Nuveen wins Japan Ministry of the Environment’s second “ESG Finance Awards”

Nuveen, a leading global investment manager with over $1 trillion of assets under management, has received the ESG Finance Award - Bronze in the asset manager category by the Ministry of the Environment in Japan.

The ESG Finance Awards were launched by the Ministry of the Environment in 2019 with the goal to promote ESG in the financial sector. The awards commend investors and financial institutions that are actively involved in ESG and green projects to impact the environment and society, as well as companies that incorporate environmental considerations into business strategies to improve corporate value and the environment. The awards have five categories – investor, indirect finance, fund raising, financial service and environmentally sustainable company.

In the area of ESG, Nuveen was specifically recognized for its contributions in the improvement of the natural environment and the local community through investment activities via its investment affiliate Westchester, the largest manager of farmland assets with AUM of c.$7.6 billion¹. Across agriculture, Nuveen has also contributed to reducing water pollution and improving biodiversity by focusing on the ESG and responsible investment aspects of agritech. Moreover, in Japan, Nuveen has used events, working groups, and the media to promote alternative investments (including farmland) and highlight the need for ESG and impact investing by Japanese institutional investors.

Nuveen manages 100% of its assets in accordance with UNPRI principles and was cited for excellence in climate reporting by the UNPRI in 2020. In the same year, Nuveen released its first public statement of alignment with the International Finance Corporation’s Operating Principles for Impact Management. Nuveen continues to build out its Responsible Investing capabilities, and in January this year, announced the acquisition of Glennmont Partners, one of Europe’s largest renewable energy fund managers.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Ministry of the Environment for our work,” said Michinobu Suzuki, Head of Nuveen Japan. “We will continue to promote ESG investments and contribute to creating a sustainable society through ESG and impact investing.”

¹ Pensions & Investments, 05 Oct 2020. Rankings based on institutional tax-exempt assets under management as of 30 Jun 2020 reported by each responding asset manager.