Hymans Robertson has joined the Net Zero Investment Consultants Initiative (NZICI) which commits to supporting the goal of global net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner. The leading pensions and financial services consultancy has signed up to the initiative alongside ten other investment consultants and all have collective responsibility for $10trillion of assets. The development of the NZICI has been led by the Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Groups (both within the UK and US) and is endorsed by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

Climate change, as part of a broader responsible investment agenda, has been a key priority for Hymans Robertson as it celebrates its centenary. At the start of 2021, the firm set out its vision of a net-zero carbon future as part of a climate pledge and the firm recently announced that it has become carbon neutral. The firm is also working to halve its carbon footprint and offset its historic carbon emissions by 2025. Earlier this month the firm also became a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code.

Explaining the importance of making this commitment to the Net Zero Investment Consultants Initiative (NZICI), Simon Jones, Head of Responsible Investment, Hymans Robertson says:

“Addressing the climate emergency is imperative. By joining our peers to launch this initiative, we are sending a clear message that the financial services industry has to play its part in driving emissions reduction. The NZICI recognises the pertinent role that investment consultants have as both educators and influencers and commits us to helping our clients take the right sort of actions. There can be no hiding place.

“We want to see real world change. We want to see a turning point in global carbon emissions. And we want to ensure that our clients are equipped with the most up to date skills and knowledge to address the risks and opportunities that the transition to a low carbon economy will inevitably bring. The aim of the NZICI is that net zero becomes a standard consideration in investment advice and we will continue working to achieve this across our client base.”

Commenting on the impetus to the firms work on climate change this commitment will provide, Lisa Deas, Chair of the Hymans Robertson’s Climate Change Working Group added:

“The climate pledge we made at the start of 2021 was a milestone for us, recognising the progress that we had already made to ensure climate change was being addressed across our business, but also the sort of business we wanted to be. The NZICI is another step on our journey and one that commits us to continuing to do more. We’ve already spent time this year building knowledge and capability within our firm and our consultants, but we will continue to focus on integrating climate risk and net zero alignment into our advice. This is critical to ensure better futures for our clients and those they represent.”