Athora Netherlands focuses on the areas where financial and social return meet. It is our belief that the transition towards a sustainable society will speed up and that those that do not follow these developments eventually will lose, due to either market forces, government policies or technological disruption.
To support the necessary transition towards a sustainable society, Athora Netherlands is bringing its investment portfolios within the safe and just zone and/or on the internationally agreed pathways towards that safe zone by 2030.
We demonstrate that a solid financial return can be achieved while at the same timea positive social impact can be realised. Athora Netherlands manages to do this by focusing on material developments, such as the consequences of the growing world population and the increasing demand for energy, food and a place to live. We consider how these aspects impact on the Material Sustainability Drivers (link to material sustainability drivers. For each driver, we have formulated a specific ambition. In order to achieve these ambitions, choices must be made, for example, to cease, reduce, replace, recycle or innovate.
Ambition on fossil fuel use: -30% CO2 by 2030
We manage our assets in the spirit of the Paris Climate Agreement and we use the carbon footprint of our investments as benchmarks. The long-term objective is to achieve climate neutrality. An intermediate step is to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of Athora Neterlands’ investments by at least 30% in 2030 compared to 2010 levels. Low-carbon solutions that offer a positive contribution to the energy transition also offer investment opportunities.
Ambition on water use: water-neutral by 2030
A water-neutral portfolio means that we aim for reduced water use in areas where water is scarce and for better access to water and better water quality. Circular water solutions and improved infrastructure offer investment opportunities. Athora Netherlands invests in, for example, green bonds issued by banks. They finance municipalities that want to improve their water recycling and wastewater management facilities. There are many challenges before these ambitions can be realised, but we will be achieving this ambition by contributing to better data quality and collaborations with other parties.
Ambition on land use: no more deforestation by 2030
Inappropriate land use due to deforestation can increase the amount of CO2 and lead to a reduction in income and available food supplies. This is why sustainable agricultural practices offer investment opportunities.
Athora Netherlands has also formulated two additional objectives:
Ambition on chemicals and waste management
Athora Netherlands believes that it is essential for companies to improve their performance regarding chemical pollution and waste management. Therefore, Athora Netherlands aims to move towards a situation with zero waste generation in its investment portfolio by 2050. To realise this, Athora Netherlands expects companies in which it invests to adapt towards a circular business model.
Ambition on human capital management, social capital management & organisational behaviour
It is Athora Netherlands’ investment belief that good management of the company's social and governance drivers contributes to its long term financial benefits, but at the same time contributes to the well-being of its employees and the communities in which it operates. Athora Netherlands aims to invest in companies that provide transparency about how they address corporate behaviour, human and social concerns in their policies and processes.
Planetary Boundaries
One of the methods Athora Netherlands uses is the concept of planetary boundaries. This concept is based on the theory that humanity needs to operate within nine essential ecological boundaries. Crossing these boundaries will have enormous negative effects on our planet. That is why it is necessary that the corresponding SDGs are met. Nevertheless, three of the nine boundaries have already been crossed: the thresholds for climate, biodiversity and the nitrogen and phosphorus cycle. Athora Netherlands translates the planetary boundaries into parameters for an investment portfolio or into parameters at a company level.