Ninety One has brought in experts from Imperial College Business School to teach its staff about climate-related risks and opportunities.
The Climate Risk Programme looks at different technologies that can help mitigate climate risk and how to treat climate uncertainties. It also looks at whether climate-related risks can be priced and how these approaches can be integrated into portfolios.
Tom Nelson, co-head of thematic equity at Ninety One, said: “Ninety One is a learning organisation. It would be wrong to assume any of us have all the answers.”
He added there is potential to expand the programme across the organisation. Currently, 60 Ninety One investment professionals have taken it, with 50 more planned to undertake it this month.
The three-week programme has been developed in collaboration with Imperial’s executive education department together with the expertise of The Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment and The Centre for Climate Finance and Investment at Imperial College Business School.
Nelson said: “We want to work with the minds that can sharpen our thinking. Our collaboration with Imperial College is an opportunity for our people to engage with some of the very best in the field, on an exceptional programme covering topics that are shaping the future of investing and the world at large.”
David Brown, director of executive education at Imperial College Business School added: “Over the past 12 months we have worked very closely with Ninety One’s investment experts to tailor this course to their needs and are confident of the impact it will have across the firm in achieving ever improving sustainability outcomes.
Partnerships
Partnerships between investment firms and educational institutions on climate change are increasing. In April 2021 AllianceBernstein committed to backing what is thought to be the first purpose-built school in the world to focus exclusively on tackling climate change.
It became a founding member of the corporate affiliate programme associated with the new Columbia Climate School. By working with Columbia, the firm said it can bring together investors and scientists to help shape the next generation of professionals who will be working on managing climate risk and solutions across an array of industries, sectors and countries.
And in Just last year Candriam partnered with the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (GRI) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to launch a three-year initiative with the aim of stepping up the global investment industry’s commitment to a sustainable and inclusive economy.
