Scandinavian Asset Manager Swedbank Robur announced today that several of its funds in the Robur Access Edge family are now aligned with the climate targets set out in the Paris Agreement, based on the EU Sustainable Finance climate benchmark guidelines.

Liza Jonson, CEO of Swedbank Robur, said:

“Transparency and the possibility to compare climate footprints of different kinds of funds are a central part of our work with sustainability. We want to make it easier for our customers, and at the same time hope that we can inspire other investors by taking a clear stance in issues that are important for our customers, investments and the society.”

The Paris Agreement is a multi-nation pact, drafted in 2015, developed by parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to combat climate change. The agreement’s main goal is to limit the global temperature increase in this century to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to work toward limiting the increase to 1.5 degrees.

In order to achieve Paris-alignment classification, the funds must satisfy various criteria, which put portfolio companies’ emission targets in focus. Companies that the fund invests in need to reduce their emissions by an average of 7% annually – the pace of phasing-out of fossil fuels set out in the Paris Agreement, and the fund overall must have a carbon emissions footprint 50% below that of the broader market. Swedbank Robur stated that the funds also invest in companies working actively to reduce climate risks.

According to the asset manager, the following funds now qualify for the Paris-aligned designation:

• Swedbank Robur Access Edge Global
• Swedbank Robur Access Edge Emerging Markets
• Swedbank Robur Access Edge Sweden
• Swedbank Robur Access Edge Japan
• Swedbank Robur Access Edge USA

According to Swedbank Robur, the asset manager aims to have the company’s entire managed portfolio, which today exceeds 1000 bn SEK, in alignment in 2025 with the Paris agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5. Additionally, the firm is targeting zero emissions for the entire portfolio by 2040.

Jonson added:

“The ‘Paris Aligned’ analysis, portfolio management method and classification that we now launch and are beginning to steer our investments with, is a very important step for us in the work towards reaching Swedbank Robur’s very ambitious climate targets.”