A group of institutional investors, including numerous large Canadian defined benefit pension plans, has released a handbook outlining their experiences implementing the recommendations from the task force on climate-related financial disclosures. The Canadian plans include the Alberta Investment Management Corp., the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the […]
A group of institutional investors, including numerous large Canadian defined benefit pension plans, has released a handbook outlining their experiences implementing the recommendations from the task force on climate-related financial disclosures. The Canadian plans include the Alberta Investment Management Corp., the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the […]
The Canadian Institute of Actuaries is asking financial stakeholders to take climate risks more heavily into account. In a letter addressing Canada’s governments, corporations and investors, the institute said quantifying and disclosing the financial impacts of climate change are key actions that will help mitigate the rise in global temperatures and will help Canadians adapt […]
While many institutional investors understand that climate change poses risks to their portfolios, it can be difficult to nail down how to combat it. For a Canadian portfolio manager, looking over a selection of stocks from mining to utilities to forestry, it can be a daunting task to discern which material risks exist, said Blair […]
With pension portfolios continuing to diversify globally, the practical and political decisions made by heads of state matter to institutional investors more than ever. But it’s a tall order to measure the risks around these decisions. In response to increasing demand for reliable data, Sustainalytics is revamping its risk ratings system for sovereign fixed income […]
An alliance of the world’s largest pension funds and insurers responsible for more than US$2.4 trillion in investments is committing to carbon-neutral investment portfolios by 2050. The commitment was launched by the newly formed, United Nations-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. It was introduced at the UN Climate Action Summit to strengthen commitments and accelerate the implementation of […]
The University of California is dumping fossil fuel investments from its nearly $84 billion pension and endowment funds, calling them a financial risk. An opinion article in Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times says the university will make its endowment fund “fossil free” by month’s end and its pension fund, which covers 320,000 people, will soon follow. Read: Divesting from […]
When considering environmental, social and governance issues, asset managers are less convinced that social factors drive returns, according to a survey by Netherlands-based NN Investment Partners. Among the European asset managers surveyed, just 15 per cent said social factors are something they can harness to generate returns. This compares to 40 per cent that said the same […]
Recent research by MSCI Inc. is suggesting conventional virgin plastic could become the next stranded asset. The move toward electric vehicles and global efforts to reduce carbon emissions may cause oil demand for road transport to peak in 2025, according to the research. In response, oil and gas companies are expected to pivot their focus […]
As environmental, social and governance issues are increasingly recognized as material factors when considering investments and amid growing stakeholder pressure, many options are available for pension plans looking to incorporate ESG into their portfolios. “Historically, you saw a lot more on the ethical investing end of things — so exclusions, negative screens,” said Eli Angen, […]