BOSTON – Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo LLC (GMO), a global investment manager, is pleased to announce it has signed on to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, joining a global group of asset managers committed to galvanizing the industry to support investing aligned with net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“Our commitment to this Initiative is grounded in our strong belief that climate change poses critical risks for companies and countries in which we invest. It aligns with our ESG integration efforts in our investment approach and with our engagement strategy, which is currently focused on environmental issues. This is another example of how GMO is collaborating with industry members on climate change and the environment. Through industry action, I believe that we can together amplify our individual voices and accelerate the change we need,” said GMO CEO Scott Hayward.
“We are in The Race of Our Lives against the slow-burning problems increasing environmental toxicity. This is the most critical juncture in the history of humanity to date, and we all must do our part, in every capacity that we can. Initiatives aligning with net zero are critical ways our industry can show the leadership that will be a necessary part of combating these challenges,” said Jeremy Grantham, GMO Co-Founder and Long-Term Investment Strategist, and a leading global advocate for climate change efforts and investment.
The Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative was launched in December 2020 and is designed to enable asset managers to play our part in helping to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement. Its signatories now include 220 asset managers with $57.4 trillion in assets under management, more than half of the entire asset management industry globally in terms of total funds managed.
Through investments like the GMO Climate Change strategy and commitments to initiatives like the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Climate Action 100+ and the Grantham Foundation, GMO continues to demonstrate our dedication to efforts that can help limit the impacts of climate change.
About GMO
GMO is a global investment manager that brings together focused expertise within our investment teams, industry-leading research, and tailored client service to advance our clients’ goals. Privately owned and renowned for our conviction in a valuation-based, long-term investment philosophy, GMO has been a partner to institutions, family offices, wealth managers, and consultants for over 40 years.