Bâtirente accelerates its climate commitment

29 Nov 2023 | Press Releases

Bâtirente accelerates its climate commitment
Montréal, November 29, 2023 – As a leader in responsible investment, Bâtirente unveiled its ambitious climate commitment in 2020. After three years of efforts and concrete actions, we are proud to announce that we have achieved all our objectives for 2025 and will continue to pursue these efforts for the future. Climate change has been one of the ongoing drivers of our sustainable investment actions to date. On the eve of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) on climate change, we reiterate that the transition to an economy aligned with the Paris Agreement objectives requires a multidimensional approach. To that end, in 2020, we unveiled an ambitious climate commitment whose aim was to progressively reduce our climate risk exposure by 50%, invest in the transition, target our shareholder engagement and collaborate with our partners. The commitment’s objectives have now been reached:
  • We reduced greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the equity portfolios of Bâtirente Funds by 50% compared with their 2018 carbon footprint.
  • We tripled our impact investing, from $75M in 2018 to $225M in 2023.
  • Through our partner Æquo, Shareholder Engagement Services, we have carried out dialogues with the companies in which we invest. For example, in 2022, 45 objectives were met, 73%  of which directly related to our climate commitment.
  • We contribute to numerous initiatives to emphasize their collective impact. Among other things, we are a founding member of Climate Engagement Canada (CEC).
 “Faced with this climate crisis, we are pleased to be able to contribute by going beyond our commitments. Clearly, we will continue to forge ahead and take concrete action that ensures we are part of the solution, in the best interest of our members, future generations and the planet. Responsible investment has always been at the heart of Bâtirente’s values and actions, and it’s part of our DNA,” said Bâtirente CEO Éric Filion. About Bâtirente Bâtirente is a group retirement system created in 1987 at the initiative of the CSN. It allows 27,000 workers, grouped in over 300 labour unions, to benefit from pension plans tailored to their needs by pooling their savings. A pioneer in responsible investing, Bâtirente believes that actively managing its investee companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks helps ensure sound capitalization of the pension plan as well as long-term economic and social development, which are both required for sustainable financial performance. For more information Katya Vanbeselaere, Communications and Marketing Manager 514-525-5740, ext. 2425 kv@batirente.com

Montréal, November 29, 2023 – As a leader in responsible investment, Bâtirente unveiled its ambitious climate commitment in 2020. After three years of efforts and concrete actions, we are proud to announce that we have achieved all our objectives for 2025 and will continue to pursue these efforts for the future.

Climate change has been one of the ongoing drivers of our sustainable investment actions to date. On the eve of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) on climate change, we reiterate that the transition to an economy aligned with the Paris Agreement objectives requires a multidimensional approach. To that end, in 2020, we unveiled an ambitious climate commitment whose aim was to progressively reduce our climate risk exposure by 50%, invest in the transition, target our shareholder engagement and collaborate with our partners.

The commitment’s objectives have now been reached:

  • We reduced greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the equity portfolios of Bâtirente Funds by 50% compared with their 2018 carbon footprint.
  • We tripled our impact investing, from $75M in 2018 to $225M in 2023.
  • Through our partner Æquo, Shareholder Engagement Services, we have carried out dialogues with the companies in which we invest. For example, in 2022, 45 objectives were met, 73%  of which directly related to our climate commitment.
  • We contribute to numerous initiatives to emphasize their collective impact. Among other things, we are a founding member of Climate Engagement Canada (CEC).

 “Faced with this climate crisis, we are pleased to be able to contribute by going beyond our commitments. Clearly, we will continue to forge ahead and take concrete action that ensures we are part of the solution, in the best interest of our members, future generations and the planet. Responsible investment has always been at the heart of Bâtirente’s values and actions, and it’s part of our DNA,” said Bâtirente CEO Éric Filion.

About Bâtirente
Bâtirente is a group retirement system created in 1987 at the initiative of the CSN. It allows 27,000 workers, grouped in over 300 labour unions, to benefit from pension plans tailored to their needs by pooling their savings.

A pioneer in responsible investing, Bâtirente believes that actively managing its investee companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks helps ensure sound capitalization of the pension plan as well as long-term economic and social development, which are both required for sustainable financial performance.

For more information
Katya Vanbeselaere, Communications and Marketing Manager
514-525-5740, ext. 2425
kv@batirente.com

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