Demand for defined benefit pension plan sponsors to focus on environmental, social and governance factors through their investments is growing. Both plan sponsors and members have been increasingly vocal about keeping ESG issues top of mind. For example, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan has worked on balancing this increased appetite for ethical investing with an overall […]
Manulife Investment Management Holdings (Canada) Inc. has been named to the Principles for Responsible Investment’s PRI leaders’ group 2020 in recognition of its ‘cutting edge’ practices in climate reporting, one of 36 signatories honoured this year. In its assessment, the PRI awarded Manulife Investment Management an A+ in the areas of strategy and governance, equity […]
As Canadian institutional investors increasingly integrate environmental, social and governance factors into their portfolios, the majority (97.5 per cent) said they believe these portfolios are likely to perform as well or better than non-ESG integrated portfolios, according to a new survey by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. The majority (70 per cent) of survey respondents said […]
A third (33 per cent) of institutional investors that haven’t yet incorporated environmental, social and governance factors into their investment decisions said they’re considering it, according to a new survey by investment consulting firm Callan. The annual survey, which polled 102 U.S. institutional investors this summer, found the percentage is the highest rate of ESG interest in […]
The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute is looking to more deeply examine the financial industry’s role in mitigating climate change. In a new report, the CFA Institute examined how investors can engage with the issue of climate change. It noted a recent survey of its members found 40 per cent of respondents incorporate climate change information […]
The Canada Climate Law Initiative is calling into question whether the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is sufficiently aligning its investments with the transition to a low-carbon economy. In a legal analysis, the organization said the pension fund’s current allocations to high-carbon assets reveal a “troubling incrementalism” within its efforts to mitigate Canadians’ exposure to […]
Environmental, social and governance issues are key for many Canadian pension plans, but taking meaningful action is easier said than done, especially at small and mid-sized organizations. With a team of about 30 people, the University of Toronto Asset Management Corp. managed more than $11 billion of the university’s endowment, pension plan and short-term working […]
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change is launching a draft guide for investors seeking to align their investments with the Paris Agreement on climate change. The framework was developed in consultation with more than 70 global investors, managing an aggregate US$16 trillion in assets. It aims to help investors actively decarbonize their portfolios with the […]
The world’s natural resources that help sustain life on earth are making their debut as a distinct asset class with the introduction of a new joint venture asset management firm focused on natural capital. HSBC Global Asset Management Ltd. and climate change advisory and investment firm Pollination Group Holdings Ltd. are teaming up under the name HSBC Pollination […]
The CFA Institute is calling out the lack of clarity and standardization around environmental, social and governance investment products. In a consultation paper, the organization proposed its own set of standards, welcoming industry stakeholders to weigh in. As interest in ESG products continues to grow from both retail and institutional investors, confusion remains about the […]