We believe that responsible investing principles can help provide enduring benefits for our clients and our communities.
Responsible investing
/ri-'spän(t)-sə-bəl in-'vest-ing/ noun
Our company has been a leader in responsible investing for half a century. We have differentiated our business, driven long-term investment returns and made a positive impact on the world by engaging with portfolio companies directly on environmental, social and governance practices, launched innovative products, and spearheaded efforts to expand ESG and sustainability across public and private markets, as well as real estate and real assets. Our approach to RI is driven through three key principles:
ESG integration – we aim to incorporate material ESG factors into our investment process systematically, across funds and asset classes.
Engagement – we connect using our influence with companies and issuers to help them innovate and operate more effectively, and partner with stakeholders to drive and advance ESG best practices.
Impact – through our investing practices, we seek to drive positive environmental and social outcomes.
Glossary: O-R
Paris Agreement
An accord within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change addressing greenhouse-gas-emissions reduction, adaptation, and finance, beginning in year 2020. At the December 2015 Paris conference, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to below 2°C.
Proxy voting
A ballot cast by one person on behalf of a corporate shareholder who is unable to, or prefers not to attend a shareholder meeting.
Principles for Responsible Investment in Farmland
A set of guidelines developed by a group of UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) signatories. The principles have evolved into the PRI Farmland Guidelines, which are designed to guide institutional investors that wish to invest responsibly in farmland.
Responsible investing
An investment philosophy that incorporates environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment analysis, portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring across asset classes with the objective of enhancing long-term performance, managing risk and aligning client values.
RI principles at Nuveen include:
► ESG integration: Including ESG factors within the investment processes to enhance long-term performance and manage risks for clients.
► Engagement: A range of activities performed to exert influence on companies, issuers and other investees to help them innovate and operate more efficiently, i.e., proxy voting, company dialogue, targeted initiatives, market initiatives and policy influence.
► Impact: Intentionally seeking positive environmental and social outcomes alongside financial returns through investing practices across asset classes.
Other RI approaches include:
► Best in class: Favoring companies with the best ESG performance, e.g., within a particular sector or industry group.
► Divestment: The sale or disposition of securities or other assets based on corporate behavior that is not aligned with specific environmental, social and governance objectives, values or convictions.
► Exclusionary screening: Avoiding companies involved in controversial businesses such as fossil fuels, oil, and tobacco, or other ESG-related criteria.
► Green: Generally refers to the consideration of climate change and environmental impacts in portfolio construction, i.e., investments in clean tech, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
► Low carbon: Seeking to lower a portfolio’s overall carbon footprint by favoring companies with lower current carbon emissions, no fossil fuel reserves, or other green investments. Low-carbon strategies may satisfy clients seeking “fossil-fuel-free” and “green” investments.
► Social and environmental impact: An approach that actively seeks to deliver a competitive return alongside a positive, measurable social or environmental outcome.
► Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) alignment: Aligning investments to the Sustainable Development Goals – e.g., poverty, health, education, climate change and environmental degradation – to help connect business strategies, objectives and outcomes with global priorities.
► Thematic: Aiming to design a company-selection process that emphasizes specific issues or outcomes, e.g., climate change, gender.
► Value-/mission-driven investing: An umbrella term used by some investors, which applies values alignment as the primary driver of investment activity.
