Investment manager Ninety One’s Global Environment Fund will adopt the new ‘Sustainability Impact’ label under the UK’s financial regulator—the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) regime—effective December 1, 2024.
The fund, “one of the first to use this label”, focuses on investing in companies at the forefront of the transition to a low-carbon world.
Managed by Deirdre Cooper, head of sustainable equity, and Graeme Baker, co-portfolio manager, it is “a high-conviction, concentrated global equity portfolio”.
he FCA’s sustainability regulations for firms will take effect on December 2. However, the regulator has recently granted firms some flexibility, extending the deadline to April next year. This temporary flexibility allows firms to meet the ‘naming and marketing’ rules under the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements regime by April 2, 2025.
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The fund targets companies driving decarbonisation through renewable energy, resource efficiency, and electrification—three key pathways essential for achieving net zero. According to the firm, by investing in these sectors, the fund not only supports structural growth but also provides investors with a unique return profile and an opportunity to contribute positively to environmental challenges.
Highlighting Ninety One’s commitment to sustainable investing, Cooper said: “As an active, global investment manager, Ninety One’s goal is to provide long-term investment returns for its clients while making a positive difference to people and the planet. The Global Environment Fund’s unconstrained and focused approach, combined with a long-term investment horizon and active engagement, is a powerful way to invest in decarbonisation.” She added that the adoption of the SDR’s ‘Sustainability Impact’ label “is testament to our commitment to have a quantifiable carbon saving impact, enabling the transition to a net zero world.”
The Global Environment Fund’s adoption of the SDR label aligns with increasing regulatory and investor focus on transparency and measurable impact within sustainable investments. This label also sets a benchmark for funds aiming to demonstrate their tangible contributions to sustainability goals.
