The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) has launched the Net Zero Engagement Initiative (NZEI) to “scale and accelerate” investors’ climate-related corporate engagement. Ninety-three investors, including the Schroders and the Church of England (CoE) Pensions Board, have so far agrees to participate, with 107 companies having received individual letters from these investors that they have developed, or intend to develop, a net zero transition plan. “As a fund, we are committed to achieving net zero and to do so need to engage all companies in which we invest,” said Adam Matthew, Chief Responsible Investment Officer at CoE Pensions Board and Co-Chair of the IIGCC Corporate Programme. The initiative intends to expand the universe of companies already engaged with through Climate Action 100+ (CA100+), including those across the demand side, to help investors align more of their portfolio with net zero. Based on the responses of these companies, investor members of NZEI will develop an appropriate engagement strategy for each company. The IIGCC has also published ‘Investor Expectations of Corporate Transition Plans: From A to Zero’, which outlines further details information investors may wish to procure from companies’ transition plans and guidance for how companies can comply. Stephanie Pfeifer, IIGCC’s CEO, said: “The NZEI provides part of the solution to the greatest challenge facing investors who have made net zero commitments: how to deliver on these through engagement with companies. By building on other initiatives, including CA100+, and by scaling up engagement, the NZEI adds to the ‘how’. In doing so, the NZEI supports investors in the implementation phase of their net zero journey.” The initiative will continue to scale globally to cover more companies over the next 18-24 months.
⚡️ Our new initiative aims to support investors align more of their investment portfolio with the goals of the #ParisAgreement, as set out by investor #netzero commitments, by scaling the number of companies engaged. Read our press release: https://t.co/3QTs0RreqH pic.twitter.com/jy0wO8y7J3
— IIGCC (@IIGCCnews) March 27, 2023
