Baseline date: 30 June 2019

Baseline performance: Carbon intensity (CO2e/$mn sales) of 211 for scope 1 and 2 from all industries, and 410 including scope 3 from fossil fuel producers. In the absence of our own portfolio data, we assumed carbon intensity equivalent to the MSCI ACWI index in the baseline year, i.e. 100%. We monitor against both the baseline and the broad market.

Target year(s): 2025 and 2050

Target(s): A 50% reduction in carbon intensity (CO2e/$mn sales) of the public equity portfolio (global and NZ public equities) by 2025, and total investment portfolio to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Targets for other asset classes in the portfolio will be set in due course.

GHG scopes included: Scope 1 and 2 are measured and reported for all industries. Scope 3 is measured and reported for Oil, Gas, and Coal. The 4 GICS sub-industries included for scope 3 are oil and gas exploration and production, coal and consumable fuels, diversified metals and mining, and integrated oil and gas.

Asset classes in scope: Global public equities, New Zealand public equities, and global fixed income

Net zero scenarios/methodology: NPF is a statutory provider of superannuation schemes. Like New Zealand’s Crown Financial Institutions, NPF has targeted reductions of portfolio exposure to carbon intensity in line with the current commitment by New Zealand to reach net zero emissions by 2050, through the Zero Carbon Act. This is consistent with Government policies and the goals of the Paris Agreement to which New Zealand has committed. These goals determine a target level that keeps the global average temperature less than 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. We intend to use the Paris Aligned Investment Initiative Net Zero Investment Framework and assess alignment of our approach to a 1.5°C pathway.

Emissions metrics: The cost of reducing global emissions will be minimised by allowing it to be reflected in relative prices of goods and services throughout the value chain according to their carbon intensity, i.e., emissions per dollar of revenue. It requires a shift of consumers away from emissions-intensive products and services not just a switch in production technology by emitters.

As an investor, NPF can direct capital away from carbon-intensive products and services to increase their cost of capital and encourage companies to adapt to a lower carbon future. It is the companies, however, that must reduce absolute emissions in response to signals from consumers and regulators as well as from investors.

NPF engages with companies through its active external investment managers and collectively with peer funds through Columbia Threadneedle’s global engagement service occasional joint collaborations, e.g. with PRI signatories. These engagements encourage companies to disclose emissions and develop plans to reduce them. External managers are assessed on the integration of climate factors in their investment process and their stewardship activity.

Qualitative goal: NPF is investigating investment in dedicated climate solutions strategies. NPF will invest as much as is consistent with overall portfolio objectives. NPF expects that the initial investment in climate solutions will be at least 1% of the total Fund (approximately NZD 20m).

NPF has not set a specific quantitative target for investment in climate solutions as the investment is conditional on financial attractiveness as well as contribution to reducing real emissions.

As at 30 June, NPF has 32.9% of its public equities invested in companies that derive some revenue from clean technology solutions, as defined by MSCI ESG.

Quantitative target: Work in progress

Methodology: NPF will continue to do work to determine a methodology to assess climate solution investments. At this stage NPF can use revenue from clean technology solutions, as defined by MSCI ESG.

Approach: NPF plans to undertake a baselining assessment of asset alignment according to the Net Zero Investment Framework and set targets in due course.

Approach: NPF will continue to do work to improve understanding of the proportion of financed emissions that is under climate engagement either directly or on NPF’s behalf.

NPF’s public equity portfolio makes up 42% of the total portfolio as at 31 August 2022. 22.8% of this allocation is managed with Paris-aligned benchmarks.

Public equity and fixed income portfolio holdings are sent to a third-party global engagements provider quarterly, where engagements are carried out with companies on behalf of the four CFIs collectively, which includes NPF.