John Hancock Investment Management announced today the launch of the John Hancock Global Environmental Opportunities Fund, a new thematic fund aiming to invest in companies generating a positive impact and benefiting from opportunities arising from the trends towards environmental sustainability.

The new fund will be subadvised by Pictet Asset Management, using an investment process that identifies companies operating within ‘Planetary Boundaries,’ aligned with a series of environmental sustainability categories including climate change, ocean acidification, and biodiversity, among several others. The companies are then further screened to identify those contributing positively to the environment.

Key focus areas for investment include companies focused on water technologies, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable forestry, organic agriculture, pollution control, waste management and recycling, or other involved in resource efficiency or enhanced environmental quality.

Andrew G. Arnott, CEO, John Hancock Investment Management and head of wealth and asset management, Manulife Investment Management, United States and Europe, said:

“Investors have become increasingly more aware of the environmental trends that will shape future business models across industries—in particular, companies operating in services, infrastructure, technology, and resources related to environmental sustainability. The fund provides access to these opportunities from Pictet—a manager that has been focused on delivering risk-adjusted returns through its thematic franchise for more than 25 years.”

The fund will be managed by Pictet Senior Investment Managers Luciano Diana and Gabriel Micheli, and Investment Manager Yi Du, supported by Pictet’s thematic equities team.

Diana said:

“Investors are uniquely positioned to impact environmental change. In parallel, we believe companies with products and services that maximize resource efficiency and help diminish pollution have the ability to outperform the broader market over the long term.”