Climate Change

The majority of schemes have claimed political and economic uncertainty has led them to disregard contingency planning for the range of potential Brexit outcomes.

This week’s top stories include Prudential Retirement urging schemes to insure member benefits, and the Universities Superannuation Scheme submitting its 2018 valuation.

The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Amundi have launched a $500m (£403m) Asia climate bond portfolio.

Blackrock has launched two ESG index funds for defined benefit and defined contribution (DC) schemes in response to growing demand for sustainable investment options.

The City and County of Swansea Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) will swap around a quarter of its assets to a low-carbon fund by the end of the month, it has announced.

Pension fund investors could face further disclosure requirements on ESG matters as an industry working group considers fresh law for trustees for as soon as next year.

There is mounting pressure on schemes to engage more actively with firms in which they invest. Charlotte Moore takes a look at the different approaches being used.

The Environment Agency Pension Fund (EAPF) has joined a coalition of 88 investors to demand companies disclose more information on environmental impact.

Greater incentives are needed to encourage institutional investors, including pension funds, to invest in such a way to help prevent climate change, investment experts have argued.

Pension schemes and their investment managers must take their environmental and social responsibilities seriously and use funds to tackle climate change, Guy Opperman has said.