Responsible investment

Investing responsibly is not a fad. For us, it is an investment belief. By building responsibility into all our investment processes, we aim to improve our risk management and investment performance while at the same time help to create more sustainable investment solutions fit for the future. As an active owner of capital, our scale and influence help us drive the change required to build a future our clients are able to retire into.

Our contribution to a changing world

Responsible investment is about creating long-term value for our clients and our ESG credentials can be traced back over 40 years. The business and investment cases for acting responsibly are hard to dispute these days. Companies that conduct their business in a respectful and sustainable way are more likely to succeed over time, benefiting both you and society. Bad practices don’t just hit the headlines, they hit the bottom line as well.

Whether investing in equities, bonds, real estate or infrastructure, integrating ESG into investment decisions and being responsible stewards of clients’ assets is non-negotiable for us. ESG factors can have a material risk on an investment and understanding these issues, and how they shape our economy and society, allows us to spot investment risks as well as opportunities.

Euan Munro, Chief Executive Officer

It is only through commitment, passion and genuine collaboration that we can bring our sustainable aspirations to life. By thinking connectedly across asset classes, locations and our multiple stakeholders, we are able to instigate change through continual active engagement, voting and market reform initiatives.

Our highlights

Delivering a sustainable future will only happen if we all take action to create positive change. We have delivered for our clients by making active sustainable choices in how we invest and drive change in the world.

Tackling climate change

In 2019 we voted in favour of 86.9% of shareholder resolutions on climate change and launched a new strategy to help clients allocate capital towards a low carbon future.

Commitment to voting

In 2019 we voted on 61,876 resolutions at 5382 shareholder meetings, representing 24% of votes against management resolutions including 46% of pay proposal.

Engaging at scale

In 2019 we undertook 3,122 company engagements with 2,149 individual companies to identify and reduce ESG risks in our portfolios.

Proprietary ESG research

We have a dedicated team of 22 ESG analysts that act as a centre of excellence, as well as delivery of proprietary quantitative ESG scoring tools which are predictive of performance.

Investing in green infrastructure

In 2019, we invested £717m into low-carbon and renewable infrastructure, exceeding our annual target of £500m and creating over 150,000 tons of carbon emissions avoidance.

New sustainable solutions

We can help you understand and manage your ESG and climate risk. In 2019 we launched a number of new sustainability focused funds.

Shaping a sustainable world

Founding signatory to the UN Principles of Responsible Investment and catalysed the development of the SSE and World Benchmarking Alliance that aims to publicly rank 2000 companies on ESG credentials.

ESG and alternative asset classes

In real assets all proposed transactions are assessed against an ESG risk and sustainability impact framework.

Global recognition

Aviva received the United Nations Foundation Leadership Award in recognition of our work to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Our unique approach to responsible investing

We are united by a firm-wide ambition to work with and for our clients to do what is right for them, society and the world around us.

Powering change

As an active owner with scale and global reach we use engagement, voting and market reform to drive a transition to a sustainable future.

Responsibility built-in

Responsible investing is a driving force across our £346bn of assets under management (31 Dec 2019). It is deeply embedded into our culture, investment decision making, products and solutions.

Connected thinking

Creating a sustainable future and delivering long-term investment returns can only be accomplished by working together with clients, competitors, policy-makers and regulators to connect different perspectives, share knowledge and experience.

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Responsibility in action

Explore the initiatives and accomplishments underpinning our commitment to delivering positive impact to our clients and the world around us.

Responsibility built in

The ESG layers – from the macro view to a company profile

1 Jul 2020

Understanding how economies transition to a sustainable future is more than just an ESG score. Our ESG insights are developed through connected thinking across asset classes: from the macro view to a company profile, and from how we see the world to how we view a sovereign, a sector or a company.

Responsibility built in

ESG and alternative assets

1 Jul 2020

Responsible Investment and ESG have traditionally been biased towards liquid assets such as equities and bonds. There are several reasons for this, including the weight of assets under management, availability of information, and the rights and access provided to shareholders.

Connected thinking

Connecting with wider stakeholders

1 Jul 2020

The The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) initiative is a great example of what can be achieved when stakeholders across civil society, business, governments and consumers connect their thinking and collaborate together to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Powering change

Superbugs – on the frontiers of sustainability

1 Jul 2020

The issues related to antimicrobial resistance and spread of drug-resistant 'superbugs' pose serious risks to public health and the business landscape. We have engaged with our investees to discuss their strategy on antibiotic resistance.

Connected thinking

The EU High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance

1 Jul 2020

In 2017 Aviva Investors’ Chief Responsible Investment Officer Steve Waygood was invited to become a member of the European Union High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (HLEG).

Responsibility built in

A company-wide commitment

1 Jul 2020

A big part of integrating ESG into our investment decisions is making sure that it is embedded across the investment process. Two ways of doing this is our Responsible Investment Officer Network and the integration of ESG into the way investment team members are remunerated.

Connected thinking

Power in numbers

1 Jul 2020

Nearly a third of all natural World Heritage sites are subject to extractive activity, despite protection from the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Following a number of successful engagements on this topic, including SOCO International and BP, we helped to launch a collaborative project to call on extractive companies to make ‘no go’ commitments in World Heritage sites.

Powering change

Voting with conviction

4 May 2020

We consider voting to be an important part of the investment process and have had a formal and considered voting policy since 1994. We have explicitly incorporated corporate responsibility disclosure and performance into our voting since 2001 - being one of the first asset managers to do so globally.

