Responsible Investing

By leveraging their many assets, universities can devise comprehensive strategies to address climate change. As educators, our teaching has the power to enhance understanding of the principles of sustainability. As knowledge producers across a wide range of disciplines, our research is essential in advancing knowledge about climate change and helping identify effective, evidence-based solutions. As major owners of property and facilities, we have an important opportunity to reduce the carbon emissions arising from our own operations. And, as stewards of long-term investments, we have a responsibility to manage our capital in ways that accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and protect our stakeholders from the growing risks associated with climate change.

With these considerations in mind, the University signed on to the Responsible Investment Charter for Canadian Universities. By signing this charter, the University has committed to:

1. Adopting a responsible investing framework to guide decision-making, in line with recognized standards such as the UN-supported Principles of Responsible Investment
2. Regularly measure the carbon intensity of our investment portfolios and set meaningful targets for their reduction over time
3. Evaluate progress towards these objectives on a regular basis and share the results of such assessments publicly
4. Ensure that the performance evaluation of our investment managers takes into account their success in achieving such objectives, alongside the other criteria for assessing their performance

The science of climate change is irrefutable. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere continue to increase global temperatures to levels that elevate risks for humanity, the environment and all living creatures. As a science-based institution, the University of Waterloo acknowledges the grave realities of a warming planet. As a publicly funded educational institution, the University of Waterloo also recognizes its responsibility to contribute to climate change mitigation to allow past, present and future students to live in a sustainable and habitable world. As a fiduciary responsible for the investment of endowment and pension funds, the University of Waterloo has a duty to manage the financial risks and opportunities associated with climate change in its investment portfolios.

To this end, the Board of Governors for the University of Waterloo has endorsed the following targets/aspirational goals for both the Endowment Fund and the Pension Plan:

• Reduce the carbon footprint (Scope 1 & 2) of the Endowment and Pension Funds’ investments, by at least 50% by 2030, relative December 31, 2018, and
• Set an aspirational goal of achieving a net-neutral carbon footprint for Endowment and Pension Fund investments by 2040.

Carbon measurements are to begin with equity investment (December 31, 2021) and continue with fixed income and real assets (2023).

Carbon Measurements

• Total Carbon Emissions = The absolute greenhouse gas emissions associated with a portfolio, expressed in tons CO2e.
• Carbon Footprint = Total carbon emissions for a portfolio, normalized by the market value of the portfolio, expressed in tons CO2e / $M USD invested.
• Weighted Average Carbon Intensity = The portfolio’s exposure to carbon-intensive companies, expressed in tons CO2e / $M USD revenue.

UW Pension Plan for Faculty & Staff Equity Investments Carbon Scorecard

UW Endowment Equity Investments Carbon Scorecard