M&G Investment Funds (10)
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021, 2022-01 to 2023-01, 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31)
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
Environmental Achievements
- 39% year-on-year reduction in Scope 1+2 carbon emissions (influenced by pandemic)
- 80% reduction in business travel emissions (influenced by pandemic)
- Achieved 84.12% of 2030 net zero target for corporate operations (influenced by pandemic)
Social Achievements
- Engaged with over 230,000 clients and customers regarding thermal coal phase-out
- Engaged with over 630 institutional clients and intermediaries on thermal coal policy
Governance Achievements
- Implemented a thermal coal exclusion policy in 2021
- Implemented M&G Investments’ Thermal Coal Investment Policy in April 2022
- 107 climate-related engagements with companies, 42 successful
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net zero carbon emissions across all AUM/AUA by 2050
- Net zero carbon emissions across all AUM/AUA by 2050
- Reduce carbon emissions intensity by 50% for $80 billion in assets by 2030 (NZAM interim target)
Environmental Challenges
- Pandemic impact on business travel and building occupancy affecting emissions reduction figures
- Data limitations and methodology issues for certain asset classes in portfolio emissions reporting
- Achieving client consent for thermal coal policy implementation in segregated mandates
Mitigation Strategies
- New global business travel policy
- Reconfiguration of office spaces to optimize space and energy usage
- Transitioning corporate fleet to fully electric vehicles by 2026
- Engaging with suppliers on net-zero alignment and adding climate clauses to contracts
- Ongoing engagement with clients and investees to address climate-related risks
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Engaging with suppliers on environmental impact and net-zero plans
- Adding climate clauses to contracts
- Assessing corporate governance across material suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM), Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA), Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Certifications: RE100
Reporting Period: 2022-01 to 2023-01
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate change
- Diversity and Inclusion
Environmental Achievements
- 64% reduction in operational Scope 1, 2 and selected Scope 3 emissions against 2019 baseline
- 62% reduction in 2022 reported Scope 1 & 2 (market-based) emissions for offices from 2019
- 68% reduction in Scope 3 business travel emissions compared to 2019
Social Achievements
- £4.3m total community investment spend
- 37% female representation on M&G Executive Committee and direct reports
- 12% ethnic diversity within the M&G Executive Committee and direct reports
Governance Achievements
- Established a Central Sustainability Office
- Created an Executive Sustainability Committee
- Executive Compensation Linked To ESG: Yes (7.5% weighting for emissions reduction and gender diversity targets in 2022 LTIP; increased to 25% in 2023 LTIP)
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net zero emissions by 2050 across operations and investment portfolio
- 50% reduction in emissions intensity (tCO2e/$m invested) for in-scope public equity and corporate debt by 2030
- 36% reduction in emissions intensity (kgCO2/m2) for in-scope real estate assets by 2030
- At least 50% of real estate portfolio to hold green building certification by 2025 and 90% by 2030
- Reduce emissions from corporate offices by 46% by 2030; 100% renewable electricity by 2025
- Reduce business travel emissions by 46% by 2030
- Achieve 40% female representation and 20% representation from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds at the Executive Committee and their direct reports by 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Increasing expectations from stakeholders and evolving needs of clients
- Significant shifts and ongoing uncertainty in the global economic and political environment
- Data limitations in measuring and reporting climate-related risks and opportunities, particularly for private assets
Mitigation Strategies
- Strengthening foundations by building out sustainability capabilities and supporting governance framework
- Improving climate data and modelling capabilities
- Developing enhanced data collection, management and reporting for private and alternative assets
- Licensing new scenario models (Aladdin Climate and expanding Marsh model) to improve climate risk assessment
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Over 1,000 suppliers contacted in 2022 to assess supply chain emissions
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Preferred supplier list with minimum sustainability standards
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather
- Flooding
- Hydrometeorological hazards
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
- Market shifts
- Stranded assets
Opportunities
- Investment in climate solutions
- Development of sustainable products and services
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: TCFD, SFDR, SASB, GRI, UNGC
Certifications: ISO 14001
Third-party Assurance: PwC
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7
- Goal 9
- Goal 13
Investments and initiatives contribute to affordable and clean energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and climate action.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Planet+ fund range
- Real Asset Impact Fund
Awards & Recognition
- Top 75 company in the Social Mobility Employers Index
- Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index
- LGBT Great’s Financial Services Gold Standard
- National Equality Standard (NES)
Reporting Period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Better Health and Well-being
- Positive Societal Impact
- ESG criteria and sustainability criteria
Environmental Achievements
- Not disclosed
Social Achievements
- Not disclosed
Governance Achievements
- Not disclosed
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
Environmental Challenges
- Uncertainty due to events in Ukraine
- High interest rates impacting equity valuations and end-demand for certain products
- Beleaguered solar market due to high interest rates and reduced incentives
- Cyberattack on Johnson Controls International
- Class action lawsuit against Johnson Controls International related to PFAS contamination
Mitigation Strategies
- ACD monitoring associated risks
- Conservative stance on credit selection in the Sustainable Global Corporate Bond Fund
- ESG engagement with companies to improve sustainability practices and address challenges
- Johnson Controls International reviewing and strengthening risk mitigation strategy, hiring new CIO and CTO
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Not disclosed
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes, market shifts
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: TCFD
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed