Investors managing over $41trn urge governments to take climate policy action

Written by Adam Cadle

14/06/2021

Investors managing more than $41trn in assets have released a new joint statement to all world governments urging a global race-to-the-top on climate policy and warning that laggards will miss out on trillions of dollars in investment if they aim too low and move too slow.

The statement by 457 investors represents the largest collective assets under management to sign on to a global investor statement to governments on climate change since the first statement in 2009 and includes companies such as Aberdeen Standard Investments, Allianz Global Investors, Aviva, BNP Paribas Asset Management, Brunel Pension Partnership, Fidelity International, Impax and Zurich Insurance Group.

Developed by The Investor Agenda, The 2021 Global Investor Statement to Governments on the Climate Crisis delivers the strongest-ever investor call for governments to raise their climate ambition and implement meaningful policies, or risk missing out on a massive wave of investment in tackling the climate crisis. In particular, the 2021 statement asks for climate-related financial reporting to not only be improved, but be mandatory, and clearly recognises the “climate crisis”. It also reflects the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for resilient economic recovery plans that support the just transition to a net-zero emissions future that is underway.

The initial signatories to the 2021 Global Investor Statement have been released ahead of the G7 Summit to encourage further investor advocacy for ambitious climate policy action ahead of the 26th United Nations Climate Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November. The statement will remain open for further institutional investors to sign until COP26 and will be periodically updated with new signatories at key moments throughout 2021.

The Investor Agenda launched in 2018 by seven founding partners –– Asia Investor Group on Climate Change, CDP, Ceres, Investor Group on Climate Change, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, Principles for Responsible Investment and UNEP Finance Initiative –– provides a common leadership agenda on the climate crisis for investors that is unifying, comprehensive, and focused on accelerating investor action for a net-zero emissions economy.

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