Aegon UK has signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, the global initiative which brings together financial institutions from 25 countries that are committed and contribute through their investments and finance activities to reversing nature loss in 2030.
Aegon highlighted a growing trend of investors prioritising environmental considerations, with research it carried out in 2023 showing that 51% of Aegon UK customers believe impacts on nature, including biodiversity, are an important consideration when investing in a company.
The Finance for Biodiversity Pledge commits signatories to undertake a number of actions, including:
• Collaborating and sharing knowledge
• Engaging with companies
• Assessing impact
• Setting targets
• Reporting publicly before 2025
Commenting on the group signing to the Pledge, Hilkka Komulainen, head of Responsible Investing at Aegon UK, said: “We are proud to sign the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge and take a stand for the protection of our planet.
“Our customers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact their investments can have, and we believe that financial institutions have a responsibility to take action to address this critical issue.
“By understanding and taking ownership of the nature impact of our pension schemes, we are committed to being a force for good and use our influence to help protect the planet, on behalf of our customers.”
About the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge
In total 163 financial institutions representing 25 countries and over 21.7 trillion euro in combined assets (under management) signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge in 2023. The Pledge was initiated by a group of 26 financial institutions calling on global leaders and committing to protect and restore biodiversity through their finance activities and investments and launched during the Nature for Life Hub at 25 September 2020 and the Biodiversity Summit of the United Nations General Assembly at 30 September 2020.
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