Dutch pension fund PFZW has pledged to be climate neutral by 2050 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

As part of its medium-term goals, it has pledged a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 intensity of equities and bonds by 2030, compared to 2019. Real estate and infrastructure investments will comply with the Paris Climate Agreement by 2030. The aim for private equity is to achieve this before 2040.

By 2030, at least 15 per cent of total investments will be in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at climate.

In order to achieve this goal, PFZW will invest extra in companies that contribute to a liveable world and/or have relatively low CO2 emissions. It will also enter into dialogues with companies in the energy sector if they do not act in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement.

From 2022, PFZW will exclude companies in the energy sector from investing if they do not meet this requirement.

Furthermore, to combat global warming, for example, PFZW almost no longer invests in companies that are active in the coal and tar sands industry.

PFZW board chair, Joanne Kellermann, said: “PFZW invests in virtually all sectors of the economy through various investment categories. This means that we can encourage companies in all kinds of places to become more sustainable. Making an impact on the climate is possible for us and the companies in which we invest, although it takes a lot of patience. But the ultimate goal, a climate-neutral world, is more than worth the effort. The PFZW board takes that responsibility and our participants expect the same from us.”

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