In particular, this first issue addresses the role of long-term institutional investors such as pension funds and life insurance companies.
As well as highlighting the role of actuaries in understanding the long-term implications of this policy challenge, we want to present a broad perspective on the issue, and have invited contributions to this bulletin from a range of important voices in the debate. In this issue, we hear from academia, independent advisers to governments, think tanks and the financial services industry on the specific role that financial services can and should play in encouraging adaptation towards a low carbon economy.
Matthew Bell is the Chief Executive of the Committee on Climate Change. The Committee is an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008. Its purpose is to advise the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on emissions targets and report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change.
Professor Henry Shue is a Senior Research Fellow, Centre for International Studies, Department of Politics and International University of Oxford; and Senior Research Fellow Emeritus, Merton College, Oxford.
Professor Aled Jones is the inaugural Director of the Global Sustainability Institute (GSI) at Anglia Ruskin University. His work in climate finance has been recognised by the State of California and he has received a key to the city of North Little Rock, USA. He is a Co-Investigator for the ESRC Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity. He sits on the Resource & Environment Research Sub-committee for the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries. Dr Craig Rye is an economist working at the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity at the University of Surrey. He is currently working on novel empirical analyses of economic instability and in explorative energy-transition models. He has a PhD in Ocean Physics and BSc in Environmental Sciences.
James Orr and Matthew Scott work for the Prudential Regulation Authority at the Bank of England. James is Chief Actuary, General Insurance and provided oversight of the PRA’s report on climate change and insurance. Matthew was principal author of the PRA’s insurance report and leads on environmental risk and green finance, including supporting the Bank’s work co-chairing the G20’s Green Finance Study Group with People’s Bank of China.
Nico Aspinall FIA works as an independent consultant in the investment management and pensions industry, focussing on DC benefits. He is Chair of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ Resource and Environment Board. The Resource and Environment Board is dedicated to making sustainability issues mainstream in actuarial work and works collaboratively with actuaries, financial institutions and regulators to ensure their analyses and advice include sustainability issues.
The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. It works to understand the investment implications of ESG factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. The PRI acts in the long-term interests of its signatories, of the financial markets and economies in which they operate and ultimately of the environment and society as a whole.
ShareAction’s vision is of an investment system that truly serves savers and communities, and protects our environment for the long term. It is working towards a system in which long-term thinking is recognised as the best way to guarantee healthy returns. It believes that anyone can play a part in changing the investment system for good.
Faith Ward’s career has been dedicated to integrating and reporting on ESG risks in finance and investment. Faith leads engagement with the fund management industry and is involved in industry wide initiatives to improve standards in responsible investment, corporate engagement and fund governance and reporting. The EAPF, part of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), is the pension fund of one of the world’s leading environmental organisations. It is responsible for administering the current and future pension benefits of just under 41,000 members. The EAPF remains one of the best funded in the LGPS.
If you have any questions regarding our policy and public affairs work, please contact the IFoA Policy Team.