 1990–2025, by month. Published by Lucia Fernandez, Nov 28, 2025.
Source: Carbon Brief - 2025 also marked the 29th consecutive year during which Greenland experienced a net loss of ice, with a total of 105 billion tons of ice melting between September 2024 and August 2025.
- Greenland last saw an annual net gain of ice in 1996.
- In 2024, the global average CO2 level was 423 ppm, rising to 427 ppm by May, and exceeding 430 ppm in early 2026, up from 416 ppm in July 2021.
Source: Earth.org — Southern Great Barrier Reef Affected by Catastrophic Bleaching 1/22/25
We only have one planet Earth. We all need to protect it now as you can’t go back once the damage is done. So true is the Native American Proverb:
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.”
climate.gov — Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Brief — State of the Climate 2025
We give an "A" grade to ratings with a score of 80-100, a "B" grade to ratings with a score of 60-80, and so on. Ratings are roughly normally distributed around a mean of 50.
Causes form the basis of impact ratings and analysis on Ethos ESG. Ethos currently has 45 causes available, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See descriptions of all causes, SDGs, metrics, and explore in more detail at www.ethosesg.com/definitions.
Light Money focuses on what we think are of the most common areas of concern for the public today based on what investors are telling us is important. These 6 causes are also personally near and dear to the team at Wayfinder Wealth Management.
The 3 metrics shown in the above 6 scorecards were selected by pulling Ethos data for each cause, sorting by weighting, and selecting the highest weighted metrics that had a measurable result while trying to minimize overlap and subjective scoring. These metrics are also aligned with the most common shareholder resolutions that are filed . For a full list of all causes, metrics, screens, and more, please visit www.ethosesg.com/definitions.