Manulife Investment Management Shares Analysis and Investment Insights within Natural Capital, TCFD and SRI Reports
The reports highlight Manulife IM's commitment in seeking to deliver strong long-term investment performance, the importance of natural capital to human health, and the opportunity for timberland and agriculture assets to bring value to portfolios and to the planet. As an example, within its climate and natural capital investment solutions, Manulife IM has a strategy that provides investors with an opportunity to invest in timberlands in a way that creates high integrity carbon credits through enhanced management practices which purposefully add to the stored carbon in the forest.
"We are excited to share these reports with market participants as we believe that climate-related risks and other sustainability factors can have a material effect on long-term financial value and, as a result, on our clients' investment objectives," said
Manulife IM's most recent Natural Capital Sustainability report highlights the importance of natural capital to institutional investment portfolios, the dependency the world has on these assets, and how these investments can create value beyond the physical products they generate. Highlights include:
- Manulife IM's timberland investment properties planted over 50 million seedlings, produced lumber to build more than 100,000 houses, enough fiberwood to make approximately 2.2 million tons of paper, and yielded enough biomass to produce electricity for the equivalent of 1,500 American homes for a year;
- Manulife IM's integration of regenerative practices across its agriculture portfolio continues to focus on producing more food with a smaller footprint. During 2023, 100% of client properties reported using at least one regenerative practice and 78% of properties use four or more regenerative practices; and
- Progress reports on the firm's five nature targets, aligned with the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge that are on track to be fulfilled by 2025. The targets include improving collaboration and knowledge sharing on assessment methodologies, incorporating biodiversity into ESG policies, assessing the impact of investments on biodiversity, using science-based targets to improve biodiversity impact, and annual reporting to measure and assess progress toward biodiversity goals.
"Natural capital is not just a concept; it's a measurable and monetizable reality that has intrinsic value in supporting the global economy," said
The latest TCFD report outlines how Manulife IM incorporates climate-related risks and opportunities into investment decisions through appropriate governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets.
Highlights from the TCFD report include:
- 90% of Manulife IM 's global real estate equity portfolio earning certification of a green building standard, such as LEED, ENERGY STAR, or
BOMA BEST ;2 - Manulife IM removing an estimated 1.5 million tons of CO2e from the atmosphere by its managed forests and farms on a five-year rolling average; and
- Manulife IM seeks to increase access to the number and variety of sustainable investing options available to its clients.
Manulife IM's latest SRI report provides insight into the firm's approach to sustainable investing, including its governance, stewardship information, its scorecard from the
Highlights from the SRI report this year include the firm's:
- Publication of its inaugural nature report aligned with the recommendations of the
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), outlining the firm's approach to managing nature-related risks and opportunities in its timberland and agriculture businesses; - Achievement of a GRESB 5 Star rating for the sixth consecutive year;3
- Formalization of its sustainable investing strategy for its private equity and credit platform, which included establishing near-term priorities and longer-term commitments;
- Development of a firmwide client-directed exclusions framework; and
- Publication of its water statement, which recognizes the fundamental importance of water to human health, livelihoods, ecosystems, the global economy, and the future of asset management.
"As we navigate this dynamic space, our reporting looks to provide comprehensive insights to help drive positive change and foster long-term sustainability through our investment strategies. We're committed to continue enhancing our reporting so that all our stakeholders can get a clear picture of our efforts to manage climate impact and risk exposures as well as enhance long-term value creation," concluded
Please find more information about Manulife IM's approach to sustainable investing online here: https://www.manulifeim.com/institutional/global/en/sustainability.
About
It should not be assumed that any ESG or sustainability initiatives, standards, or metrics described herein will apply to each asset in which
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IPE research, as of |
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Based on square footage of the gross floor area or building size, of properties in the global portfolio. Totals from different certification standards do not sum as properties with multiple certifications are only counted once. Certifications are provided by LEED, ENERGY STAR Certification, |
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Based on GRESB results released |
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