Our commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner

November 8, 2022

Climate change poses a risk to the environment, economic systems, society and our communities worldwide. The demand for governments and corporations to do more to tackle the climate emergency is growing. 

There are calls for greater emission reductions, more climate financing and strong adaptation initiatives. As responsible stewards of capital, we know this calls for urgent action. Our industry must commit to creating a cleaner, more inclusive and sustainable future.

To demonstrate our commitment, SLGI Asset Management Inc. signed on to the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative in November 2021, to formalize our intention to:

  • achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner,
  • support investing aligned with net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, and
  • make significant and meaningful strides by 2030.

Climate change calls for action

Our initial NZAM commitment is, by 2030, to have 24% of our total assets under management on the path towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We plan to achieve this by engaging with our current investment managers and adding new managers and funds to support net zero strategies. We have selected certain stand-alone funds to be “in scope” (i.e., fall within our 24% target), many of which are underlying funds in our multi-asset solutions. We are also committed to increasing our offering of climate-friendly investment solutions. Over time we expect to increase our NZAM commitment.

Engagement is key

At SLGI Asset Management Inc., we serve a broad array of Clients across retail and institutional channels. Our first and foremost responsibility is to act in the best interests of our Clients, helping them grow and protect their investments to meet their financial goals. We also have an obligation to do our part to mitigate one of society’s biggest challenges. The need for education and awareness around responsible investing across Canada is key.

We employ a ‘manager-of-managers’ approach, which  means that our initial path to implementing net zero in our portfolios is through our manager selection and engagement process. It also means we are uniquely positioned to observe the various net zero approaches put forward by our managers and educate them on best practices.

We will engage with our investment managers to influence them to:

  • accelerate progress on their sustainability-oriented journey,
  • align their portfolios, particularly those managed on our behalf, with net zero by 2050, and
  • engage with the companies they invest in, particularly those in high-emitting sectors or influential in the global landscape, to take decisive action and direction in the fight against climate change.

Looking beyond climate change

We believe climate action is one of the most important steps we are capable of taking in creating a sustainable future for our world. But our sustainability commitment does not stop there. We have established seven key priorities—encompassing diversity, equity & inclusion, ESG integration, industry engagement and more—to help guide us in our path toward sustainability and address societal challenges. We will continue to share our progress on each of these priorities, and we invite you to follow our journey.