Climate Risk
We utilize active ownership strategies to encourage companies to pursue a path toward a net zero emissions future.
The changing climate is an extraordinary challenge with far-reaching economic, environmental, and societal implications, creating risks and opportunities for companies and investors. As fiduciaries, we aim to manage the associated risks and opportunities. We support efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, limiting warming to 1.5掳 Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. Given the current trajectory of global emissions, successfully achieving the net zero target requires interim goals and plans for meaningful action by a range of stakeholders.
As investors, we have the ability and responsibility to influence corporate leadership to embrace its role as a significant part of the solution to the climate crisis. This is why, in March 2021, 桃颜蜜色视频 became an early signatory to the . This initiative galvanizes asset management firms to use their influence in the capital markets to bring the world closer to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. In June 2022, we formally announced our own targets.
In June 2022, 桃颜蜜色视频 formally announced targets in support of our commitment to the Net Zero Asset Manager (NZAM) Initiative. We are committed to doing our part to accelerate global efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.
Our Strategy (2023)
As investors who hold shares of publicly traded securities, we believe we have a unique ability to influence corporate leadership to advance solutions to the climate crisis. We encourage companies to pursue a path toward a net zero emissions future by asking them to:
Set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets based on widely-accepted scientific research.
Specifically, we ask companies to set 鈥渟cience-based targets鈥 (SBTs) aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit the increase in the global average temperature to below 1.5掳 Celsius if the world is to avoid catastrophic impacts of climate. To achieve this goal, emissions must halve by 2030, and decrease to net zero by 2050.
Advocate for and support science-based climate policy with lawmakers at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Many corporations are members of lobbying groups and trade associations that have hindered progress on climate change. We believe a vocal corporate constituency in support of effective climate policy is crucial for achieving needed GHG emissions cuts across the economy.
The two components of our climate engagement strategy are interrelated and self-reinforcing. As companies set science-based targets, they signal to lawmakers that addressing climate change makes good business sense, enabling legislators and regulators to develop sound public policy solutions. With an informed and effective public policy framework in place, companies are better able to mitigate climate risk and achieve climate-related goals.
Key Considerations
We consider several indicators of corporate performance related to climate that inform our engagement, including GHG reduction initiatives, energy efficiency and natural resource conservation, commitment to renewable fuel sources, public policy positions, and lobbying activity.
Solutions to climate change must consider the supply and demand for energy. Thus we engage both suppliers (i.e., fossil fuel companies and utilities) and corporate users of energy.
Climate change affects different sectors and industries in distinct ways. The SASB Standards describe climate risk as 鈥渦biquitous but differentiated.鈥 While companies face unique discrete risks associated with climate change, we believe all companies have an opportunity to help reduce emissions.
Company-specific action to mitigate climate change can be cost-effective, as demonstrated by the return on investment companies receive from energy efficiency projects and the competitive price companies are now paying for renewable energy.
