Almost half (45%) of 1,200 people surveyed by True Bearing said they were concerned with the ethics underlying their investment decisions.

However, despite this level of concern, over half (53%) of respondents were unaware that they could chose the type of funds their pension would be invested in.

Despite investors being able to request that their pensions, investments and ISAs are invested ethically, True Bearing said they survey should that many investors have not broken away from the idea that investments are something beyond their control.

True Bearing has noticed a significant rise in the number of investors willing to consider ESG options over the past two to three years.

George Critchley, founder and chairman of True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners, said the survey suggests there is still some work to be done on awareness before ESG funds become the main form of investment.

He said: “As people continue to change their eating habits, choose to drive electric vehicles and opt for renewable energy providers, it is only a matter of time before the public conscious turns its eye to exactly how funds are being invested and the impact they can have on the world at large.

“Successive governments have been slow to realise where the public sit on ESG issues and this is one of the major reasons so many people are so unaware of the positive impact their investments can have. Luckily, the private investment sector has moved more quickly than anticipated and now it can take just a few clicks to ensure that their funds can demonstrate measurable social benefit.”