Last week, at the UNEP FI global roundtable, we were delighted to launch our French roadmap, which makes several recommendations on how responsible investment in France can continue moving forwards. We also welcomed the Initiative Climat 2020 to support French private equity firms in building a climate-conscious world.
At the recent G20 conference in Argentina, at a meeting facilitated by the World Bank, I spoke on how too many investors cite fiduciary duties — as currently written in some countries — as a barrier to not looking at sustainability issues.
Finally, at COP24 next week, the PRI will be formally launching, along with the Grantham Research Institute, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the International Trade Union Confederation, guidance on how to ensure a just transition for workers and communities as we move away from carbon-intensive models.
As another busy year draws to a close, I would like to thank our signatories for their enormous support over the last 12 months. We look forward to working with you as our ambitious agenda continues into 2019.
Fiona Reynolds
CEO
USMidwest Sustainable Investment Forum, 10 December, Chicago
The forum will bring together asset owners from the Midwest to discuss one of the most prominent topics on the investment agenda today: sustainable investment and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data.
More information and register >>
US team engages in conversations on EU action plan
The PRI organized a policy roundtable and luncheon bringing together officials from the European Union Commission on Sustainable Finance and some key PRI signatories in San Francisco and New York City respectively. The signatory group, along with Antoine Begasse (EU Finance Counsellor – Delegation of the European Union to the United States) and Mario Nava (Director-in-charge, EU Commission on Sustainable Finance) engaged in conversations around the EU action plan on sustainable finance.
Some key topics discussed included the establishment of a unified EU classification system (or “taxonomy”), sustainability disclosure requirements for asset managers, and institutional investor and Corporate sustainability reporting. The PRI has been actively involved in the EU High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, and welcomed the opportunity to have US investors join the conversation.
COP24: key points for your reading list
For the themes dominating COP24 such as the IPCC report and the just transition, as well as everything the PRI will be doing at COP24, read our COP signatory update.
Shell announces plans to set carbon emissions reduction targets
Following growing pressure from investors, Shell has announced plans to establish short-term targets on net carbon footprint each year for a three or five-year period until 2050. The firm announced plans in a statement with investors on behalf of Climate Action 100+, of which the PRI is a founding partner.
Find out more about Climate Action 100+ >>