Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative

About NZAM

The Net Zero Asset Manager’s (NZAM) initiative was launched in December 2020 to galvanize asset management firms to use their access and influence in the capital markets to bring the world closer to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.* These asset managers commit to work in partnership with clients to decarbonize the assets they manage on their behalf by 2050 or sooner.

The initiative sets out a range of actions asset managers can take to meet their commitment. Asset managers are expected to prioritize actions that achieve emissions reductions in the real economy. This can include the factors they use in investment decision-making, the products they create, how they vote proxies, and how they engage company leaders and policymakers. Asset managers are required to set targets to meet this commitment for a percentage of assets under management (AUM) and disclose their progress over time.

As of May 2022, 236 asset management firms had signed on to the initiative, representing over $60 trillion in global AUM.

Why We Joined

Boston Trust Walden was an early signatory to the initiative in March 2021. We joined because we believe the changing climate is an extraordinary environmental challenge with far-reaching economic, environmental, and societal implications, creating risks and opportunities for companies and investors. We believe broad-based, absolute greenhouse gas emissions reductions are the best way to achieve net zero emissions; as such, we believe investors and companies alike should set science-based targets.

The NZAM initiative also closely aligns with our firm’s position on climate risk and our long history advancing climate solutions.

Our Targets

The scope of our initial targets focuses on the discretionary equity assets we manage, which represent approximately 80% ($11.8 billion) of firm-wide AUM as of December 31, 2021. We aim to increase the scope of our targets over time.

Primary Target: Science-Based Targets

Our primary focus is for 40% of discretionary equity AUM to be invested in companies with science-based targets by 2025, and 100% of discretionary equity AUM to be invested in companies with such targets by 2040. Active ownership, including direct company engagement and proxy voting, is the primary means by which we will achieve this objective; our investment discipline will remain focused on investing in high quality companies. Progress toward our targets may not be linear as portfolio holdings and weightings change over time.

Notably, our active ownership efforts span the market capitalization range — and include Small and SMID cap equity holdings, which comprise a significant portion of our firm’s AUM. We believe all companies have a role to play in addressing direct and systemic climate risks. Smaller companies typically have fewer resources to focus on target setting and may need time to build capacity. With decades of experience engaging smaller companies, Boston Trust Walden is uniquely positioned to take on this challenge.

We utilized the Science Based Targets (SBT) Portfolio Coverage Method to establish our primary target. For simplicity, we used linear extrapolation of model holdings in equity strategies (US and International) from 23% as of year-end 2019. Each year approximately 4% of additional discretionary equity assets need to be invested in companies with science-based targets for us to meet our 2025 goal. Our target includes reductions in Scope 1 and 2, and for many sectors, Scope 3 emissions.

Secondary Target: Carbon Intensity

Our secondary target is for 100% of discretionary equity AUM to have a weighted average carbon intensity (WACI) of at least 50% less than respective benchmarks by 2030.

Since the carbon intensity of our model portfolio strategies** is already 54% lower than the weighted average benchmark intensity as of year-end 2021, our objective over the coming years is to maintain our current WACI. We also expect that our core focus on engagement, if our efforts are successful, could result in more carbon efficient portfolios.

We used elements of the methodology guidance developed by the Paris Aligned Investment Initiative’s Net Zero Investment Framework to establish this target. It is is based on a WACI calculation of Scope 1 and 2 emissions of the companies in which we invest. As data quality and associated methodologies improve for calculating Scope 3 emissions, we may evolve our approach.

How We Will Meet Our Commitment

Boston Trust Walden has the tools and experience necessary to meet its commitment to the initiative, including a rigorous investment discipline and multi-faceted approach to active ownership.