Macquarie Asset Management has reaffirmed its commitment to managing its portfolio in line with net zero emissions by 2040 with the release of its latest Sustainability Report. Macquarie Asset Management has also become one of the first large asset managers to sign The Climate Pledge, joining a global coalition of more than 100 climate leaders who share the ambition of achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early.
The report details Macquarie Asset Management's sustainability efforts across its infrastructure, renewables, real estate, and agriculture portfolio. It also examines the successes and challenges encountered as the business integrates sustainability through its investment cycle.
In the report, the world's largest infrastructure manager outlines an update on its progress towards achieving its commitment to invest and manage its portfolio in line with net zero carbon emissions by 2040. To date:
- 65 per cent of Macquarie Asset Management's infrastructure portfolio companies have begun their journey to net zero, establishing mechanisms to track and report greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption data.
- 22 assets in Macquarie Asset Management's infrastructure portfolio have already put decarbonisation targets in place, with this figure to grow in the coming months as net zero business plans are finalised ahead of the firm's specified 2022 target.
Ben Way, Group Head of Macquarie Asset Management, said; "In December 2020, we announced our commitment to invest and manage our portfolio in line with net zero emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the goals of the Paris Agreement. Since then, we have been working closely with our portfolio companies to ensure they have the capabilities, and resources needed to measure their emissions, set reduction targets, and develop realistic plans to achieve them."
Beyond detailing Macquarie Asset Management's net zero roadmap, the report provides insight into changing regulatory and investor expectations across key sustainability considerations and highlights other crucial priorities such as diversity and inclusion, climate resilience and technology. It includes learnings from improving digital inclusion, implementing sustainable farming practices, and driving efficiency in solar power generation.
Chris Leslie, Head of Sustainability for Macquarie Asset Management, said: "We are trusted to manage essential assets that impact people's daily lives - including housing, water, power, communications and transport. We recognise the responsibility and the opportunity we have to place sustainability at the centre of everything we do. It brings a strong sense of purpose to our team's daily activities. We are proud of the progress we have made so far but we have a long journey ahead of us, and that is exciting."
The release of the report coincides with Macquarie Asset Management's signing of The Climate Pledge, becoming one of the first large asset managers to do so.
"In a year where the world has grappled with a global pandemic, racial injustice and social inequality, there are reasons to be optimistic. We have seen the world coming together on the need to take real and measurable action to address climate change. Although we acknowledge we have much more to do, we are proud to be contributing to this meaningful change and to be joining other climate leaders in signing the Climate Pledge," said Ben Way.
"Macquarie Asset Management today joins a growing collective of companies in the financial services sector committing to and implementing sustainable practices as a part of The Climate Pledge, and we're thrilled to welcome them," said Sally Fouts, director of The Climate Pledge at Amazon. "We look forward to working with them to create the low-carbon economy of the future."
The more than 100 Pledge signatories in total generate more than $US1.4 trillion in global annual sales and have more than 5 million employees across 25 industries in 16 countries-demonstrating the collective impact The Climate Pledge can have in addressing climate change.
