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Insight Investment

Insight Investment is a global asset manager primarily serving institutional clients. It joined the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative on 20 April 2021 and its initial target disclosure was published on 1 May 2022.

Initial Target Disclosure: May 2022

Percentage of assets covered by the Net Zero Asset Managers Commitment Statement

41% of total AUM (USD $475 billion)

Information on interim target(s) covering the proportion of assets to be managed in line with net zero

Baseline(s):

2020

Portfolio decarbonisation reference baseline

169tCO2e/$mn

Temperature ratings: 2020 – 2.4°C

2020

Portfolio coverage baseline

Sovereign bonds: 100%

Sovereign bonds: High or very high under Germanwatch CCPI framework and almost sufficient or 1.5°C Paris Agreement compatible under Climate Action Tracker

Target(s):

2023

Engagement threshold target

2023 – 50% of corporate bond and equity financed emissions to be either net zero aligned or aligning to NZ or subject to direct/ collaborative engagement.

2025

Engagement threshold target

70% of corporate bond and equity financed emissions to be either net zero aligned or aligning to NZ or subject to direct/collaborative engagement.

2025

Portfolio decarbonisation reference target

30%

2030

Portfolio decarbonisation reference target

Portfolio decarbonisation: 50%

Temperature rating: 1.95°C

2040

Portfolio decarbonisation reference target

Temperature rating: 1.50°C

2050

Portfolio decarbonisation reference target

50%

GHG scopes included:

The portfolio level decarbonisation targets currently cover Scope 1 and 2 only, albeit we will look to add Scope 3 to these targets in due course. The ITR target incorporates Scopes 1, 2 and 3.

Methodology:

Net Zero Investment Framework

Science Based Target initiative for Financial Institutions

Scenario(s):

IPCC special report on global warming of 1.5°C

Additional information

Proportion of AUM committed:

Insight’s initial commitment covers 75% of UK managed corporate bonds and equities (mainly for European and UK clients). We have not currently committed 100% of these assets due to our concentration in segregated mandates and resulting lack of clarity on adoption. US managed corporate assets are not included, with implications for ERISA accounts currently unresolved.

In addition, we cover 100% of our UK sovereign holdings – the largest constituent of our total sovereign assets. We envisage introducing similar methodologies for other sovereign bonds and developing methodologies for more esoteric assets.

Ultimately, the proportion committed will depend on asset and geographical mix over time. Our significant derivative holding means it may be impossible to reach close to 100% unless relevant methodologies are developed.

Policy on coal and other fossil fuel investments:

As part of our net zero strategy, Insight has developed a science-based policy relating to thermal coal investments where we commit to ensure any holdings we have related to thermal coal usage will have a clear and actionable plan to exit coal (SBTi definition – < 5% revenues) by 2030 for developed market holdings and 2040 for emerging market holdings. This is in line with the IPCC requirements to limit global warming to 1.5°C, while balancing the imperatives of a just transition as stated in the Paris Agreement. Insight will look to achieve this, where possible, through effective engagement as we feel this is likely to achieve a better real-world outcome. However, the policy developed also has an escalation function which may ultimately lead to divestment if coal exit strategies are not sufficiently aspirational.

Please find more information here.

Further information:

Target setting: The PAII framework provides best practice for corporate bond and equity portfolios in terms of setting decarbonisation pathways.

However, whilst metrics are transparent, portfolio-level decarbonisation is worth little unless accompanied by real world transition. Higher carbon companies with strong transition stories should be investible and hence Insight has chosen to use an additional metric – ITR recommended by SBTi – to better enable transition stories to be held. ITR scores are relatively new and best practice is not yet established so Insight did not feel it was appropriate to build a commitment solely around this. Instead, reporting against and targeting improvements in both metrics gives the highest level of accountability. For sovereign holdings, only the PAII outlines a recommended methodology. Whilst many have chosen not to set targets relating to sovereigns, given the skew in our book of business to UK Gilts, we felt it was inappropriate to ignore these holdings whilst waiting for clearer methodologies to be developed.

Q&A document