More ESG news – Page 20
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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.
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OpinionMore sustainability disclosure requirements coming to pensions?
Travers Smith pensions group partner Andy Lewis details how the UK’s version of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation could look like and how these could affect pension schemes.
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NewsTPR’s ESG guidance raises industry concerns on privacy and penalties
The Pensions Regulator’s draft guidance on climate change reporting and governance is not sufficiently clear on what constitutes compliance, and the watchdog needs to provide clarity on its approach to discretionary penalties, the Society of Pension Professionals has warned.
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NewsMajority of climate-themed funds are misaligned with Paris goals
More than half of climate-themed funds in the market are misaligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, with State Street Corporation, UBS Group and BlackRock having the highest negative scores, new research has shown.
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OpinionDC members must reassess passive approaches to achieve climate goals
AXA Investment Managers’ head of portfolio solutions for fixed income Sebastien Proffit explains why defined contribution investors should have a more active approach in their investments to be able to tackle climate risks.
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NewsPeers valued for ESG guidance as data concerns hamper reliability
When it comes to guidance on environmental, social and governance matters, pension professionals prefer to rely on their peers instead of asset managers, consultants and industry bodies, as clear messaging is dependant on transparent data, experts say.
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NewsTPR to amend single code as industry slates new requirements
The Pensions Regulator’s combined code of practice has been dealt a blow after widespread industry criticism forced it to scrap new rules on unregulated investments, while the fate of its proposed “own risk assessment” remains uncertain.
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PodcastsPodcast: Covid-19 could have killed the PLSA
Podcast: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association “could have died” from the financial damage wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, and was only saved thanks to prudent long-term planning. Richard Butcher, managing director of PTL, reflects on his tenure as PLSA chair in an episode covering guaranteed minimum pensions guidance, master trusts and bespoke indices for environmental, social and governance investments.
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NewsDIY strategies are ‘better and cheaper way’ to do ESG investing
Customisation of index strategies and direct ownership of equities is a more efficient and cost-effective way of investing sustainably than using ‘off-the-shelf’ index products, according to SigTech, which offers quant technologies to investors.
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NewsPPF 7800 Index falls but surplus remains
On the go: The aggregate surplus of the 5,318 defined benefit pension schemes potentially eligible to join the Pension Protection Fund is estimated to have decreased to £62.4bn at the end of July, from a surplus of £99bn at the end of June, the latest figures from the lifeboat fund show.
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NewsHow vegan members can align their pension with their lifestyle
The vegan market is on the rise in the UK. In 2019, more than 600,000 of the UK population classified themselves as vegan, and nearly half of this population cited ethical reasons as a primary motivator.
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NewsHymans Robertson joins impact investing community
On the go: Hymans Robertson has announced that it has joined the impact investing community, Pensions for Purpose.
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NewsCorporate bond managers urged to explain climate transition risks
As defined benefit schemes are increasingly expected to replace their equity portfolios with corporate bond holdings in their journey to reach funding targets, pension funds and their asset managers are being urged to carefully assess companies’ attitudes to climate transition risks.
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NewsBrunel Pension Partnership launches listed markets fund
On the go: The £28bn Brunel Pension Partnership has launched its £2.1bn Sterling Corporate Bond Fund, selecting Royal London Asset Management to handle the assets.
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NewsPension funds need better data to measure up on carbon
The quality and quantity of information on companies’ carbon footprints needs to improve rapidly to help institutional investors make more informed investment decisions, experts claim.
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OpinionThe long road to net zero
Institutional investors need to plot their route to net zero, no matter how complex the journey, writes Jennifer Anderson, co-head of sustainable investment and environmental, social and governance at Lazard Asset Management.
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NewsCamden invests in green assets, schemes call for net-zero alignment
ESG Spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with the Camden Pension Fund moving equity assets into lower carbon alternatives, and a group of institutional investors calling for consistency on corporates net-zero plans.
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NewsUSS invests in climate fund, Aegon’s ESG assets top £10bn
ESG Spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with the Universities Superannuation Scheme investing in a climate fund, Aegon strengthening its commitments to make default funds net-zero and banks calling for support of a new sustainable infrastructure label.
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NewsScot Wid revamps green fund, Fidelity tackles climate and diversity
ESG Spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with Scottish Widows investing in green UK business via its new environmental fund, and Fidelity's new policies on climate change and diversity.
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PodcastsPodcast: TCFD helps schemes to understand financial risks
Podcast: The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures requirements are a great opportunity for pension funds to set a strategy which helps them understand the financial risks involved in climate change, says Will Martindale, group head of sustainability at Cardano. He is joined by Joanne Segars, chair of the board of directors of LGPS Central and chair of Now Pensions, to discuss how schemes can best implement the imminent new rules.