All socially responsible investment (SRI) articles – Page 2
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PodcastsPodcast: Schemes’ trustees cannot ignore social factors risks
Podcast: Climate change and environmental issues are front of mind for many pension schemes right now, but with the Covid-19 pandemic highlighting social inequalities at home and abroad, the social aspects of ESG investment cannot be ignored. For this episode of the Pensions Expert podcast, we talk to Stefan Lundbergh, director at Cardano, and John Howchin, secretary-general of the Council on Ethics for Sweden’s national pension funds, about why socially aware investing is so important for pension funds of all sizes — and how trustees can go about taking action.
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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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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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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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NewsDB schemes’ ESG policies misaligned with trustees’ intentions
On the go: Only 40 per cent of defined benefit pension scheme trustees believe that their scheme’s environmental, social and governance policy reflects their preferred approach in this area, new research has revealed.
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NewsGreener pensions are ‘most effective’ way to fight climate change
On the go: Making a pension “green” is more effective than going vegan, stopping flying, and switching to a renewable energy provider combined, according to new research.
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PodcastsPodcast: Tapping DC for Long-Term Assets Fund requires ‘rigorous’ scrutiny
Podcast: HM Treasury’s proposals to tap defined contribution schemes for its new Long-Term Assets Fund is not a bad idea, but problems with daily dealing remain, and it requires the kind of “rigorous” scrutiny applied to other new asset classes. PensionBee chief executive Romi Savova and Jonathan Parker, head of DC and financial wellbeing at Redington, discuss the LTAF, rumours of a tax raid, and the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association’s new Responsible Investment Quality Mark.
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NewsPLSA launches new RI standards at first ever ESG conference
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association is consulting on a new set of standards designed to help pension savers identify whether their schemes are meeting the highest standards for incorporating environmental, social and governance factors.
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NewsBrunel’s Faith Ward wins environmental finance award
On the go: Faith Ward, chief responsible investment officer at Brunel Pension Partnership, has been named environmental finance personality of the year by news and analysis service Environmental Finance for her work making Brunel a “sustainability leader”.
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NewsNow Pensions pledges to go net-zero by 2050
On the go: Now Pensions has pledged to go net-zero by 2050, while also increasing its investments in sustainable assets.
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NewsIndustry focus shifts toward the ‘S’ in ESG
Three quarters of Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association members intend to review their social policy in the coming year, according to its response to the government’s consultation focusing on social risks and opportunities for occupational pension schemes.
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NewsLGPS assets drop 5% in 2020 as contribution income rises
Local Government Pension Scheme assets fell by 4.9 per cent in 2020 to £276bn, but funds saw increases in membership and contribution income, according to the most recent annual report from the LGPS Advisory Board.
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OpinionSchemes to pay more attention to social factors in ESG strategies
As the UK government turns its attention to the social factors in schemes’ environmental, social and governance investment strategies, Big Society Capital interim chief executive Stephen Muers explains how pension funds can address this issue while maintaining fiduciary duty to their members.
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News
Brunel Pension Partnership reduces costs by £34bn
On the go: The Brunel Pension Partnership has published its annual report highlighting the cost saving incurred and the increased opportunities for stewardship, diversification and climate analysis for its members.
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News
Church of England publishes first stewardship report
On the go: The Church of England Pensions Board has published its first annual stewardship report, setting out its future priorities, which focus on climate change and extractive industries.
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NewsGovernment calls for greater emphasis on social factors
The government has called for a greater emphasis on the social element of pension schemes’ environmental, social and governance strategies, as there is a concern trustees are ill-equipped to deal with these factors.
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News
Smart Pension invests in private market illiquids
On the go: The £1.5bn Smart Pension master trust has introduced private market illiquids into its default fund after developing a solution in partnership with Natixis Investment Managers.
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NewsSchemes have reason to be positive about Chinese equities
New research by NTree International suggests significant positive sentiment towards Chinese equities, and investment experts have argued that pension schemes should make strategic allocations to mainland Chinese markets.
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Climate change takes priority in government’s legislation
On the go: The minister for pensions and financial inclusion has laid out a plan for the upcoming secondary legislation following the Pension Schemes Act, giving priority to new climate change rules.
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Scottish Widows pledges to reach carbon zero by 2050
On the go: Scottish Widows is the latest pension company to pledge to become carbon neutral by 2050, while calling for action in the industry.