Today, we as APG published the Responsible Investment Report 2017, which shows for the first time which part of our investments contribute to such issues as combating poverty, quality education, and affordable and clean energy.
For a number of years now, we have been seeking out investments for our clients that not only generate good returns, but also contribute to a more sustainable world. In 2016, it was decided to use the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations as a starting point. In 2017 and early 2018, we mapped out which investments contribute to these goals. By the end of 2017, APG had invested almost 12% of all its managed assets (€470 billion) in these goals. By the end of 2016, this was only 10%.
Windmills and micro financing
The goal to which we contribute most, is ‘sustainable cities and communities’ (€24.5 billion). Among these are not only the real estate investments with a high score on the annual sustainability study by GRESB. Through stocks in Danish windmill maker Vestas, APG contributes to the ‘affordable and clean energy’ goal. APG contributes combating poverty With shares in the micro-finance bank Rakyat Indonesia.
Voting in 4,300 meetings
The report also shows progress that is being made on the introduction of the inclusion policy. This should ensure that as of 2020, we as APG only invest our clients’ assets in shares and bonds of companies with a sufficient score on responsible entrepreneurship (forerunners). And also in companies that clearly want to make progress in this area (promising). We also look at the way in which APG as a shareholder voted on more than 47,000 proposals in about 4,300 meetings worldwide.
Please read the entire Responsible Investment Report 2017 here.