Background

As part of the UK's presidency of COP26, the UK Government encouraged industry to commit to support the objective of transitioning the economy to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Specifically, the Race to Zero Breakthroughs were launched in January 2021, setting a target for industry to make a net zero commitment which is aligned with the UN-led Race to Zero. 

The Race to Zero is an umbrella initiative for net zero climate change initiatives involving non-state actors. This includes cities, large corporates, small businesses, charities and parts of the financial services industry, among many others. This was launched in 2020 to act as a counterpart to the net zero commitments which have been made by national governments since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, if not even earlier.

Following the launch of Race to Zero, the industry launched its own commitment – the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative – in December 2020.

Net Zero Asset Managers initiative

The IA is proud to support members signing up to the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative and was named as the first official supporting partner organisation to NZAM in July 2021. To date, investment managers with £7trn of assets under management in the UK have made these net zero commitments. This represents nearly three-quarters of the AUM in the UK.

By becoming a supporting partner organisation of NZAM, the IA is formalising a commitment we made with the full support of the Board to support the Race to Zero, the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative and any members considering becoming signatories.

Understanding the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative  

Listen back to our webinar with the COP26 Private Finance team and IIGCC recorded on 17 May 2021. The webinar provides an overview of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative and covers the key requirements and benefits for investment managers joining the initiative, how the initiative operates, and how investment managers can join.

Methodology

The Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) commitment requires signatories to demonstrate that their approach to net zero in based on a robust methodology. The commitment is described as "methodology neutral" and investment managers are encouraged to select a target-setting methodology which is appropriate for their business. Nonetheless, the NZAM network partners recognise and endorse three target setting approaches:

NZAM published its first annual Progress Report in November 2021. Of the more than 40 investment managers to provide target disclosures in this first progress report, the majority stated that they were using PAII’s Net Zero Investment Framework as a guide to methodology. The SBTi's financial sector guidance was the second most commonly used framework.

Investment managers are invited to explain their rationale if they select an alternative methodology. The small minority of NZAM signatories which have chosen an alternative methodology have stated that is based on the EU Climate Transition Benchmark (EU CTB) or EU Paris-Aligned Benchmark (EU PAB).

For investment managers intending to produce a climate action plan but not yet wishing to make a net zero commitment, the Investor Agenda has produced the Investor Climate Action Plans (ICAPs) Expectations Ladder and Guidance, a framework which it describes as "inclusive and unique in that it sets out expectations for investors wherever they may be on their climate journey."

IA Net Zero Forum

We held the first meeting of the IA’s new Net Zero Forum on Tuesday 12 October. For this first meeting we were joined by Daisy Streatfeild of the IIGCC to discuss the Investor Agenda’s Expectations Ladder for Investor Climate Action Plans.

We hope the forum will enable peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and provide a platform for all IA members to raise questions and find solutions in their journey to net zero.

If you are interested in joining the Net Zero Forum please contact Paul Scaping. We would like to understand the issues, relating to both investments and operations, on which members would find it useful for each forum meeting to focus. To support this, I would be grateful if any members wishing to attend the forum and raise a question could submit it in advance. To enable an exchange of information which supports the whole industry we would particularly like to encourage members with experience of pursuing net zero policies to attend and share this experience with colleagues.

'The Path to Net Zero' bulletin

The Investment Association publishes a monthly net zero news bulletin, 'The Path to Net Zero'. This newsletter will keep members updated on developments from the IA and UK policymakers towards the goal of tackling climate change. 

This bulletin is sent to relevant IA committees and all subscribers to the IA sustainability and responsible investment mailing list. To ensure you're subscribed to future editions please click here and follow the instructions.

Previous editions of the bulletin can be viewed at the links below.

2021: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, COP26 preview, COP26 outcomes, December.

2022: January, FebruaryMarch, April, May.

Document library

Government, regulatory and policymaker publications

Progress in Reducing Emissions, the UK Climate Change Committee's report to Parliament (June 2021)

Transforming our Systems Together, a Race to Zero Breakthroughs special paper (Jan 2021)

Net Zero Review: Interim Report, HM Treasury (Dec 2020)

The Paris Agreement, UNFCCC treaty (Dec 2015)

IA consultation responses

Treasury Committee inquiry on Decarbonisation and Green FinanceIA written evidence (Aug 2020); Final Report (Apr 2021)Government response (July 2021)

IA circulars

Key contact

Image of Paul Scaping

Paul Scaping

Public Policy Specialist

> [email protected]

Last update: 12 May 2022