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

We’ve been using our voice to drive positive change for five decades. 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. 

I believe investors have a vital role to play in pushing for change on society’s biggest issues, from climate change to diversity; from environmental degradation to human rights. I am proud that Aviva Investors has long been at the forefront of investor action on these issues.

It is only through commitment, passion and genuine collaboration that we can bring our sustainable aspirations to life. By acting collaboratively 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. 

Taking action on climate change

In 2021 we voted in favour of 91% of shareholder resolutions on climate and social issues.1

Commitment to voting

In 2021, we voted on 70,956 resolutions at 6,648 shareholder meetings, representing 27% of votes against management resolutions including 47% of pay proposals.

Engaging at scale

In 2021, we undertook 2,959 company engagements and carried out engagements with 21 sovereigns.

Proprietary ESG research

We have a dedicated team of 30+ 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 2021, we invested directly in and financed £1.2 billion of low-carbon and renewable energy infrastructure and buildings, which involved 78% of new infrastructure AUM for 2021 being classified as sustainable.

New sustainable solutions

We can help you understand and manage your ESG and climate risk. Developing products as part of our sustainable outcomes approach.

Shaping a sustainable world

Aviva Investors scored A+ in the 2020 Annual United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UNPRI) report. We are a founding signatory to the UNPRI and catalysed the development of  the SSE and World Benchmarking Alliance that aims to publicly rank 2000 companies on ESG credentials.

Accelerating a low-carbon economy

In 2020, we committed to delivering £1bn of climate transition-focused loans by 2025, accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy in real estate. We’re making great progress, with £783m of sustainable lending delivered to the end of 2021 against target.

Global recognition

Aviva Investors received an A rating from ShareAction on our approach to responsible investment in 2020, 1 of only 5 asset managers to achieve this rating out of 75 worldwide.

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 investment decisions to drive a transition to a sustainable future.

Responsibility built-in

We employ systematic and robust consideration of material ESG factors in investment decisions, led by insight that goes beyond the conventional. Beyond any applicable binding criteria, our portfolio managers are empowered to make the right decision for the best client outcome, supported by ESG research integrated into our investment franchises via specialist teams.

Shaping our future

Making a difference does not stop with our investments. We work in partnership with clients, policymakers and regulators, sharing knowledge and collaborating to build a sustainable future for us all. We are committed to reforming capital markets and empowering our clients to make informed choices.

We know what it takes to make a difference

It takes working together to drive sustainable transition across People, Climate, and Earth. It takes Aviva Investors.

See what it takes

Responsible Investment Annual Review 2021

PDF 13.5 MB 125 pages

This year’s Responsible Investment Annual Review seeks to demonstrate how Aviva Investors has turned talk into action in 2021. We are proud advocates of the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC) UK Stewardship Code and this report details the impact that our responsible investment approach has had on our clients and on the society we serve.

Responsibility built-in

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

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 original amount invested.

Our latest views

Our team

Our people embedding ESG across Aviva Investors

1 'Voting Matters 2021: Are asset managers using their proxy votes for action on environmental and social issues?' ShareAction, 2021. Responsible investment NGO ShareAction analysed the voting decisions of 65 of the world’s largest asset managers on 146 shareholder resolutions across environmental and social issues in 2021.