PRI announces awards shortlist

The PRI will announce the winners of its inaugural awards at the PRI in Person in Paris in September. The awards are one of two new initiatives aimed at showcasing leadership and increasing accountability as part of its Blueprint for responsible investment.

The other initiative, a Leader’s Group, will showcase signatories at the cutting edge of responsible investment. These examples of best practice will become a learning for others with the information around their implementation of responsible investment made public and available for other signatories to explore.

There will be five awards with finalists spanning both asset managers and asset owners.

The awards will highlight projects ofinnovation and impact, with a shortlist agreed by a panel of independent judges using a points-based methodology. There were 140 entries received from 23 markets around the world.

“We were thrilled by the high calibre of entries to our inaugural awards, which strongly reflect the diversity and innovation of PRI’s global signatory base. In acknowledging excellence through these projects, we aim to showcase leadership and new ideas to inspire responsible investors around the world.  The entries show that whether you are large or small, from developed or developing markets – responsible investment is possible,” Fiona Reynolds, CEO of PRI, said.

PRI signatories were invited to nominate projects across four categories: ESG incorporation, active ownership, ESG research and real-world impact, with an additional award to be presented for the best project submitted by a signatory headquartered in an emerging market.

The external judging panel is:

• Eric Usher, UNEP FI
• Lise Kingo, UNGC
• Helga Birgden, Mercer
• Stephen Miles, Willis Towers Watson
• Brad Barber, University of California Davis
• Nick Robins, LSE
• Laura Starks, University of Texas Austin
• Matt Orsagh, CFA
• Jeanne Stampe, WWF Asia

Inaugural PRI Awards shortlist: 

Active Ownership Project of the Year

• Glencore 2019 climate change position statement, Church Commissioners for England (UK)
• Cadmos Peace Investment Fund, de Pury Pictet Turrettini & Cie (Switzerland)
• Leading Collaborative Engagement in support of Climate Action 100+, Hermes EOS (UK)
• Australian Infrastructure Sustainability Initiative, IFM Investors (Australia)
• Platform Living Wage Financials, MN (Netherlands)

ESG Incorporation Initiative of the Year

• Blueprint for Advanced ESG Integration, BNP Paribas Asset Management (France)
• The Systematic Investing Multi-Factor Opportunities Strategy (SIMON) – Integrating ESG, First State Super (Australia)
• Pricing ESG risk in credit markets, Hermes Investment Management (UK)
• Climate VaR Integration, Neuberger Berman (USA)

ESG Research Report of the Year

• Impact-Cubed White Paper: measuring the sustainability impact of 25 European ESG funds, Auriel Investors (UK)
• Managing risk associated with modern slavery – a good practice note for the private sector, CDC Group (UK)
• Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index, FAIRR (UK)
• Study of ESG information disclosure, Nissay Asset Management Corporation (Japan)
• Applying scenario analysis to actively managed strategies, Rockefeller Asset Management (USA)

Category: Real World Impact Initiative of the Year

• Impact investing for a better future, Aberdeen Standard Investments (UK)
• Planet Emerging Green One, Amundi (France)
• Australian Infrastructure Carbon Emissions Reduction and Energy Efficiency Initiative, IFM Investors (Australia)
• Room2Run, Mariner Investment Group (USA)
• Land Degradation Neutrality Fund, Mirova (France)

Emerging Markets Initiative of the Year

• Responsible Investment, 2017 Annual Study, Performance of Latin American Investors, GovernArt (Chile)
• Women in Finance, Granito Group (Brazil)
• Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project, Investec Asset Management (South Africa)
• Portfolio-wide Monitoring & Evaluation Platform, Old Mutual Alternative Investment (South Africa)
• Green FoF: Innovative ESG Strategy with China Characteristics, Starquest Capital (China)