The United Nations-developed Principles of Responsible Investing have achieved support from 183 institutional investors representing $8 trillion in the first year since the guidelines were introduced on April 27, 2006, according to a news release from the U.N. Environment Program Finance Initiative and the U.N. Global Compact, which developed the principles.
Eight U.S. pension funds agreed to support the principles, including the $241.1 billion California Public Employees’ Retirement System, $38 billion New York City Employees’ Retirement System, $23.5 billion Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, $15 billion General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church and $12 billion Illinois State Board of Investment.
Among other U.S. supporters are 21 U.S. money managers, including JPMorgan Asset Management; eight U.S. consultants and research firms, including Mercer Investment Consulting; and two U.S. foundations.
The UNEPFI works with the private sector to promote connections between environmental and other sustainability issues and financial performance. The U.N. Global Compact is a network of corporate, labor, government academic and public interest groups that support environmental and social initiatives.
