Asset Owners Disclosure Project

Asset Owners Disclosure Project

The Asset Owners Disclosure Project is the world’s only independent examination of pension and superannuation funds’ management of climate risks and opportunities. It provides valuable research and tools to asset owners to support them in the transition to an investment world in which the impacts of climate change will become ever more integrated into their core decision making processes.

The data collected provides pension and superannuation funds (and their members) with valuable insight into the strategies deployed by some of the largest asset owners in the world in relation to climate change. The survey encourages funds to engage in climate change-related issues, often for the first time.

The 2013 disclosure window will be open from 1 July to 30 September. The survey and scorecard will be made available prior to this time. The survey and scorecard below are for 2012 only.

aodp-iconDownload the Survey.

aodp-iconDownload the Survey Scorecard.

  • How is the survey structured?

    This survey is sent to the world’s 1000 largest asset owners (pension, superannuation, insurance and sovereign wealth funds). The survey comprises approximately 50 multiple choice questions covering the five main areas of a pension/superannuation fund’s operations and investments, as outlined below.

    Transparency / The degree to which funds disclose and share information with the AODP and also with the   general public.

    Low-carbon investment / The extent of any low-carbon investments by the fund.

    Active ownership / How actively funds engage with investee companies including the use or support of shareholder resolutions, engagement strategies, proxy voting, etc.

    Risk management / Whether funds are measuring, monitoring or managing climate change risks.

    Investment chain alignment / The adoption by funds of structural mechanisms to help manage climate change risks including mandate structure, incentive alignment, etc.

  • How do we rate the funds?

    Data is sourced from public information as well as disclosures that funds provide themselves through the survey. The data is analysed and ratings are applied to all funds. Funds are awarded a Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze or Tin rating based on their performance relative to other participants.

    Questions are asked in five categories - transparency, risk management, low-carbon investment, active ownership and investment chain alignment. Funds are awarded both "performance" points and "disclosure" points.

    • Disclosure / Points awarded for each question the fund responds to as well as for making their response publicly available
    • Performance / Points awarded for implementing elements of climate change best practice

    The objective of the survey is to facilitate incorporation of climate change capability in the pension and superannuation industry and throughout the wider investment sector.

    The full survey scorecard can be downloaded here.

  • Benefits of participating…

    The AODP is of great benefit to asset owners themselves, the broader pension and superannuation industry and government in understanding the position of asset owners’ capability around climate change.

    The benefits of participating in the survey are:

    • All assessed funds receive their ranking (i.e. how they perform relative to other funds).
    • Funds are able to learn how best practice is being shaped with regards to climate change risks and opportunities.
    • Members will know how their fund is dealing with one of the largest long-term risks to their portfolio.
    • As universal owners, disclosure can help funds and other stakeholders design efficient ways of co-ordinating investment in the new low-carbon economy.
    • The responses contribute to the global discussion on managing climate change risks and opportunities.

    Take part in the survey now...