As a recognized leader in responsible investment in Québec, Bâtirente undertook an ambitious climate commitment in 2020. Here are positive and encouraging results for the future.
Climate change has been one of the ongoing drivers of our sustainable investment actions to date. We believe that the transition to an economy aligned with the Paris Agreement objectives requires a multidimensional approach. We must reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while simultaneously facilitating the funding of solutions and resilience, and convince companies to commit to improving their energy efficiency, migrating toward renewable energy, and even transforming their business models.
This is why we have set these objectives for 2025:
- Gradually reduce our exposure to climate risk by 50%: we reduced our carbon footprint by 14% within two years. We are confident that we will meet this objective by 2025, as we regularly analyze our portfolios to improve their resilience to climate change.
- Invest in transition: we significantly increased our impact investments in the past year. We are optimistic when it comes to meeting our objective to double our impact investments, which actively contribute to environmental solutions. For example, we invest in green bonds because these help fund a low-carbon economy while earning a competitive return. Among other things, these securities are aimed at funding GHG reduction or climate change adaptation projects.
- Target our shareholder engagement: through our partner Æquo, Shareholder Engagement Services, we carry out dialogues with the companies in which we invest to encourage them to implement sustainable business models to improve their corporate climate performance. In 2020, Æquo held dialogues with 32 companies on the climate issue on various themes, from energy and emissions management to energy transition, and even environmental impact.
- Work with our partners: we believe that tackling climate change requires unprecedented global collaboration. We are committed to mobilizing all sectors of society in the transition to a low-carbon economy. For example, on October 2021 we became signatory of the [wpfilebase tag=fileurl id=357 linktext=’*Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change’ /] drafted by the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). The goal of this initiative is to help bring together Canadian institutional investors to issue a common statement on the occasion of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).
We will continue to forge ahead and take concrete action in the best interest of our members, future generations, and the planet.