Q&A with Peter Goshawk, Barclay's Pension Fund
Peter Goshawk is chair of the Barclay’s Pension Fund Trustees
‘ESG’ is quickly moving into the mainstream, what is creating this demand for sustainable investments and practices?
There are two key factors that are driving demand which are the urgency to address the environmental issues we all face, and an increasing understanding that sustainable business practices lead to better investment decisions and improve risk-adjusted returns.
Is there a risk to investors from failing to adapt to environmental and social trends?
There is a risk of underperformance if ESG trends are not considered as part of the investment strategy. Investors who fail to adapt to ESG trends will be exposed and their investment strategy is likely to become less relevant and underperform.
What role can pension funds, like Barclay’s Pension Fund, play in shaping a sustainable economy?
As a large UK pension fund, we can adopt a leadership role in setting ESG standards and putting them in to action by demanding these standards from asset managers and corporates. In turn, this is likely to change the way asset managers and corporates view sustainability and will encourage further adoption of ESG practices.
At last year’s A4S Summit HRH The Prince of Wales said, “All is not yet lost, but this really is the final call.” What gives you hope that the finance community can help to create a sustainable world and answer this final call?
Investors are increasingly willing to collaborate and come together to engage on ESG issues. By speaking and acting in unison we can ensure widespread adoption of ESG practices and increased transparency, leading to more efficient markets and resilient economies. It’s inspiring to see cooperation growing when we need it most!
