We participate in a range of relevant international investor groups to stay in touch with global good practice, benchmark our performance and work collaboratively with other investors in order to help deliver better sustainable finance outcomes.

Global good practice

Carbon Disclosure Project

The Guardians is a signatory to the Carbon Disclosure Project. The Carbon Disclosure Project provides a secretariat for the world’s largest institutional investor collaboration on the business implications of climate change. Its primary objective is to improve corporate disclosure of information on greenhouse gas emissions. The Project produces separate regional or country reports including a report for Australia and New Zealand, and its website is now the largest registry of corporate greenhouse gas emissions in the world.

International Corporate Governance Network

We are also part of the International Corporate Governance Network – an investor-led organisation of governance professionals. Its mission is to inspire and promote effective standards of corporate governance to advance efficient markets and economies world-wide.

Paris Aligned Investment Initiative - Net Zero Asset Owner Commitment

We are taking steps to decarbonise our investment portfolio, committing to a global best-practice framework to help us achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Paris Aligned Investment Initiative is a global forum which supports investors to align their portfolios and activities with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5ºC. Through the Initiative’s Net Zero Asset Owners Commitment, investors pledge to decarbonise their portfolios by 2050 or sooner, increase investment in climate solutions, set interim targets and undertake advocacy and engagement in line with net zero goals.

United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)

The Guardians is one of the 26 founding signatories of the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI provides a framework for shareholders to work together to engage with companies and to improve investment analysis of ESG risks.

United Nations Global Compact

The United Nations Global Compact is our key benchmark for monitoring corporate behaviour. The Global Compact asks companies to embrace 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

Regional and local leadership

Investor Group on Climate Change

The Guardians is a member of the Investor Group on Climate Change. This group is a collaboration of Australian and New Zealand investors focussing on the impact that climate change has on the financial value of investments. It aims to ensure that the risks and opportunities associated with climate change are incorporated into investment decisions for the long-term benefit of investors.

We are also members of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors. This is an industry body providing independent research and advice to assist its member superannuation funds to manage ESG investment risk. Its mission is to enhance sustainable long-term value.

Australian Council of Superannuation Investors

Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)

The Guardians is an active member of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), the key industry body for professionals working in responsible investment in New Zealand and Australia.

NZ Corporate Governance Forum and Stewardship Code

The Guardians are a member of the NZ Corporate Governance Forum which aims to promote good corporate practice in NZ companies for the long-term health of the capital markets. The Guardians is also a founding signatory to the NZ Stewardship Code and a member of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN).

The ICGN and Forum's guidelines cover a much broader range of topics than those voted at AGMs and, whilst informing our voting decisions, they are primarily a tool for our analysis and engagement with companies.