ESG Spotlight
Sponsored by Aviva Investors
After a few false dawns, ESG now seems to be worthy of the label ‘mainstream'. In association with Aviva Investors we bring you the latest news and research into this sustainable mega trend.
Corporate and Strategic fund
EXCLUSIVE: Covid-19 accelerates focus on social and governance issues as part of ESG push by asset owners
Demonstrable action will be required by asset managers to meet the needs of increasingly outcome-oriented institutional asset owners as social and governance issues come into sharper focus in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, research by JPES Partners...
Coronavirus crisis adds urgency to sustainable investing agenda
Dan Roarty looks at how the companies with the strongest ESG ratings have fared financially in comparison to their peers throughout the pandemic
Guy Opperman under fire over fossil fuel divestment stance
More than 60 civil society leaders including MPs, climate experts, faith leaders and local councillors have signed an open letter accusing pensions and financial inclusion minister Guy Opperman of backing continued investment in fossil fuels.
Nest commits to net-zero default pension strategy by 2050
Nest has set out plans to move to its default pension strategy towards a net-zero investment portfolio by 2050, with at least £5.5bn of equities pledged to climate aware strategies.
Embedding ESG can't end with equities
Amid the economic fallout from Covid-19, ESG issues have never been more relevant, says Tegs Harding.
Responsible investing: Don't forget the 'G' in 'ESG'
Tasmin Patel and Keith Webster look at the implications of the new stewardship requirements for pension schemes.
ESG ETFs receives record inflows while equities continue to lag fixed income
Equities flows YTD remain negative
Master trust adoption set to accelerate among FTSE 250 companies
The number of FTSE 250 companies moving to a master trust is set to increase over the next two years, according to research by Willis Towers Watson (WTW).
Sustainability isn't new; It's (part of) everything
James Riley says sustainability involves balance, and one of the key areas where this needs to be struck is DB funding.
What proposed climate reporting duties could mean for trustees
Lorna Blyth looks at how an amendment to the Pension Schemes Bill could force pension schemes to align their investment strategies with the Paris climate agreement.
Available on demand... Louise Sivyer and Michelle Cracknell among the speakers at PP's DeskFlix event on the Future of DC
The latest virtual event in PP’s DeskFlix series took place on 7 July
A climate for engagement
Newton Investment Management's Lloyd McAllister looks at how an active approach could help DC schemes to tackle climate change
PGIM Investments launches global corporate ESG bond fund
PGIM Investments has launched a global corporate ESG fund, which will be “the first of a newly-created suite” of PGIM Fixed Income’s ESG UCITS strategies available to investors outside of the US.
Lothian fund adopts statement of responsible investment principles
The Lothian Pension Fund (LPF) has published a statement of responsible investment principles with a focus on incorporating ESG issues into analysis and decision-making, while also committing to report on activities and progress.
Values versus valuations: The LGPS and ESG
James Sparshott explores what the recent Supreme Court judgment on LGPS investing will mean for ESG integration
London CIV selects Aviva Investors for inflation-plus fund
London CIV has appointed Aviva Investors to run its newly-created inflation-plus fund, launched with £107m of investment.
Brunel carbon footprint 7% lower than benchmark
The Brunel Pension Partnership has reduced the carbon intensity of its active portfolios by 7% compared their respective benchmarks, it has revealed today.
Covid-19: Will credit markets remain open for business?
While concerns around credit market liquidity have been rising since the global financial crisis, the Covid-19 sell-off has highlighted how fragile liquidity can be during periods of real stress. Colin Purdie discusses the short- and long-term implications...
Our economic recovery needs to be green
Collective pressure has delivered results on cutting carbon emissions, so pension scheme investors should take advantage of AGM season, says Diandra Soobiah
Fidelity launches three new ESG ETFs
Fidelity International has launched three actively-managed ESG ETFs, further expanding the five-strong Sustainable Family range of funds it released in last September.
Webinar: How DC defaults will evolve in a post-coronavirus world
Professional Pensions’ expert panel discusses how defined contribution (DC) default strategies will change following the crisis.
IIGCC issues guidance on tackling physical climate risks
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) has published detailed advice on how to integrate climate risks and opportunities into investment processes.
ESG-conscious Nest members neglecting pensions
Nest members are making changes to their everyday lives to be more environmentally or socially responsible, but failing to take the same action on their pensions, the provider says.
Pension funds feel pressure to fix 'big societal problems'
Pension funds believe they have an important role to play in addressing major societal issues through green investment decisions, research by Natixis Investment Managers finds.
The changing face of impact bonds
Demand for impact bonds is causing the creation of a bigger market with different targets, writes Josh Kendall.
Poor pay practice a key reason to ditch investments, savers say
Companies with poor pay or governance practices could face divestments from savers aged over 40 with women leading the way, a Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) survey finds.
PLSA industry group to support trustees with ESG reporting blind spots
Many schemes are only at the start of their ESG journeys and are likely to be confused by reporting requirements as they also grapple with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, says the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA).
On demand: PP webinar on ESG integration
PP’s expert panel discusses the implementation and integration of ESG into investment
Keeping up with a disruptive and fast-moving investment backdrop
Investors must keep up with the opportunities and challenges arising from disruption off the back of climate change and technological advances, says Julian Lyne.
