Responsible Investing
Responsible investment considers a range of environmental, social, governance (ESG) and climate factors in conjunction with normal financial analysis.
Our journey with responsible investment began in 2015 with work that led to our Responsible Investment Framework. This has evolved and continues today with the renewal of our commitment in our Responsible Investment Policy.
CFS is a member of a range of industry groups. By participating in these groups, CFS can take part in discussions and learn from the broader industry about the risks, opportunities and challenges that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues may have on the value of investments.
You can read more about the organisations and initiatives we are involved with below.
Principles of Responsible Investing
We became a signatory to the UN-endorsed Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI) in April 2017. As such, where appropriate to the asset class and investment product, we adhere to the PRI principles. These involve incorporating ESG factors into investment analysis and decision-making processes, being active owners, and seeking appropriate disclosure on ESG issues from the entities in which we invest.
Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)
We are a member of RIAA. With membership including super funds, fund managers, banks, consultants, researchers, brokers, financial advisers and individuals, it is the largest and most active network of people engaged in responsible, ethical and impact investing across Australia and New Zealand. RIAA is dedicated to ensuring capital is aligned with achieving a healthy society, environment and economy. They do this by influencing policy and regulation to support long-term responsible investment and sustainable capital markets and by being a trusted source of information about responsible investment.
Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC)
CFS became a member of the Investor Group on Climate Change in 2020. Through our membership of the IGCC, we are supporting collaboration between super funds and the investment community to address the risks, opportunities and challenges that climate change may have on the value of investments. The IGCC also allows CFS to understand and contribute to relevant climate policy developments.
Investors Against Slavery and Trafficking – Asia Pacific (IAST-APAC)
CFS signed the Investors Against Slavery and Trafficking Statement in November 2020, which introduced us to Investors Against Slavery and Trafficking – Asia Pacific (IAST-APAC). IAST-APAC is an investor-led initiative convened to promote effective action among investee companies in the APAC region to find, fix and prevent modern slavery, labour exploitation and human trafficking in their value chains.
Climate Action 100+
CFS became a signatory to Climate Action 100+ in October 2021 and re-signed as a member for Phase 2 in 2024. Climate Action 100+ is an investor-led initiative to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change. Together with other investors, CFS takes part in engagements with companies who have a major role in the transition to net zero emissions. As investors, this group has an opportunity to effect change, diversification and transformation among the most carbon-intensive companies through their equity and fixed-income holdings. This is done through direct engagement with companies to support corporate practices that are consistent with long term value protection and creation.
PRI Advance
CFS became a supporter of a new initiative led by the PRI in late 2023.
Advance is a PRI-led collaborative initiative where institutional investors aim to protect and enhance risk-adjusted returns by advancing progress on human rights through investor stewardship.
40:40 Vision
CFS is a supporting partner of the 40:40 Vision initiative led by HESTA, to pursue gender diversity in executive leadership in ASX300 companies.
Some other initiatives we have been involved in:
- October 2018: Colonial First State (CFS) became a signatory to the United Nations (UN) endorsed Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge to support tobacco free investments within our FirstChoice portfolios.
- February 2019: Colonial First State has confirmed its support for an open letter from institutional investors calling on index providers to remove controversial weapons from global indices.
- May 2020 Signed PRI Collaboration – Investor Statement on Coronavirus Response. This urged investors and investee companies to work together to ensure the welfare of their employees, understanding the link between employee welfare and long-term viability of the company.
- November 2020 Signed Investors Against Slavery and Trafficking Statement. This investor statement outlined the investor interest in impacts of modern slavery and encouraged companies to go beyond the bare minimum of legal compliance with the Australian Modern Slavery Act.
- June 2021 Signed Global Investor Statement to Governments on the Climate Crisis. This called on governments for greater public policy action to enable investors to meet their climate commitments and limit global warming in line with the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
- September 2024 Signed the 2024 Global Investor Statement to Governments on the Climate Crisis. The most comprehensive investor call for climate action to date, statement delivers an investor call for governments around the world to raise their climate ambition and implement meaningful policies, or risk missing out on a massive wave of investment in tackling the climate crisis.
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Information on this webpage is provided by Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (AIL) and Colonial First State Investments Limited ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232468 (CFSIL). It may include general advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances. You can find the Target Market Determinations (TMD) for our financial products at www.cfs.com.au/tmd, which include a description of who a financial product might suit. You should read the Financial Services Guide (FSG) available online for information about our services. This information is based on current requirements and laws as at the date of publication.