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 […]
The University of Toronto Asset Management Corp. is making significant progress toward its goals on climate change, according to its fourth annual responsible investing report. In terms of its goal to reduce the carbon footprint of its pension and endowment portfolios by at least 40 per cent compared to 2017 levels by the end of 2030, […]
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 […]
The coronavirus pandemic is highlighting many trends in group retirement and investment programs, pushing the industry to be flexible and quick with some of the newer offerings. As plan sponsors review their group retirement plans in the coming months, they may want to consider some, or all, of these four trends. 1. Financial wellness becoming a must. […]
The Responsible Investment Association is creating a statement on diversity and inclusion and inviting Canadian institutional investors to sign on. The initial signatories of the statement, which is currently circulating, include the Alberta Investment Management Corp. the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the OPSEU Pension Trust and the University of Toronto Asset Management among others. The RIA said investors have […]
Acknowledging that the multi-faceted causes and consequences of climate change call for different methods, Quebec-based pension fund Bâtirente is publishing a new climate commitment. “Effectively supporting the transition to an economy that is aligned with the objectives of the Paris [Agreement] requires a multi-dimensional approach,” said Daniel Simard, the pension fund’s chief executive officer, in […]
More than 90 per cent of global public investors have specific environmental, social and governance investment policies in place or are in the process of developing them, according to a new report by BNY Mellon and the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum. The report combines the results of two separate surveys, with respondents to […]
The U.S. Department of Labor is taking jabs at the inclusion of environmental, social and governance products in capital accumulation plans — and it could be to members’ detriment. In late June, the Department of Labor proposed new rules around ESG products in retirement accounts. “The proposal is designed, in part, to make clear that . […]
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is appointing Mark Carney as vice-chair and head of environmental, social and governance and impact fund investing. Carney is currently the United Nations’ special envoy for climate action and finance, and was formerly governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. He has long advocated for action on climate change. Read: CPPIB and Brookfield compete […]