All environmental articles – Page 15
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NewsShould regulators take the lead on ESG in pensions?
The extent to which financial regulators should get involved in setting environmental, social and governance requirements is a hot topic, with some experts arguing that involvement could stifle innovation.
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PodcastsPodcast: Understanding green and sustainable bonds
Podcast: The green bond market is forecast to hit $500bn (£366bn) by the end of this year, according to the Climate Bonds Initiative, while the UK government has just raised £10bn from its debut green bond issue. However, high demand and limited supply raises questions over pricing and yield, while the availability of suitable projects has ignited concerns over greenwashing. In this podcast, Arthur Leijgraaff, senior treasury officer at the Dutch development bank FMO, and Rik Klerkx, senior portfolio manager at Cardano, explain what goes into a green bond issuance, and what trustees need to ask of their asset managers and issuers.
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NewsPoor engagement hampers asset managers’ ESG commitments
On the go: Asset managers are not living up to their environmental, social and governance commitments, research from Redington has found, with shortcomings in stewardship and engagement prominent.
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NewsPension funds poised to help social housing crisis
The pension fund industry could deploy its capital and expertise to revitalise everyday services such as social housing and infrastructure, after ambitious government plans to grow sectors have fallen short in recent years.
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NewsRiver and Mercantile joins green gilts issuance
On the go: River and Mercantile has announced its participation in the government’s inaugural green gilts issuance.
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NewsTaskforce lays out measures to boost schemes’ voting powers
The Taskforce on Pension Scheme Voting Implementation has called on the Department for Work and Pensions and the Financial Conduct Authority to create templates and requirements aimed at boosting asset owners’ ability to vote, especially in pooled funds.
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NewsLPFA pushes for net-zero, consultants form new ESG initiative
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with several asset owners joining the Paris Aligned Investment Initiative, the launch of a new net-zero investment consultants enterprise, and a group of investors putting pressure on governments to mandate companies and auditors to align financial accounts to net zero.
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NewsPension risk transfer activity expected to increase in H2 2021
Data crunch: Although UK pension schemes have shown a reduced appetite for risk transfers so far this year, there could be a rise in the number of buyout and buy-in deals that will be completed during the second half of 2021.
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NewsIndustry body launches new ESG guide for trustees
On the go: The Society of Pension Professionals has launched an environmental, social and governance guide for pension trustees, aimed at schemes that do not have size and resources to effectively manage its integration.
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PodcastsPodcast: Trustees need to address sponsor covenant climate risk
Podcast: With climate change becoming central to investment discussions, trustees also need to think about how similar risks can affect the strength of their scheme’s sponsor and its ability to stand behind the pension fund. In this podcast, Lincoln Pensions managing director Michael Bushnell explains what questions trustees need to ask, what to do with the information they get, and why employers really need to pay attention to climate change in their pension finance discussions.
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FeaturesComplexities hamper social impact bonds’ true potential
Despite the launch of the UK’s sovereign green bond dominating the socially conscious fixed income discourse, there is still room for social impact bonds in schemes’ portfolios.
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NewsCalls for climate reporting harmony as FCA and DWP rules diverge
The Financial Conduct Authority’s climate-related disclosure rules for asset managers, life insurers and its regulated pension providers should be brought into line with Department for Work and Pensions regulations to give greater clarity and consistency, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has said.
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NewsSchemes have over £1tn in assets exposed to ‘significant’ climate risk
On the go: More than £1tn in assets held by UK institutional investors is exposed to significant climate risks, according to research from LCP.
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OpinionThe future of DC schemes: Go big and go green
Two trends have been rocking defined contribution schemes in recent years: environmental, social and governance investing and consolidation. Together, they are changing the shape of the market.
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NewsPMI launches new diploma for pension professionals
On the go: The Pensions Management Institute is launching a new diploma in pension trusteeship.
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NewsEnergy company scheme appoints new fiduciary manager
On the go: The £642m Uniper Group of the Electricity Supply Pension Scheme has awarded a £570m fiduciary management mandate to Kempen Capital Management.
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NewsOnly a quarter of ESG funds receive green rating
On the go: There is still room for improvement for asset managers when it comes to environmental, social and governance investment funds, since only a quarter of these received a green score in analysis from pensions consultancy XPS.
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NewsLondon Borough of Newham invests in Paris-aligned index fund
On the go: The £1.6bn London Borough of Newham Pension Fund has invested in a new environmental, social and governance fund with Legal & General Investment Management.
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FeaturesBetter data needed for schemes to tackle modern slavery
As pension schemes struggle with data on modern slavery in global chains, corporate engagement takes the lead in the battle to tackle social issues.
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NewsOne-third of applicants declined in UK Stewardship Code revamp
On the go: More than 60 applicants to the revamped UK Stewardship Code did not make the final list of companies complying with high standards of stewardship for those investing money on behalf of UK savers and pensioners.