All United Nations articles
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News
Nest and Cushon explore forestry, Manchester commits to infra
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, including Nest and Cushon looking to explore forestry investments, and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund committing to sustainable infrastructure.
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News
COP15: Being ‘nature positive’ makes economic sense
At the first ever “finance day” held at the COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal, Canada, on December 14 the message from speakers was unequivocal.
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News
LGPS responds to Israeli settlements database complaint
The Local Government Pension Scheme’s advisory board has provided an update regarding a database that lists companies active in the occupied Palestinian territories, after the UK Lawyers for Israel criticised the LGPS's summary of a January meeting with the then-UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Michael Lynk.
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News
TPT Retirement Solutions makes £75mn impact investment
On the go: The £13.6bn TPT Retirement Solutions, which has £11.3bn in defined benefit assets and £2.3bn in defined contribution assets, has made a circa £75mn impact investment through its DC master trust default fund.
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News
Campaigners oppose govt’s planned boycott ban
On the go: A coalition of 46 campaigning organisations has spoken out against anti-boycott legislation due in the next Queen’s Speech, which includes a ban on pension funds from pursuing politically motivating boycotts and divestments.
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News
Engagement essential for schemes to turn the tide on plastic waste
The role pension schemes play in overcoming plastic pollution is multifaceted, and communicating it with members only adds another layer of complexity, experts warn.
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News
Church of England puts pressure on miners, PIC invests in student halls
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, including the Church of England Pensions Board pushing miners on standards, the Pension Insurance Corporation’s investment in low-carbon student accommodation, and a pledge by the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance to halve portfolio emissions by 2030.
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News
USS switches to green equities, Aviva warns firms on sustainability
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with the Universities Superannuation Scheme moving more than £5bn of its global equity investments to a climate transition index, Aviva firing a warning shot at the companies in which it invests, and BMO setting out its engagement priorities for 2022.
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News
Two councils target net zero, East Sussex buys sustainable equities
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with the Lambeth and Shropshire pension schemes setting goals for net-zero carbon emissions, and the East Sussex scheme investing in a new passive global equity ex-fossil fuels portfolio.
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Features
UN goals can act as guide for schemes making societal impact
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals list 17 ambitions to improve the lives of people globally, spanning matters of poverty, equality, environmentalism and health. Much of the focus of the SDGs is on the developing world, yet lessons can be taken from the ambitions and used to improve the lives of people in the UK.
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News
ESG uptake ‘sharp’ among bulk annuity insurers
On the go: The integration of environmental, social and governance risks by UK bulk annuity insurers has been described as “sharp”, in a survey of the eight largest providers by Willis Towers Watson.
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News
Adaption: How schemes can tackle climate and social issues together
As the COP26 conference draws near, the summit’s theme of ‘adaptation’ has raised questions around how schemes can align their environmental and societal commitments to protect the planet’s ecology and communities.
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News
Environment Agency to go net-zero, LGPS pool backs ESG framework
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with the Environment Agency Pension Fund targeting net-zero carbon emissions, and the Border to Coast pool supporting a framework for standards in alternative assets.
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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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News
Telefónica UK Pension Plan signs UN’s PRI initiative
On the go: The £1.7bn Telefónica UK Pension Plan has signed the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment.
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Opinion
The growing appetite for ESG exclusions
Pension schemes are increasingly focusing on integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into their investment strategies.
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Opinion
Good behaviour begins at home
When the recent survey carried out by the Society of Pension Professionals suggested that many pension funds will not take any material action in the short term on sustainability issues, we were not surprised.
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Features
Commodity of the future: Does water have a place in pension portfolios?
In North America, an inconspicuous object the size of a tennis ball has yielded significant returns for investors in what might be considered the world's cheapest, and also the most critical, commodity.
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Opinion
Pension funds are making good progress with ESG, says Brunel CEO
Pension funds are making good progress when it comes to responsible investment, according to the £29bn Brunel Pension Partnership’s chief executive Dawn Turner.