Brief description of the organization
University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP) is a jointly sponsored defined benefit pension plan supporting Ontario's university sector. As of December 31, 2025, UPP manages $13.5 billion in net pension assets and serves more than 46,000 active, deferred, and retired members across six universities and 21 affiliated sector organizations.
Problem area
The release of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) disclosure standards and the subsequent Canadian Sustainability Disclosure Standards (CSDS) introduces the concept of assessing the current and anticipated financial effects over the short, medium and long-term of sustainability-related risks and opportunities (SROs) relevant and material to the reporting entity. Few examples exist beyond climate on this type of disclosure. In the absence of further guidance and peer examples, UPP is seeking research on the potential financial effects of SROs for pension plans and recommended sources or process steps to consider in assessing additional SROs.
Main objectives
Receive background research and data on the potential financial effects of SROs by considering academic articles, peer disclosures and real-world impact examples, which will be used to inform discussions at UPP to assess financial effects of SROs.
Scope of work
- Review the IFRS standards and guidance on assessing financial effects of SROs.
- Conduct an environmental scan of pension plans or financial institutions that disclose the financial effects of SROs, outside of climate.
- Conduct an environmental scan on existing academic articles and news articles reporting on the financial effects of non-climate SROs relevant to pension plans such as business ethics, data security, employee diversity & inclusion, and workforce engagement.
- Compile a report that summarizes the above-noted research, including recommendations for whether and how to repeat this research on an annual basis.
Deliverables
- Report
- Presentation
Team meeting frequency
Bi-weekly
Skills and training required
Research, analysis and synthesis skills. Exposure to ISSB standards, materiality assessment and/or risk assessment would be helpful.
Resources required
Access to relevant research as needed.
NDA or a commercialization agreement for this project?
Yes