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© Pia Morpurgo
Raiffeisen Bank International | Sustainability Report 2018
Management Overview Foreword
of sustainability
Responsible
banker
Fair partner –
Human Resources
Fair partner –
Inhouse ecology
Engaged
citizen
GRI index and
Assurance report
In addition, progress is being made in expanding the integration of
ESG principles to all funds. These ESG activities go beyond the
product line of sustainability funds: For all retail investment funds, for
example, a commitment has been voluntarily made in recent years
to exclude investments in agricultural commodities and livestock, as
well as controversial weapons. In 2017, companies whose business
consists predominantly of the supply or use of coal were excluded.
Compliance with these exclusions is regularly reviewed. There are
only some limited restrictions for individual mandates or third-party
funds (funds of funds).
In 2018, Raiffeisen-Immobilien KAG also made considerable progress
internally. The pre-assessments for the more sustainable operation of
the buildings held by the funds were performed. The measures to be
implemented in 2019 will be reflected in corresponding certifications
in accordance with DGNB, ÖGNI, or the country-specific BREEAM
(Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment
Methodology). The aim is to ensure sustainable building operation
after the building has been constructed in a way that encompasses
operating costs and processes, user satisfaction, mobility services, and
social sustainability strategies. In 2018, Raiffeisen-Immobilien KAG
became a member of ÖGNI, the Austrian Society for Sustainable
Real Estate.
Expansion of the sustainability agenda
Responsibility for the environment and society will present us all with
new challenges, and the financial sector in particular. We need to
embrace these challenges and seek to ensure balance in many
areas: between the market and the state, between innovation and
stability, between short-term and long-term thinking, and especially
between people and nature.
In 2013, the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) were signed
and, at the same time, the competence and capacity of the
management was expanded as a significant step toward the
integration of sustainability elements into the total investment, initially
on the basis of KAG publicly offered funds (retail funds). Additional
information systems were also purchased and integrated for the
increased integration of ESG research. Furthermore, Raiffeisen KAG
has been an active member of the Sustainable Investment Forum, the
professional association for sustainable investment in Germany,
Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland since 2009 and, since 2016,
a member of the Italian counterpart “Forum per la Finanza Sostenibile”.
RKAG is a founding member of the Raiffeisen Sustainability Initiative.
This means high priority is given to the general integration of the
sustainability principle into the investment business.
In light of the current positioning on the climate crisis, in 2015 Raiffeisen
KAG signed the “Montreal Carbon Pledge”, an initiative dedicated
to publishing the carbon footprint of investment funds. As a result of
climate change, withdrawing from investments in companies focused
on fossil fuels (“fossil divestments”) is entering the discussion of
responsible business activities more and more. Other memberships
include the “CDP” and “CDP Water” (formerly the Carbon Disclosure
Project – a non-profit organization with initiatives in the area of
Dieter Aigner, Managing
Director of Raiffeisen KAG
”Many people are becoming increasingly
aware and more responsible with regard to
the environment and society. They are
separating waste, saving energy, actively
buying organic products, and finding out
about the conditions in which the goods
they consume are produced. They are
actively choosing to live a sustainable
lifestyle. For some years now, sustainability
has also been an important argument when
it comes to investments. In fact, sustainable
investments are currently enjoying immense
popularity among investors. Customer
demand aside, however, the finance
industry is also obliged to actively
participate in the process of addressing
the immense challenges we are currently
facing. After all, what is at stake is nothing
less than the future viability of the places we
live, our society and, ultimately, the human
race. Raiffeisen KAG embraces this
responsibility wholeheartedly. As a
manager and provider of investment funds
and asset management products, we are
increasingly also getting involved in a
(digital) dialog with customers and
stakeholders and actively participating in
the existential task of driving sustainability.“
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