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We believe that our members' financial interests are best served by a deep commitment to responsible investing. Responsible investment is an approach to investing that considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, enabling us to understand risks and opportunities to deliver long-term returns, while having an impact on the world our members will retire into.1
Investment excellence with impact
Investment excellence with impact is a part of how we bring our purpose to life and create positive outcomes for our members.
As part of this, HESTA has acted on climate change for over two decades.2 We take this action as we recognise that climate change poses a material, direct and current financial risk to the management of our members’ retirement savings.
We were one of the first major Australian super funds to announce a plan to reach net zero portfolio emissions by 2050 as part of our Climate Change Transition Plan.
And we’re thrilled to have achieved our interim target of a 33% reduction in normalised portfolio emissions,3 eight years ahead of schedule in 2022. This led us to strengthen our interim target to a 50% reduction in normalised4 portfolio carbon emissions by 2030.
We’re proud of our achievements so far and continue to take action that accelerates our contribution to a more sustainable world.
Other key actions
- Launching the HESTA Eco Pool (evolved into what is now HESTA Sustainable Growth) investment option in 2001. HESTA Sustainable Growth is the top performer5 versus similar investment options over 10 years to 30 June 2023.
- Implementing select restrictions for companies involved in thermal coal activities in 2014 that were further strengthened in 2020. For more information on restrictions and exclusions, please see Investment choices (pdf).
- Seeking to have 10% of the portfolio invested in climate solutions like renewable energy and sustainable property by 2030.6
Read more about the actions we're taking on climate change >
1 Our Responsible Investment Policy (pdf) outlines the principles and commitments that direct our approach to responsible investment.
2 Our Path to Net Zero report (pdf) outlines how we’ve acted on climate change since 2001.
3 Normalised carbon emissions scope 1 and 2 (tonnes CO2e / $m invested) below the 2020 baseline. We’ve chosen normalised carbon emission as it represents HESTA’s share (based on Enterprise Value) of real-world emissions. As at 30 June 2022.
4 Normalised carbon emissions scope 1 and 2 (tonnes CO2e / $m invested) below the 2020 baseline.
5 SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey – Sustainable Investment Survey. Balanced (60-76). June 2023. Investments may go up or down. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
6 Identification of opportunities has been based upon the Sustainable Development Investment Asset Owner Platform (SDI AOP) Taxonomy. Investments that are aligned to SDG 7, 11.1 and 13 have been included in the baseline.
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Want to chat?
Book an appointment with a HESTA Superannuation Adviser for a chat about how to make the most of your super.