Our core objective is to invest the assets entrusted to us by our clients so that we meet their investment objectives. We do so as responsible investors with a declared commitment to active stewardship including engagement and integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues throughout the business.
More than ever before it is clear there are critical extra-financial issues that we need to consider to provide strong returns for our clients. The top three risks outlined by the World Economic Forum are all related to the environment; extreme weather events, failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation and natural disasters. This picture presents clear risks and opportunities for investors. To this end, we believe that capital markets, investors and ultimately the long-term beneficiaries will gain from greater focus on sustainable development, opportunities around green finance and strong governance systems in markets.