The majority (70 per cent) of global institutional investors agree that sustainability will play a more important role in investments over the next five years, according to a new survey by Schroders. The survey, which polled 650 investors responsible for US$25.4 trillion under management, found this response was most prevalent in Europe (84 per cent) and Asia Pacific […]
Michael Sabia, president and chief executive officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, is stepping down from the role in February 2020. During Sabia’s 11 years as head of the Caisse, its investments have yielded a 9.9 per cent average return, with a heavy focus on the diversification and globalization of its assets. “Leading CDPQ […]
Some have suggested there could be a return premium to lowering the carbon intensity of a portfolio. By constructing low carbon strategies called decarbonization factors, which go long on lower carbon investments and short on higher ones, it’s certainly possible, according to a paper authored by professor George Serafeim from the Harvard Business School along […]
A plethora of overlapping terms can make a conversation about responsible investing something of a minefield. While there are many terms that are used interchangeably, there are slight differences to them, said Liza McDonald, head of responsible investment at First State Super, in a video series hosted by Willis Towers Watson’s Thinking Ahead Institute. For […]
Proxy voting played a major role in the Alberta Investment Management Corp.’s responsible investment strategy during the past year, according to its newly released annual responsible investment report for 2018-19. During the 2018/19 proxy voting season the AIMCo reviewed and approved more than 30,000 ballot items and voted on 99 per cent of 3,324 meetings […]
Globally, institutional investors are shifting more of their assets to an environmental, social and governance-based approach, with year-over-year increases in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., according to a new survey by RBC Global Asset Management. Regionally, the percentage of survey respondents that reported using ESG principles “significantly” as opposed to “somewhat” rose slightly in […]
A group of institutional investors, including numerous large Canadian defined benefit pension plans, has released a handbook outlining their experiences implementing the recommendations from the task force on climate-related financial disclosures. The Canadian plans include the Alberta Investment Management Corp., the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the […]
A group of institutional investors, including numerous large Canadian defined benefit pension plans, has released a handbook outlining their experiences implementing the recommendations from the task force on climate-related financial disclosures. The Canadian plans include the Alberta Investment Management Corp., the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the […]
The Canadian Institute of Actuaries is asking financial stakeholders to take climate risks more heavily into account. In a letter addressing Canada’s governments, corporations and investors, the institute said quantifying and disclosing the financial impacts of climate change are key actions that will help mitigate the rise in global temperatures and will help Canadians adapt […]
While many institutional investors understand that climate change poses risks to their portfolios, it can be difficult to nail down how to combat it. For a Canadian portfolio manager, looking over a selection of stocks from mining to utilities to forestry, it can be a daunting task to discern which material risks exist, said Blair […]