UKSIF survey shows pension fund trustees lead progress on responsible investment

The 2009 UKSIF “Responsible Business: Sustainable Pension” report released today shows clear and exciting evidence that a group of Responsible Investment (RI) champions is beginning to emerge among UK corporate pension funds. Trustee leadership is driving this change.

BT Pension Scheme retained its Platinum ranking in this second bi-annual survey, while The Barclays UK Retirement Fund, BP Pension Fund and HBOS Final Salary Pension Scheme all progressed to a Gold ranking from Silver. Three quarters of repeat respondents achieved a higher score this year than in 2007.

The survey found that trustees of three quarters of surveyed funds now believe that ESG (environmental, social, governance) factors can have a material impact on the fund’s investments in the long term. Two thirds of trustees thought it was important to align the plan’s RI policy with the fund sponsor’s CSR policies.

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