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Our co-operation

The Church of Sweden is a member of many networks, and we are often invited to speak about our work, particularly our climate strategy. We do not invest in coal, oil or gas but focus on the solutions to climate change. The financial industry has a key role to play in the transition to a low carbon society, but still has a long way to go to overcome both internal and political barriers. We want to be part of that change.

Articles

Church discussing sustainable investment in a new geopolitic world

On 27 October 2022 Gunnela Hahn from the Church of Sweden participated in a panel on how to do real economy impact investments in the changed geopolitical situation. Skytop Strategies organized the full day event in Stockholm, with many prominent guests from Europe and USA.

Read more about the event.

The Church of Sweden signs call by global investor for financing of vaccine for the poor

The ongoing pandemic affects vulnerable and poor people the most, and many of these people live in low-income countries. For this reason, almost 150 investors from the world over have joined together to urge leaders to fully-finance the programme that has been developed to ensure that vaccine and protective equipment reaches those who need it most. The costs of doing this are small in relation to the benefits. This could be achieved, for example, with specially directed bonds and through the vaccine producers lowering their prices for these countries.  

Read about the investors’ appeal and see the entire list of signatories.

Swedish investor network wants to increase private co-financing in publicly financed climate investments

The investment network, Swedish Investors for Sustainable Development, in which the Church of Sweden is member, wants to see the Swedish national government increase the opportunities for private co-financing in public investments for the development of sustainability. The network has written a letter to the Riksdag's (Swedish parliament) Finance Committee on just this subject.  

Read the interview with Gunnela Hahn, The Church of Sweden’s Head of Sustainable Investment (in Swedish). 

Appeal on climate from the world’s investors

The Church of Sweden, together with 600 powerful, global investors, has directed an appeal to the leaders of the world to adhere to the Paris Agreement and invite private investors to participate in financing to speed up the pace of climate change.

Read more about the appeal.

The textile sector under the microscope

The textile industry has a tremendously negative effect on the environment. It also uses enormous amounts of water and chemicals, not least in the cultivation of cotton. What can investors do? Gunnela Hahn from the Church of Sweden took part in a panel discussion during a seminar that Mistra and Swesif invited her to participate in on 1 Sept. 2020, where she spoke about the importance of having the right guidelines and regulations for companies.  

Read the report and see the seminar (in Swedish).

This is how we become sustainable - global giants want regulations

For the past four years, the Church of Sweden has been part of a network called Swedish Investors for Sustainable Development (SISD). During 2019 a global sister-organisation with many influential investors (GISD) was also started. During the summer of 2020, SISD[BS1]  issued a report to the EU and other political leaders in the world with 64 recommendations regarding what needs to be done in order for the financial system to be able to channel the billions of kronor required into investments if we are to have a chance of coping with the climate crisis.  

Read the report.

Church in panel discussion with pension funds

On 15 September 2020, Gunnela Hahn from the Church of Sweden participated in a panel discussion during a full-day meeting of investors, Investor Summit, organised by Svenska Dagbladet.  

 

UN principles for responsible investment (PRI)

PRI’s membership has grown vigorously in recent years to encompass more than 1 300 asset owners and asset managers who represent combined assets of $45,000 billion. The Church of Sweden became a signatory in 2007 and therein undertakes to integrate issues linked to social responsibility, the environment and corporate governance in analyses and investment decisions.

Read more at: www.unpri.org

The institutional investors group on climate change (IIGCC)

The IIGCC brings together 100 European investors whose aim is to achieve a low-carbon economy. The IIGCC encourages public policy that can facilitate such a transition. In total, members of the initiative represent around €9,000 billion in assets.

Read more at: www.iigcc.org

CDP

CDP, previously named the Carbon Disclosure Project, is an organisation that works to disclose corporate emissions of greenhouse gases and report on water management strategies. The concept behind this is that greater access to information will facilitate responsible investment decisions. At present, several thousand companies report to CDP who works on behalf of about 770 institutional investors who represent combined assets under management of $92,000 billion.

Read more at: www.cdp.net

The Swedish forum for sustainable investment

SWESIF is an independent network of organisations working with sustainable investment in Sweden. The aim of the forum is to disseminate knowledge and increase interest among institutional asset owners and asset managers. At the turn of the year, SWESIF had 38 members.

Read more at: www.swesif.org

Sustainable value creation initiative

The Sustainable Value Creation Initiative is a collaborative project initiated in 2009 by 14 influential Swedish institutional investors. The group reaches out to the board chairs and CEOs of the 100 largest listed companies in Sweden with the message that working in a structured manner with sustainability issues to secure value in the long term is essential. Combined, the investors included in the initiative represent about one-fifth of the capital traded on the Stockholm stock exchange, Nasdaq Stockholm.

Read more at: http://hallbartvardeskapande.se

The global network initiative (GNI)

GNI is a multi-stakeholder initiative in which ICT companies, civil society organisations, academics and investors are working to protect freedom of expression and privacy. Shared learning and advocacy, public reporting and independent assessment are key principles of the initiative.

Read more at: www.globalnetworkinitiative.org