Connected thinking

Connecting for climate change

24 Apr 2020

It is only by working with multiple stakeholders that you can deliver a positive impact – be they governments and central banks to charities and customers. Our work to tackle the climate emergency is one of the examples of how we do that.

Powering change

Protecting human rights through the power of benchmarks

24 Apr 2020

We created the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark in 2013 with a view to use the competitive nature of markets to challenge companies to embed human rights in their organisation. 6 years on the benchmark is widely supported by companies, governments, investors and civil society. This is our update for 2019.

Connected thinking

Demonstrating connected thinking and thought leadership on deforestation

24 Apr 2020

We believe that accelerating environmental damage from climate, deforestation, ocean pollution, and loss of biodiversity all pose significant risk to economies and the corporate bottom line.

Responsibility built-in

Find out how we integrate ESG into our investment processes as a firm and in every asset class.

view our policies

Our latest views

AIQ Feature

The evolution of ESG: More than just a risk mitigator

21 Jul 2020

Once dismissed as a virtuous endeavour that compromised investment returns, the ability to gain a more holistic view of risk by considering environmental, social and governance factors is increasingly appreciated by investors. We assess the evolution of ESG across asset classes, as well as its role as a risk mitigator and opportunity spotter.

Equities

Health first: Finding resilience in pharmaceuticals

2 Jul 2020

COVID-19 has led to a new appreciation of the importance of healthcare in ensuring all members of society thrive. So where should investors be looking to find resilience in an industry facing enormous change?

Covid-19

COVID-19, comp and doing the right thing: Why corporate values have never been more critical

16 Jun 2020

With annual general meetings now taking place virtually, shareholders, employees and suppliers have had to adjust to lockdowns. While some of the immediate impacts will be phased out with the opening of the economy, stewardship priorities and corporate values may change forever.

Covid-19

Evidence and ambition: The new rules of engagement on climate change

15 Jun 2020

Mirza Baig explains why far-off commitments on climate change by energy companies and their lenders are no longer enough, and why COVID-19 has catalysed rather than derailed investor engagement on the issue.

Covid-19

Will COVID-19 prove a watershed for ESG?

14 May 2020

COVID-19 has thrown new light on the interdependencies in human and natural ecosystems, and the vulnerabilities of a closely networked world. Aviva Investors’ responsible investment specialists ask whether this will prove a turning point for environmental, social and governance issues.

The AIQ Podcast

The AIQ Podcast: Climate emergency

6 May 2020

This latest episode of the AIQ Podcast goes back to basics on climate: we explore leading scientists’ understanding of how the world is changing, as well as the investment community’s response.

The AIQ Podcast

The AIQ Podcast: The psychology of climate change

4 Mar 2020

This latest episode of the AIQ Podcast explores the psychology of climate change and how to engage individuals in the quest for solutions.

Responsible Investing

Climate change: The journey from denial to crisis

28 Feb 2020

More than 40 years since a senior NASA scientist told US Congress of concerns about human activities disrupting the climate, experts are warning of an impending climate catastrophe and the financial sector is wrestling with the implications.

Responsible Investing

Why asset managers cannot be passive on climate change

28 Feb 2020

As active investors step up their engagement efforts on the climate crisis, discussions need to be at the CEO rather than board level, argues David Cumming.

Responsible Investing

Apathy, anger, action: The psychology of climate change

28 Feb 2020

Psychological barriers can prevent people from acting to avert the climate threat, even when they recognise the problem. So how can we best engage individuals, companies and communities in the quest for solutions?

Responsible Investing

Stranded! When assets become liabilities

28 Feb 2020

Until recently, many investors made light of dire warnings of the risks posed by assets becoming “stranded” by climate change. However, as the threat becomes reality, fears are mounting that whole industries could be wiped out.

Responsible Investing

‘Sticking’ it to carbon: The pros and cons of taxing emissions

28 Feb 2020

With governments urged to do more to tackle climate change, carbon taxes are being touted as a politically expedient solution.

Responsible Investing

Slash and burn: The link between land use and climate change

28 Feb 2020

Poor land management contributes to rising global temperatures. But solutions are emerging as new technologies improve farming efficiency and consumers shift towards climate-friendly diets.

Responsible Investing

Hot water: The threat of warming oceans

28 Feb 2020

As the challenges posed by climate change continue to loom large, due attention should be given to oceans, not just the solid ground under our feet and the air we breathe.

Responsible Investing

An inconvenient transition

28 Feb 2020

Despite deafening calls for countries and companies to step up to fight the climate crisis, research suggests individuals – especially in the developed world – could also make a massive difference if they committed to getting by with less. But will they?

Responsible Investing

Climate data: Seeing through the fog

28 Feb 2020

Big data is heralded as the answer to almost every problem, so why not the climate crisis?

Steve Waygood

Chief Responsible Investment Officer

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Abigail Herron

Global Head of ESG and Strategic Partnerships

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Mirza Baig

Global Head of Governance & Stewardship

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Paul LaCoursiere

Global Head of ESG Research

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Marte Borhaug

Global Head of ESG Investment Solutions

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Doris Ko

ESG Operations Manager

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Rebecca Vine

Senior Corporate Governance Analyst

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Eugenie Mathieu

Senior SRI Analyst

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Rick Stathers

Senior SRI Analyst

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Richard Butters

SRI Analyst

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Sora Utzinger

SRI Analyst

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Louise Piffaut

ESG Analyst

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Investment risk

The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up. Investors may not get back the orginal amount invested.

Responsible investment