Two sustainability-focused working groups comprising trustees and consultants have pledged to align their efforts to “accelerate progress on sustainability” across pensions and investments.
The Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Group (ICSWG) and the Trustee Sustainability Working Group (TSWG) released a statement today (19 June) pledging to work together on shared sustainability challenges.
HS Trustees managing director Bobby Riddaway, chair of the Trustee Sustainability Working Group, said: “This collaboration is ultimately about improving outcomes for pension scheme members.
“By aligning expertise, strengthening stewardship, and promoting scalable solutions, the ICSWG and TSWG can aim to ensure that sustainability is embedded in a way that is both practical and impactful. This can support long-term financial resilience while contributing to broader environmental and societal goals.”
Simon Jones, co-chair of the Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Group and head of responsible investment at Hymans Robertson, added: “The ICSWG and TSWG share a common goal: to promote consistent and practical approaches to sustainability.
“By coordinating our efforts and sharing insight on what works, we can drive improvements in the consideration of sustainability by trustees and advisers.”
The consultants’ group seeks to improve industry understanding of sustainability issues and share insights into issues such as climate change and biodiversity. It also aims to achieve “a more aligned approach to stewardship”.
The trustee working group, meanwhile, aims to develop sustainability “into practical, trustee-led action” through work on areas such as reporting and scalable solutions.
In their joint statement, the two groups said their priorities were “distinct but complementary, creating a strong foundation for joint work”. The ICSWG and TSWG will meet quarterly to improve their collaborative efforts, they added.
The Trustee Sustainability Working Group was established in 2024 and consists of representatives from professional trustee firms as well as member-nominated trustees.
