Valeria Piani and Peter Cashion among new Climate Action 100+ investor members
A range of well-known industry insiders have been named as new members of the global steering committee of Climate Action 100+ .
The investor engagement coalition that pushes for sustainability principles and green investment strategies is expanding its committee with six new investor members.
Firstly, Valeria Piani, head of stewardship at Phoenix Group, who will be speaking at Net Zero Investor's annual conference on 11 December, has been appointed to the committee.
Further, Peter Cashion, managing investment director of sustainable investments at the largest public pension fund in the US, $462bn CalPERS.
Climate Action 100+ also named Flora Wang, head of stewardship Asia at Fidelity International, as a new member, as well as Jane Karen Ho, head of stewardship for Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Asset Management.
Finally, Alison Ewings, general Manager ESG at QIC and Alejandro Bujanos, head of sustainable investing at Sura Mexico have also been appointed.
Net Zero Investor's Annual Conference | 11th December 2023 | London
Responding to the announcement, Piani told Net Zero Investor this morning that she was "delighted to provide an asset owner’s perspective."
She added: "For long term investors who need to manage the financial risks and opportunities associated with climate change in connection with portfolio decarbonization goals, it’s imperative that we see companies move from disclosure towards action and the implementation of credible transition plans."
"Investors need to step up to ensure systemically important corporate emitters move swiftly to address climate risks and seize investment opportunities that will be created in the transition to net zero."
New member Cashion said he was "excited to continue the work toward greater global market sustainability and positive change for a resilient financial future."
He stressed that "efforts to enhance corporate sustainability and advance net zero initiatives are imperative to fulfilling our fiduciary duty and ensuring enduring financial security.”
Committee
The Steering Committee comprises CEOs and directors from five major investor networks – the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC), Ceres, Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC), Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), as well as ten investor representatives.
Piani and Ewings have been appointed on behalf of the IIGCC, Cashion for Ceres, Wang and Karen Ho both represent the AIGCC while Bujanos comes from the PRI.
Following a recently updated strategy for the initiative’s second phase, aimed at increasing investor representation, each of the five investor networks can now appoint two investor representatives, previously this was only one.
The roles of Steering Committee chair and vice chair rotate every 12 months between different regional representatives. The investor representative term length is 3.5 years with one renewal of a further 3.5 years.
Wang said her new role complements her focus on active engagement.
"My approach to sustainable investing focuses on fundamental investment research supported by proprietary sustainability ratings and tools," she added.
"Through these tools and active engagement, we aim to ensure that the decarbonisation of our investment portfolios is aligned to the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
Karen Ho could not agree more.
She said "investors need to step up to ensure systemically important corporate emitters move swiftly to address climate risks and seize investment opportunities that will be created in the transition to net zero."
"My approach to sustainable investing focuses on fundamental investment research supported by proprietary sustainability ratings and tools."
Departures
Following the new appointments, Seiji Kawazoe, global initiative fellow at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management, will be stepping down in December 2023 as the investor representative for AIGCC, but will remain on the Asia Advisory Group for the initiative.
Simiso Nzima, managing investment director of global equity at CalPERS for Ceres, will also be stepping down.
The full list of Steering Committee members for 2024 are as follows: David Atkin, Chief Executive Officer at Principles for Responsible Investment; Alejandro Bujanos, Head of Sustainable Investing at Sura Mexico; Peter Cashion, Managing Investment Director of Sustainable Investments at CalPERS, Alison Ewings, General Manager ESG at QIC; Andrew Gray, Director of ESG and Stewardship at AustralianSuper; Jane Karen Ho, Head of Stewardship for Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Asset Management; François Humbert, Lead Engagement Manager at Generali Insurance Asset Management (Generali Group); Mindy Lubber, Chief Executive Officer and President at Ceres; Stephanie Maier, Global Head of Sustainable and Impact Investment at GAM Investments; Rebecca Mikula-Wright, Chief Executive Officer of Asia Investor Group on Climate Change and Investor Group on Climate Change; Stephanie Pfiefer, Chief Executive Officer at Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change; Valeria Piani, Head of Stewardship at Phoenix Group; Richard Proudlove, Director of Corporate Engagement at Investor Group on Climate Change; Anne Simpson, Global Head of Sustainability at Franklin Templeton; Flora Wang, Head of Stewardship, Asia at Fidelity International.
