The path forward – PRI’s 5 year plan

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The COVID-19 crisis has presented an opportunity to reshape a future which is green, inclusive and sustainable. Through the recovery and the years that follow, PRI will be working with investors to help realise this more prosperous reality. This will include an emphasis on moving beyond risk and return to include real-world impact, a focus on social issues and more ambitious stewardship practices as well as strong action on climate. This session outlines how the PRI is calling on the global investor community to help in building back better.[vc_quotes layout=”accordion” 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Related reading

Active Ownership 2.0: the evolution stewardship urgently needs Investing with SDG outcomes: a five-part framework Sustainable and inclusive: Covid-19 recovery and reform The PRI SDG report[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]

Key takeaways

• The world has finally woken up and realised the importance of sustainability. We have the opportunity to leverage the crisis to build back better.
• ‘The SDGs are the business plan and North Star for the world. We don’t need a new plan, we just need to execute on and invest in the existing plan.’
• We are accelerating into the era of Responsible Investment 2.0 or 3.0, which means shifting the dialog from risk/return to risk/return/real world impact.
• In the past, social issues have been treated as the poor cousin of ESG and this cannot continue to be the case. Many investors are still unclear on how best to fulfil their responsibilities on human rights. PRI’s aim is to raise awareness of human rights obligations, as has been done with climate over the past 5 years.
• Legal frameworks need to evolve to help investors implement sustainability outcomes.
• Further work is required around data to ensure we can better measure risk and impact.
• We aim to usher in a new ambitious era of stewardship. We cannot engage on everything so let’s get on the same page and focus on the most pressing systemic issues facing the world. Asset owners and corporates can help by signing up to the net zero commitment.
• PRI’s next evolution of reporting will focus more on outcomes, not just process.
• PRI wants to be a big tent organisation that works with all parties, not just the leading parties. Nonetheless, PRI intends to raise its minimum standards for ratings and new signatories.
• I’m not sure we will hit the targets across all 17 SDGs in the next decade but I’m confident we will make significant progress for people and planet.