On the go: Aviva Investors has increased its engagement with companies it invests in, with a 16 per cent hike in resolutions voted during 2020, its annual responsible investment review shows.

The Pensions Regulator will demand that trustees add more climate change information to their scheme returns, and has promised enforcement action where pension funds do not comply with basic requirements.

ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with Mercer and Legal & General reducing carbon emissions, and Aviva’s new equity fund launch.

On the go: The Church of England Pensions Board has published its first annual stewardship report, setting out its future priorities, which focus on climate change and extractive industries.

The government has called for a greater emphasis on the social element of pension schemes' environmental, social and governance strategies, as there is a concern trustees are ill-equipped to deal with these factors.

On the go: The £1.5bn Smart Pension master trust has introduced private market illiquids into its default fund after developing a solution in partnership with Natixis Investment Managers.

On the go: The government is consulting on new rules to mandate climate-related financial disclosures by companies, which will aid pension schemes’ compliance on environmental, social and governance factors.

University of Leeds Professor Iain Clacher, who is leading on pensions and asset management work at the new Centre for Greening Finance and Investment, explains how the new body will allow financial institutions to access scientifically robust climate and environmental data.