During 2023 Swedbank Robur continued to take an active part in driving the fund industry in a sustainable direction. For example, their Nature strategy was updated and two article 9 funds focusing on climate (Climate Bond and Climate Bond High Yield) were launched. The fund company also took an important step to increase the transparency when it comes to financial instruments and sustainable investments by extending their climate reporting on fixed income to include the disclosure of the carbon footprinti on their sovereign bond portfolio.

Like climate change, degradation of nature will have negative effects on the economy. Over half of the world's GDP is either highly or moderately dependent on natural resources and ecosystem services. To change this negative course, Swedbank Robur, among other things, updated its Nature Strategy during 2023. The fund company was also one of the co-founders of Nature Action 100, a global investor engagement initiative focused on reversing nature and biodiversity loss.

"Cooperation is a key factor to turn this negative development around. By actively participate in international investor initiatives such as Nature Action 100, Finance for Biodiversity Pledge and Net Zero Asset Manager we strive to make a real difference for our planet and its resources, as well as at the same time create long-term value to our savers", says Pia Gisgård, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Governance at Swedbank Robur.  

During the year, Swedbank Robur focused on having dialogues with companies within sectors that have a large impact on climate and nature, to address the climate change and questions regarding nature and biodiversity.

"This strategy helps us handle climate risks and to identify good investment opportunities that support the transition and create value to our shareholders in a sound way. Thanks to hard work, dedication, and extensive know-how, we are on track with our trajectory targets to ensure that our combined fund capital is aligned with the Paris Agreement 1.5°C target by 2025 and placed in carbon-neutral investments by 2040", says Pia Gisgård, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Governance at Swedbank Robur.  
Highlights in Swedbank Robur's Climate Report 2023:  

  • Increased its share of investments with verified net-zero targets from 33% of assets under management to 44% (2022-2023). Meaning that they are on track with the forecast trajectory set to meet the target of 60% of assets under management by 2030 and 100% by 2040. 
  • Ahead of its forecast carbon intensity reduction trajectory in their assets under management.
  • Ahead of its forecast share of renewable energy trajectory in their assets under management.

More information:
See attached report (pdf).and/or Swedbank Robur Climate & Nature Report 2023 (link)

Contact
Carina Sesser Nylund, Head of Press and Information, Swedbank Robur, +46 72 230 52 64

Risk information
Historical growth is no guarantee of future yields. The value of your fund savings can both rise and fall, which is why there can be no guarantee that you will get back your original investment. A fund categorized as risk class 6-7 has a high risk both for increases and decreases in the value of the fund units. Please read prospectuses available on our website or visit a retailer.

(i) An increase of the fund company's climate reporting on fixed income to include the carbon footprint on their sovereign bond portfolio. As of their knowledge, they are the first asset manager to report that data, which covers 9% of their total fixed income fund capital.

Swedbank Robur is a wholly owned subsidiary to Swedbank and active in Swedbank's four home markets. Swedbank Robur was founded in 1967 and offers more than 80 mutual funds, institutional and discretionary asset management, and management of pension funds. The number of customers is 3 million in Sweden and 1 million in the Baltic countries. Assets under management are approximately SEK 1614 billion (as per Dec 31, 2023). Swedbank Robur's vision is to become a world leader in sustainable value creation.

 

https://news.cision.com/swedbank/r/swedbank-robur-s-climate-and-nature-report-2023,c3958508

https://mb.cision.com/Main/67/3958508/2720775.pdf

https://mb.cision.com/Public/67/3958508/90672a14525b487d.pdf

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