An alliance of the world’s largest pension funds and insurers responsible for more than US$2.4 trillion in investments is committing to carbon-neutral investment portfolios by 2050. The commitment was launched by the newly formed, United Nations-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. It was introduced at the UN Climate Action Summit to strengthen commitments and accelerate the implementation of […]
The University of California is dumping fossil fuel investments from its nearly $84 billion pension and endowment funds, calling them a financial risk. An opinion article in Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times says the university will make its endowment fund “fossil free” by month’s end and its pension fund, which covers 320,000 people, will soon follow. Read: Divesting from […]
When considering environmental, social and governance issues, asset managers are less convinced that social factors drive returns, according to a survey by Netherlands-based NN Investment Partners. Among the European asset managers surveyed, just 15 per cent said social factors are something they can harness to generate returns. This compares to 40 per cent that said the same […]
Recent research by MSCI Inc. is suggesting conventional virgin plastic could become the next stranded asset. The move toward electric vehicles and global efforts to reduce carbon emissions may cause oil demand for road transport to peak in 2025, according to the research. In response, oil and gas companies are expected to pivot their focus […]
As environmental, social and governance issues are increasingly recognized as material factors when considering investments and amid growing stakeholder pressure, many options are available for pension plans looking to incorporate ESG into their portfolios. “Historically, you saw a lot more on the ethical investing end of things — so exclusions, negative screens,” said Eli Angen, […]
In 2017, a group of Canada’s largest institutional investors and asset managers, known as the 30% Club, called for a boost in the representation of women on boards and in executive management at S&P/TSX composite index companies to 30 per cent by 2022. While members say significant progress has been made in the past two […]
Amid growing concern about the financial risks of climate change, a pair of Canadian law professors is launching an effort to help corporate directors and pension trustees better understand the issue. The academics — Dr. Janis Sarra from the University of British Columbia and professor Cynthia Williams from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University […]
When investing in Brazil, what considerations should institutional investors keep in mind? And how can the market fit into a pension portfolio? One issue to watch is pension reform, said Heather Hagerty, a research analyst at Fidelity Investments, during the Canadian Investment Review’s podcast “Pension Passport.” “Brazil is one of only a small number of […]
Meat alternatives have garnered a lot of attention lately off the back of Beyond Meat’s listing on the NASDAQ and its subsequent rocket-propelled rise in share price. In just over two months, the stock went from its May initial public offering price of US$25 per share up to a high of US$234.90 in late June, […]
The California State Teachers’ Retirement System says it wants to join a lawsuit seeking to change Facebook Inc.’s corporate governance practices. The pension fund said Tuesday it will ask a judge to be added to a pending lawsuit against Facebook’s leadership, which includes its chief executive officer, Mark Zuckerberg. Read: NZ pension funds pushing for change at Facebook, […]