Money is pouring into ‘green’ investment funds, as they have risen to the top of investment performance charts.In the UK All-Companies sector, for example, green unit trusts rank 6th and 7th in terms of performance, out of a total of 343 funds.

According to the Investment Management Association, there is now more than £5bn invested in socially responsible and green funds, with sales in the first three months of this year having tripled compared to the same period in 2006.

Both these funds have risen by over 25 per cent in the last 12 months.

Nick Robbins, head of socially responsible investment at Henderson Global Investors, pointed to two reasons for the increase: “There’s the obvious ‘sort’ reason – a surge in interest in climate change and a shift towards organics, fair trade and the like. But there’s also a ‘hard’ reason: ethical funds have done very well over the past year.”