Our climate ambition
The climate crisis represents the greatest long-term threat to life on our planet and societies. We must be active, ambitious and impactful in the face of climate change to shape a better future.
That’s why our ambition is to become a net zero emissions asset manager by 2040*. This won’t be easy, but we believe the impact and consequences of not acting are far more damaging that the transition to a more sustainable economy.
"The looming climate crisis needs action to reposition economies and societies on a more sustainable footing. We support the commitments set out in the Paris Agreement and believe mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change is essential to safeguard our clients’ investments." - Mark Versey, Chief Executive Officer
*This will cover all asset classes and investment funds that we manage on behalf of Aviva. Third-party clients are invited to express a preference as to whether they would like the Aviva climate commitment to apply to their portfolio. Customers in collective investment funds will be consulted in line with regulatory requirements.
We are proud to be members of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative (NZAM) and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) as part of the Race to Zero.
Our climate goals
Climate change is the biggest global systemic risk of our time as well as the biggest market failure in history1. We must act because it is in the best interests of our clients as well as the integrity of the market. We must act because we have the power to do so and it is the right thing for the planet and all life in it.
Shaping the climate debate in a critical year for our planet
2021 presents opportunities for the big, bold change needed to address the climate crisis. With the postponed COP26 UN climate summit due to take place in November, in addition to major, international focal points including the G7, G20, and UN General Assembly, among others.
As the international community still lacks a comprehensive finance strategy for the Paris Agreement, Aviva has been convening a multi-stakeholder coalition of organisations to call for the creation of an International Platform for Climate Finance (IPCF). This new platform will aim to harness the financial system in support of global climate goals, so that the financial sector changes to support the wider economic transition needed for net zero.
See change in action
Climate change is the biggest systemic challenge of our time. Discover how we're approaching climate action and supporting the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient world.
Key milestones through a history of climate action
We have been at the forefront of climate action for decades. Our micro-stewardship centres on our investments. We use our shareholder voice to actively engage and support companies in changing corporate behaviours. At a macro level, we have a long history of involvement on climate change policy, engaging with policymakers, global governance bodies and regulators to correct market failures and bring about transformational change.
Paris Agreement
Harnessing the power of COP to bring about transformational change. Aviva Investors was present at the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. Ahead of COP26, Aviva investors is calling for an International Platform for Climate Finance, a new mechanism to mobilise capital to tackle climate change.
Turning talk into action: ESG webcast series
Introducing 'Turning talk into action', a series of thought-provoking webcasts debating the biggest ESG issues with leading experts committed to change. Climate topics include TCFD and portfolio reporting requirements, the transition to net zero in real assets, investing to best support the transition to a low-carbon world, and others.

Real assets net zero pathway
In our commitment to achieving net zero in real assets, we outline the actions we will take to invest in low-carbon solutions and decarbonise existing assets across our portfolio.

Climate views

Global equity income Q&A: Richard Saldanha on the outlook for dividends and growth
3 Aug 2022
The lead manager of our Global Equity Income strategy discusses risks and opportunities for income-seeking investors in a turbulent time for markets.
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Long income, short ESG windows: Matching real estate long income and responsible investing timelines
2 Aug 2022
Luke Layfield looks at how real estate long income can help address clients’ ESG responsible investing objectives and how respective timelines for implementing change can be best aligned.
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The AIQ Podcast: Taking stock of nature risk
15 Jul 2022
The idea that human actions are bringing natural systems close to breakdown, threatening livelihoods and financial stability, is making asset managers think harder about nature risk and the environmental dependencies in investee companies.
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Investing in a just transition to net zero: A Q&A with Nick Robins
30 Jun 2022
Reaching net zero by 2050 will require significant injections of capital. But it is also an opportunity to rethink social relationships, as Professor Nick Robins explains.
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Supply chains, painkillers and gene editing: ESG risks in pharma
29 Jun 2022
Reflecting on ESG risks in the pharmaceutical industry, Sora Utzinger discusses supply chains and counterfeit medicines, access to painkillers, and the ethics of gene editing.
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What does the data say? Biodiversity loss: From horror to hope
24 Jun 2022
In this month’s instalment of our visual series on topical themes, we explore the world of biodiversity.
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ESG investing: Lasting lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine
23 Jun 2022
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to ESG receiving widespread flak. While much of the criticism is unjustified, the episode underlines how many issues related to ESG are complex and involve trade-offs. Investment approaches may need fine tuning, especially if the geopolitical landscape continues to change so rapidly.
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Levelling up for a new social contract
21 Jun 2022
The global financial crisis of 2007 and the COVID-19 pandemic widened social inequalities, with vulnerable communities hit the hardest. Governments, investors and companies all have a duty to address the issue.
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Antimicrobial resistance: Q&A with Dame Sally Davies
10 Jun 2022
Resistance to antibiotics is already killing millions. Professor Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance, spoke to AIQ on the latest developments to counter antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the UK and globally.
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The AIQ Podcast: Investing towards a new social contract
9 Jun 2022
As life returns to some form of normality, governments are free to move their focus from COVID-19 to left-behind communities and delivering a just transition. This is important to secure long-term economic outcomes, but also comes with investment opportunities and risks.
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Deep water: Ten threats to marine ecosystems
8 Jun 2022
Our air, weather, food, the health of diverse marine life and millions of jobs all depend on the ocean. But we have not done well as custodians of marine ecosystems. Here, we set out ten ways where human actions threaten the health of an essential environment.
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The investment case for nature
17 May 2022
The impact of economic activity on the natural world has long been ignored. However, governments, companies and investors can all play a role in helping to protect nature.
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Levelling up: Investing towards a new social contract
17 May 2022
As we learn to live with COVID-19, focus is returning to delivering a just transition. This is important to secure long-term investment outcomes, but also presents direct opportunities.
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Life force: Why nature matters
12 May 2022
Growing awareness that natural systems are stressed or even close to breakdown is prompting asset managers to look closely at nature-based risks and investee companies to understand their environmental impacts and dependencies.
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Why investors must act now on the biodiversity crisis
26 Apr 2022
The concepts of biodiversity and ‘natural capital’ have been largely ignored by business and finance until recently. Investors are now starting to take the issue seriously and build it into their thinking.
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The challenge of delivering net zero
11 Apr 2022
Financial services businesses have begun the complex businesses of working out how to deliver on their net-zero ambitions and play their part in tackling climate change.
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Play your part: Investing to support the climate transition
Today, the climate investment landscape is a veritable mixed bag of active and passive approaches covering a broad spectrum of investment universes and objectives. In this paper, we explore some of the pitfalls of first-generation climate strategies, the meaning of Paris or net zero aligned investments, and the benefits of adopting a holistic approach to climate change investing with a focus on science-based targets.

Read more about Aviva's climate goals. Explore a glossary and definitions of terms on Aviva’s climate goals.
The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) brings together net zero alliances from across the finance sector as part of the Race to Zero. We are also proud to support Aviva’s leading role in GFANZ through our Group CEO Amanda Blanc, who is part of the GFANZ Principals Group.
Find out more information about the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative (NZAM) and Race to Zero.
References
1. The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review is a landmark study that was published on 30 October 2006.
Note: ESG and Climate related engagement, goals and exclusions can vary at the investment strategy and portfolio level depending upon country, jurisdiction and individual client needs.