In our industry, we often do a lot unilaterally, but there is true power in collaboration. The power is in sparking actions across multiple fronts. The world is too interconnected to think small. Building a more sustainable future takes a wider, more meaningful, and joined-up approach.
During my time at Aviva Investors, I’ve seen what it takes first-hand to push towards a sustainable transition. Tinkering around the edges is not enough to address the biggest sustainability challenges and avert environmental and societal disasters. Making a difference takes changing the way we invest, changing the way we engage, and leading the way on systemic reform.
On this page you will see exactly how we are finding new ways to help the world achieve a sustainable transition. From global policy reform on antimicrobial resistance as part of a powerful coalition, to holding directors who run companies in a way that deliberately damages human or environmental capital accountable for their actions.
When I became CEO of Aviva Investors, clearly defining our approach to sustainable investing was central to my vision for the business and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. At the same time, the industry must face up to growing cynicism around the subject. People are tired of hearing empty promises – beyond enthusiasm to do what’s right, making a real difference takes demonstrating meaningful action.
The stories on this page show that, for us, sustainable investment goes beyond lip service. These are examples of how we’ve made a real difference. It also shows the potential we have to make that difference when we work together.
I’m incredibly proud of the efforts of our people across these multiple fronts, which also provide inspiration for the future.
I often talk about the need for better education around sustainability. For example, investors have had limited visibility of chemical companies’ harmful activities. We advised the independent non-profit ChemSec on its development of ChemScore, a ranking system for chemical firms that can act as a true agent of change. This is how we fuel informed, active engagement from conception.
A more direct approach involves us tackling the ongoing revolution around land use, with nature-based climate and biodiversity solutions rising in prominence. We have taken a more direct path to achieving net zero in our real assets business by investing in the power of natural carbon-removal solutions.
This is action on multiple fronts, in the way we allocate our clients’ capital and how we influence others to enable a sustainable transition – because we know real change requires a radical overhaul of the world economy. We’re committed to building a more sustainable world by structuring our investment research and process, company engagement, and macro stewardship activities around three key pillars: People, Earth, and Climate.
We know what it takes to make a difference. It takes commitment and partnership across the interconnected challenges facing People, Climate, and Earth.
It takes Aviva Investors.