The average funding ratio for U.S. public pension plans increased to 77.8 per cent in 2022 with the majority (68 per cent) of pensions’ revenue coming from investment returns, according to a new survey by the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems. The 12th annual public retirement systems study received responses from 195 state and […]
The vast majority (90 per cent) of institutional investors say they’re planning to increase allocations to sustainable and impact investments over the next five years, according to a survey by Cambridge Associates. The survey, which polled more than 140 institutional investors, found two-thirds (65 per cent) of respondents reported engaging in sustainable and impact investing, […]
While it’s common practice for pension plan sponsors to factor climate risk into investment strategies, there’s more work to be done on factoring climate change into mortality and morbidity assumptions, says Bernard Morency, past chair of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries’ public affairs council and co-chair of its climate change and sustainability steering committee. “As […]
New York City comptroller Brad Lander and three of the city’s pension funds are offering shareholder proposals calling on several banks — including the Royal Bank of Canada — to disclose absolute greenhouse gas emissions targets for 2030. The shareholder proposals, which request a report within one year, call for an absolute reduction target aligned […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec received the highest mark in a report card grading the climate strategies of the 11 largest public pension investment organizations in Canada. The Caisse’s strategy, which received a B+ from Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health, was praised for including provisions to divest its portfolio […]
The Pension Investment Association of Canada is urging the Canadian Securities Administrators to work closely with its international counterparts to ensure consistency in regulations on climate-related disclosure. In an open letter to the Ontario Securities Commission, the PIAC called on the CSA to align its climate regulations with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and […]
During history’s turning points, fortune favours the innovators. As the world moves beyond the coronavirus pandemic and the global workforce entrenches the improved labour conditions it created, the need for businesses to welcome new ideas is at an apex. At the 2022 Investment Innovation Conference at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Nov. […]
Climate change presents an ongoing challenge to institutional investors’ allocations to domestic corporate bond, according to Soami Kohly, fixed income portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management, speaking during a session at the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2022 Investment Innovation conference. “The way that we think about [environmental, social and governance issues] is that it’s just another […]
Reduced investment in the fossil fuel sector will lead to higher energy prices, encouraging the development of transition technologies, according to Mark Lacey, head of global resource equities and global thematics at Schroders, during a session at the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2022 Investment Innovation Conference. “We’ve been through a massive divestment period that’s been exaggerated […]
Environmental, social and governance investment strategies can improve a portfolio’s ability to generate alpha, according to Patrick Vizzone, managing director of global private equity at Franklin Templeton, speaking during a session at the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2022 Investment Innovation Conference. “Impact investing is sometimes regarded as being a drag on financial returns, but we believe […]