Responsible Investment

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Responsible Investment

An ESG hub for PLSA members

A fast-evolving regulatory environment and a significant momentum shift in public and industry attitudes towards climate change and ESG have seen responsible investment become a very high priority for pension schemes and investment managers. 

The PLSA has focussed for several years on supporting schemes in their efforts to implement responsible investment principles and practices. 

Some pension funds are already deeply engaged in achieving responsible investment. However, this is a highly complex area so many others are looking for ways to approach the issue. 

The PLSA is committed to supporting schemes to implement best practice on all responsible investment and stewardship issues. This web page has been designed as a one-stop-shop for PLSA members looking for resources and information on all things related to responsible investment. 

Putting the spotlight on social factors - best practice case studies
28 February 2024
We have worked with members to develop a set of best practice case studies. We know that while social factors are being considered by our members in their investment approaches, general understanding and knowledge can still be limited in this area, and some find social factors confusing to navigate.
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Worthwhile workforce reporting: good practice examples from the UK's biggest companies
16 December 2022
The purpose of this guidance, produced by Railpen, the High Pay Centre, the CIPD, the PLSA and Board Intelligence, is to set out our view of what constitutes good workforce reporting and to highlight examples of best practice.
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Investment relationships for sustainable value creation
01 July 2022
This report deals with issues such as lack of clarity on stewardship expectations, overemphasis on short-term performance, and not taking enough account of the stewardship outcomes which risk undermining longer-term sustainable growth.
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Natural Capital Made Simple
04 May 2022
This guide explores the investment characteristics and opportunities of natural capital and some of the risks that need to be considered.
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How do companies report on their most important asset
08 March 2022
This report, produced in partnership by the CIPD, the PLSA and Railpen, analyses the quality of  disclosures in the 2021 annual reports of FTSE 100 companies against seven key themes: Workforce cost and composition; employee relations and wellbeing; reward; voice; skills, capabilities and recruitment; and response to COVID-19.
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Carbon Emissions Template
31 January 2022
A template developed by members of the PLSA, ABI and IA for investment managers to deliver TCFD data to pension schemes.
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Towards a Greener Future: Case studies from the pension sector
14 October 2021
A number of pension funds set out their experiences, their challenges, and some examples of how they’re responding to the climate emergency. They also offer advice for others who are facing the same challenges – including net zero transitions, producing the first TCFD report, and the important role engagement plays in protecting investments.
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ESG Made Simple 2021
15 December 2021
This guide explains ESG as an investment concept and shows how it can be integrated into the investment strategy and oversight of pension schemes. It includes a glossary of relevant terms, highlights key ESG-promoting organisations and suggests a template for pension schemes to help them create their own ESG policy.
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Responsible Investment Quality Mark: Consultation on Standards
30 June 2021
We’re consulting on a new set of standards that recognise responsible investment by pension schemes. The Responsible Investment Quality Mark will offer a new standard to which schemes can aspire, the opportunity to share best practice among schemes, and a scheme member-focussed way to demonstrate activities in this area.
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FCA Enhancing climate-related disclosures PLSA response
10 September 2021
In our response to the FCA consultation the PLSA asks that the FCA’s proposals for metrics should be more closely aligned with the DWP’s requirements. This will allow clarity within the industry on expectations, and will limit confusion around what figures are the “more accurate” ones.
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A Changing Climate: Update
30 June 2021
A lot of progress has been made since PLSA published its report A Changing Climate: how pension funds can invest for the future. Below is a brief update on the progress made against each of the recommendations made in the report.
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A changing climate: How pension funds can invest for the future
14 October 2020
Pension schemes and their service providers take climate change seriously and want to invest with a sense that a carbon-constrained future is coming. However there are barriers to their being able to do so. In this document the PLSA identifies the barriers, and proposes solutions.
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Engaging the engagers: A practical toolkit for schemes to achieve effective stewardship through their managers
01 July 2020
This joint guidance from the PLSA and the Investor Forum supports schemes in holding their asset managers to account on engagement and stewardship issues. It includes suggested questions for schemes to ask their managers, as well as providing a broader framework for assessing stewardship and engagement approaches.
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PLSA Implementation Statement guidance for trustees
30 July 2020
This guide provides practical support for trustees of both DB and DC/hybrid schemes around the production of their new “implementation statements”, where trustees must disclose how they have followed the objectives and policies set out in their Statement of Investment Principles.
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Climate Indexes Made Simple
24 August 2020
Climate change is becoming one of the most important long-term investment risk factors, meaning trustees have an increasing need to measure and manage climate risk and to build climate resilient investment portfolios This guide, sponsored by MSCI, will help you understand how climate change indexes work and how they can help mitigate risk and promote good stewardship.
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ESG & Stewardship: A practical guide to trustee duties
18 June 2019
This guide provides practical, step-by-step guidance to help trustees meaningfully consider, design and implement ESG and stewardship approaches. It uses myth-busters, case studies and questions that trustees can instantly use with their advisers and managers and is relevant for all trustees.
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ESG risk in default funds: analysis of the UK’s DC pension market
21 February 2017
The number of savers enrolled in DC workplace schemes in the UK is expected to rise to 17 million (up from 11 million today) while the aggregate pension pot value is forecasted to reach £554 billion b...
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More light, less heat: A framework for pension fund action on climate change
06 December 2017
The climate is changing as a result of human activity – and this will have profound consequences for pension funds’ investments. As such, governance bodies must take steps to prepare for the economic ramifications of climate change.
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Hidden Talent 2: Has workforce reporting by the FTSE 100 improved?
02 April 2019
In April 2019 PLSA published new research, updating its previous work on corporate reporting of workforce-related issues, based on the framework set out in our stewardship toolkit from Summer 2016.
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Hidden talent: An analysis of the FTSE 100
15 November 2017
What do companies annual reports tell us about their workers? The PLSA has published new research on corporate reporting of workforce-related issues.
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Understanding the worth of the workforce – a stewardship toolkit for pension funds
16 July 2016
The Association has published a stewardship ‘toolkit’ for pension funds, providing advice on the type of information our members should request from the companies they invest in about their workforces...
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Watch the 'Investing for good' session from PLSA Annual Conference 2020