ESG integration
Improving corporate behaviour and long-term returns
The pension fund aims to ensure that ESG information is used in its investments to improve investment decisions.
It focuses on integrating risks and opportunities in the selection process and active share ownership (voting & engagement), with the aim of improving corporate behaviour and long-term investment returns. The quantitatively managed Robeco investment funds have an explicit objective of achieving an ESG score higher than the reference index.
The Robeco investment funds have a slightly better ESG risk score than that of their reference index. What stands out is the clearly higher (= worse) score within emerging markets. This is in line with expectations: studies show that ESG risks are higher in emerging markets than in developed countries, for instance when it comes to climate change, social issues or corporate governance.