A total of 50 employers have signed the new Green Pensions Charter to ensure that their pensions are invested more sustainably in order to take action on climate change.
The charter, launched today (18 May) by the campaigns Make My Money Matter and Count Us In, has 50 signatories including Ikea, Brewdog, Oxfam, EY, Octopus Group and WWF.
The campaign will see the employers work with their pension provider or trustees to secure a green pension and support the growing call for all providers to commit to net zero emissions targets in the lead up to the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) later this year.
The current signatories include 19 BCorps: organisations that have already pledged to act sustainably throughout their operations.
Peter Jelkeby, CEO at Ikea UK, said: “At Ikea, we are working to transform our business to become circular and climate positive by 2030, across our entire value chain. This cannot happen without ensuring our investments are on a more sustainable pathway.
“As such, we must take the steps necessary to transition our future investments, including pensions, towards net zero to ensure a cleaner, greener and more inclusive recovery."
He added that by supporting the Green Pensions Charter, Ikea UK and Ireland can continue to make progress in this area and create greater visibility for co-workers around this "often overlooked but critical part of the sustainability journey".
Richard Curtis, filmmaker and co-founder of Make My Money Matter, said: “The launch of the world’s first Green Pensions Charter brings together a pioneering mix of brands, organisations and even football teams all of whom have one thing in common: a commitment to make their money matter.
“This charter supports the growing demand across society for pensions we can be proud of, and acts as a critical reminder to the industry that the £2.6 trillion circulating in UK pension schemes must be invested in ways which build a healthy planet, as well as deliver healthy returns.
“With a UK-hosted COP26 on the horizon, we hope our charter encourages [employers] to follow in the footsteps of IKEA, EY and Octopus Energy to green their pensions, and show the pensions industry that their customers want them to take serious action on the climate crisis.”
Eric Levine, leadership at Count Us In, said: “If all [organisations] aligned their pensions with their values, billions could be directed towards clean energy, affordable housing, medical research and green infrastructure; they could be at the heart of the solution of the climate crisis.”
The full list of charter signatories is:
- TED
- IKEA
- EY
- Brewdog
- Save the Children
- WWF
- Ecotricity
- Oxfam
- BITC
- B Corp UK
- Albert
- UN Global Compact UK
- Greenhouse PR
- The One Campaign
- The Big Issue
- The Big Exchange
- BOND
- Good Energy
- Tumelo
- Ramboll UK
- Protect Our Winters
- Music Declares Emergency
- Ninja Tunes
- BAFTA
- Forest Green Rovers
- Octopus Energy - BCorp
- Ella's Kitchen - BCorp
- Gong Communications - BCorp
- Flooglebinder - BCorp
- Greenspace - BCorp
- TYF Adventure- BCorp
- LEAP - BCorp
- TSIP - BCorp
- On Purpose - BCorp
- Wasafiri - BCorp
- Full-Stop - BCorp
- Adam Smith International - BCorp
- Pentameter - BCorp
- Forster Communication - BCorp
- Compare your footprint - BCorp
- House of Baukjen - BCorp
- Green Element - BCorp
- Maanch - BCorp
- Neighbourly - BCorp
- Coffee & TV - BCorp
- The Travel Collective / WastelandSki
- Giki
- Triodos
- QuietRoom
- Websummit
