In pictures: highlights from Net Zero Investor’s Annual Conference
Net Zero Investors Annual Conference took place at the London Stock Exchange this week, attracting senior investors to discuss the future of net zero investing
The event was kicked off by chair James Corah, head of sustainability at CCLA who highlighted that net zero targets have evolved and now become front and centre of investor's minds. He was joined by David Russell, chair of the transition pathway initiative to discuss the future of institutional transition strategies.
In 2023, central bank rates have more than doubled and many investors anticipate that constraints on returns will continue in 2024. Hyewon Kong, vice president, head of responsible investment at IMCO was joined by Morten Nilsson, CEO of Brightwell and Elaina Elzinga, principal, investments Wellcome Trust to discuss how the changing macroeconomic outlook could affect net zero strategies.
Martin Davies, global head of natural capital at Nuveen delivered the lead keynote on how a holistic approach to natural capital investing could help balance fiduciary duties with biodiversity commitments.
The theme of nature positive investing and biodiversity was picked up by Anna-Stina Wicklund, head of responsible investing, portfolio manager at Finland's Church Pension Fund, and Gustave Loriot-Boserup, responsible investment manager for the LGPS pool London CIV.
The next panel session addressed the geopolitics of the energy transition and how investors could avoid being stranded in the fossil fuel era. Phillip Dawes, head of Distribution at BNP Paribas Asset Management was joined by Kingsmill Bond, senior principal at RMI and Edward Baker, net zero manager at LGPS Central.
Net zero strategies for emerging market investors were next on the agenda, with Tatjana Greil-Castro co-head of public markets and portfolio manager global credit strategies at Muzinich exchanging views with Alan Siow, portfolio manager at Ninety One and Padmesh Shukla, CIO for the Transport for London Pension Fund.
Engagement strategies for hard to abate sectors were next on the agenda with Valeria Piani, head of stewardship at Phoenix Group sharing experiences with Nick Spooner company strategist at the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Honor Fell, sustainable investment officer at UCIM and Julius Pursaill, strategic advisor for the Cushon master trust.
A key theme which emerged during COP28 is the growing need for investors to engage in policy advocacy. Strategies and tactics of policy engagement were discussed by Olga Hancock, head of responsible investment at the Church Commissioners for England, Lisa Hayles, director of International Shareholder Advocacy at Trillium Asset Management and Hilkka Komulainen, head of responsible investment at Aegon UK.
With a growing number of investors turning to fixed income, demand for green and sustainability-linked bonds has increased. But how can investors sort the wheat from the chaff? Chandra Gopinathan, senior investment manager at Railpen exchanged views on this growing trend with Josephine Richardson, head of research at the Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute.
The event was rounded up with a closing keynote by former BBC climate and environment correspondent Roger Harrabin, who took stock of the COP28 summit and its implications for the energy transition.
