ESG Aus and NZ Update
/Responsible investing datasets now available for March 2020 quarter
Plan For Life has captured the responsible investments managed funds market across Australia and New Zealand. The market accounted for $55 billion in funds under management at 31 March 2020, up three per cent over the past year despite the broader downturn across the first quarter of 2020. The responsible funds market has exceeded the wider market by 3.4 per cent consistently for the past three years, with negative quarterly net flows just twice since 2015.
Legalsuper terminates AMP Capital socially responsible mandate over culture concerns
AMP Capital’s Ethical Leaders Balanced Fund has lost another superannuation fund, Legalsuper, after concerns over investment performance and recent reports regarding culture at AMP. Legalsuper’s balanced socially responsible option, worth $40 million, has been transferred to the Pendal Group’s Sustainable Balanced Fund.
Northern Trust adds environmental data to risk analytics
Reporting now includes key environmental data in its ESG risk exposure analytics capabilities at Northern Trust. Northern Trust clients can check specific environmental risk indicators in investments, for example, their carbon footprint. Investors will now receive a new ESG Insights: Environment report.
Aussie super funds acting on climate change
The Australian superannuation sector is forging ahead with climate change actions, with a recent report showing that a fifth of the funds examined have, in the previous three months, publicly stated their net-zero emissions goals by 2050.
Of the 20 funds looked at, three have declared net zero emissions by 2050 across all portfolios, which are fully aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. One fund is seeking to transition to net zero by 2050, but has not made any explicit targets. Twelve further funds have engaged in activities to reduce portfolio emissions intensity, but have not yet aligned with net zero by 2050. Just four funds have not disclosed climate change commitments or activities.
View the Net Zero Momentum Tracker Super Sector by ClimateWorks
