This is the full final report from our Climate-Proofing Retirement Funds events in July/August 2019. Here’s the brief interim report. The videos of these presentations can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Our summary: It is the moral, fiduciary and practical responsibility of all asset owners such as retirement funds to urgently align portfolios with a rapid global transition to a low-carbon economy, if dangerous climate breakdown that threatens investors both physically and financially is to be averted.

Asset owners and asset managers are strongly encouraged to join the Climate Action 100.

Some key climate-economy developments since our events

• The climate crisis is damaging the ability of the land to sustain humanity, with cascading risks becoming increasingly severe as global temperatures rise, according to a landmark UN report compiled by some of the world’s top scientists. (The Guardian, 8 August 2019)
• Arctic wildfires spew soot and smoke cloud bigger than EU: A cloud of smoke and soot bigger than the European Union is billowing across Siberia as wildfires in the Arctic Circle rage into an unprecedented third month. (The Guardian, 12 August 2019)
• MoneyWeb special report on ‘Sasol’s lack of accountability’: Since 2005 Sasol has failed to meet any of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets it has set for itself. Yet these targets have been revised upwards three times, with little explanation or acknowledgement from the company. (19 August 2019)