Please see the below press release from M&G:
M&G plc (M&G) is today joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) and announcing it wants to end investment in thermal coal by 2030 for developed countries and 2040 for emerging markets.
M&G’s coal phase out plan is a key step towards achieving its goal of net zero carbon emissions across its investment portfolios by 2050 at the latest, and helping to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change.
As stewards of long term capital, actively managing the savings of millions of people around the world, M&G will use its influence to accelerate the transition to a greener, cleaner economy with ambitious plans to cease all investment in new coal mines and coal-fired plants and to exclude public companies which cannot commit to a complete phase out of coal by 2030 in developed countries and 2040 in emerging markets.
As an asset owner, M&G will be implementing this approach to coal-related investments across its own internal portfolios over the coming year. As an asset manager, M&G will be working with clients to align existing mandates and funds to this position.
At the same time, through its growing range of sustainable investment funds, M&G is giving institutional clients and individual customers the opportunity to invest in technologies, infrastructure and services which offer financial returns as well as making a positive difference to the environment.
A link to M&G’s full position on investment in coal can be found here. https://www.mandgplc.com/responsibility/coal
Speaking at PPCA’s Global Summit today, M&G plc Chief Executive, John Foley, said: “An accelerated phase-out of coal is essential if we want to limit global warming and ensure a sustainable future for our planet. We are delighted to join the PPCA and fully support its work to encourage businesses, governments and other organisations to commit to a transition away from coal in the run up to COP26 later this year.”
Welcoming M&G’s commitment to the PPCA, Nigel Topping, COP 26 High Level Climate Champion, adds: “Phasing out thermal coal is a critical early step on the race to net zero. PPCA is a key part of the COP 26 Energy Transition Campaign, and it is fantastic to see M&G making this commitment in response to attending the PPCA ministerial round table co-hosted by the UK and Canada.”
As our clients will know, Prudential’s PruFund range of funds are managed by M&G’s multi asset team, Treasury & Investment Office (T&IO) – one of the largest and most well resourced in the UK.
This is great news, and another step along the ESG road for M&G.
M&G plc aim to be carbon net zero as a corporate entity by 2030. Further, they aim to achieve 40% female and 20% ethnicity representation in their leadership by 2025.
Prudential Assurance Company aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions across AUMA (assets under management and administration) by 2050, of which the PruFund range is a material part, in line with the Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance.
The scale of PruFund allows the management team to use segregated mandates to apply a variety of implementation techniques for their ESG views, up to and including, exclusion of certain stocks or sectors from portfolios.
Currently their policy excludes investment in certain controversial weapons companies, namely cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines.
M&G look to the asset managers they select to engage with companies as active owners that help foster a more sustainable economy, participate in voting on key issues such as Climate Change and ensure that ESG is integrated into their investment processes. The majority of PruFund assets are managed by M&G, whose Responsible Investment team provide issuer and sector specific ESG risk and opportunity analysis and education on sustainability themes to portfolio managers and analysts.
Investments have recently been made with the PruFund range by purchasing a solar power plant in the Nevada desert.
Keep checking back for more ESG related content along with our usual market updates and outlooks from a variety of fund managers.
Andrew Lloyd
03/03/2021