The rise of responsible investment on investors' agenda was embodied in the plethora of attendees participating in London's Central Hall for the latest of the
PRI anniversary events, organised by the UN Principles for Responsible Investment Initiative. The Initiative is an international network of investors signing up to and working together to put six Principles for Responsible Investment into practice.
The PRI's 10-year carbon neutral anniversary events in 2016 are aimed at bringing the investment community together to assess the impact the organisation and the industry as a whole have had over the past ten years and determine what the priorities should be for the next decade.
“The PRI has been challenging investors all over the globe to invest responsibly for a decade. Their anniversary events also coincide with South Pole Group's first ten year milestone, and we have joined their call to the investment industry to take further action on accountability, stewardship and sustainability - not least by ensuring the carbon neutrality of this year's events," says John Davis, Director Financial Industry South Pole Group, present at the event.
In her speech on the PRI's next blueprint for responsible investment, an insight into global megatrends and how the Principles and ESG integration can address these risks, Fiona Reynolds, Managing Director of PRI, emphasised that in terms of impacts, responsible investment had only started to prove itself: “We need to take responsible investment to the next level."
A robust part of South Pole Group's portfolio of sustainability solutions to a myriad of financial players, the Group's responsible investment and investment screening services were further strengthened with the launch of the yourSRI Professional Investment Screening tool during the London event.
“The UN PRI Principles of Responsible Investing urge investors to integrate ESG issues into their decision-making - a goal that this freshly launched tool will support," says Maximilian Horster, Partner, Financial Industry, South Pole Group. "The tool offers, among others, tailor-made reporting solutions and investment screening that utilises comprehensive data supplied by South Pole Group. It is an excellent entry point for investors starting the journey of responsible investment."
The conference in London closed with a plenary on risks and challenges to a sustainable financial system, exploring current legislation and the potential need for further legislation. The plenary discussions also saw a decoupling of also highlighted the role of the financial system as an integral part of modern economies, and as an important contributor to societal well being.
As stated by Fiona Reynolds, “the key to the future of responsible investment is in engaging the whole investment chain."
