Climate change

Climate change will impact economies, industries, societies and the environment. As such, climate change presents risks and opportunities for the investments in our portfolio.

AustralianSuper has made a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in the investment portfolio (based on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions of portfolio investments).

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) proposed that achieving net zero emissions by 2050 would be required to limit the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees by 2100 (which aligns with the more ambitious Paris Agreement temperature limit).¹ Scenario modelling undertaken by the global central banks indicates that a net zero by 2050 scenario results in the lowest economic cost outcome in the long term.² This is consistent with our objective of helping members achieve their best financial position in retirement.

Governments, investors and companies around the world are working towards a net zero economic transition by 2050. More than 130 countries, including Australia, have now committed or proposed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.³ The Australian Government has also set an emissions reduction target of 43% by 2030 from 2005 levels.

About our net zero commitment

We focus our integration and stewardship activities on the measurement and management of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions of the investments in the portfolio. From an economy wide perspective, we expect that scope 3 emissions will reduce as scope 1 and scope 2 emissions are managed to net zero across the economy. We may engage with investments on their scope 3 emissions where:

• they have relevance to the expected risk and/or returns to the investment. This is based on the level of transition risk scope 3 emissions present to the company.
• the company has the ability to influence scope 3 emissions.

Our ability to achieve the net zero commitment is dependent on policymakers and portfolio companies making and delivering on their own net zero commitments. Given the scale of policy, economic and societal change required, and given the inherent challenges associated with long-term forecasts, there is some unavoidable uncertainty as to whether the commitments of policymakers and portfolio companies will be met in a timely manner.

Monitoring our progress to net zero 2050

We monitor progress towards our net zero commitment through our internal carbon tracking activities. Our analysis at 30 June 2022 measures the current and estimated 2050 emissions (scope 1 and scope 2) of approximately 65% of our investment portfolio, including investments in the Australian shares, international shares, unlisted and listed property, and unlisted and listed infrastructure asset classes based on their current commitments.⁴ This analysis seeks to identify the largest contributors to emissions in these asset classes and helps to inform our stewardship approach described below.

As an example, we have included insights from this analysis for our internally managed fundamental portfolios in the Australian shares asset class below. (These portfolios represented around 80% of the Australian shares asset class, with that asset class representing 23% of the total portfolio as at 30 June 2022.)

The analysis⁵ found that:

• investee companies responsible for almost 88% of emissions in these portfolios have made net zero by 2050 commitments.
• emissions are concentrated in a small number of companies. Five companies in these portfolios are responsible for 85% of current emissions in those portfolios.
• the carbon intensity of these portfolios is estimated to reduce from their current 84.8 tonnes of CO₂e emissions per million AUD invested to 10.1 tonnes of CO₂e emissions per million AUD invested in 2050 based on the emissions reduction commitments made by investee companies.

Our fundamental portfolios are actively managed by our in-house investment team. Our team uses research and insights, and applies their expertise and judgment to assess the quality and value of individual companies on a range of factors. These can include company financial information, management quality, market and industry outlooks and ESG considerations.

We focus our direct stewardship efforts on the major contributors to emissions within these portfolios. We are asking that they develop credible plans to achieve their net zero goals.

We also engage collectively with other investors through industry groups and thematic collaborations such as the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) and Climate Action 100+.

Our climate change actions

On members’ behalf, we’re a large investor in Australian and international markets with investments that touch many areas of the global economy. Our approach to managing climate change risks and opportunities and the net zero transition in the portfolio includes the way we invest and our actions as owners described below.

Through our ESG and Stewardship program we:

• Integrate climate change considerations into our investment process for certain asset classes and investments. Our approach is more developed in the Australian shares, international shares, unlisted infrastructure and unlisted property asset classes. Our approach also varies by the characteristics of our investment, including whether we’re investing directly or through external managers or whether our investment is actively or passively held.
• Engage with the larger contributors to emissions in our internally managed fundamental portfolios in the Australian shares asset class to understand their:
  • Alignment to the Paris Agreement, net zero 2050 plans and progress on emissions reductions.
  • Governance and management of climate change risks and opportunities.
  • Climate change disclosures, such as the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure frameworks (TCFD).
• Were a founding member of Climate Action 100+, the world’s largest investor engagement initiative on climate change seeking emissions reductions from the world's largest carbon emitters.
• Engage collectively with other investors through industry groups and thematic collaborations such as the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) and Climate Action 100+.
• Vote on climate change related resolutions, supporting those we believe will create or enhance investment value and/or will result in improved disclosures on climate change.

Our carbon footprint over time

In addition to our internal carbon tracking analysis we use external carbon footprinting to measure and report our historical emissions. We have been measuring the carbon intensity of the Australian shares and international shares asset classes portfolios using an external carbon consultancy since 2013. The carbon intensity of our portfolios in these asset classes has reduced by 45% between 2013 and 2021⁶. This graph tracks the greenhouse gas emissions of our portfolios in our Australian shares and international shares asset classes based on the value invested (AUD million). These asset classes represented around 55% of AustralianSuper’s total portfolio value as at 30 September 2021.

AustralianSuper portfolio carbon footprint
GHG emissions in the Australian and international shares asset classes

Source: S&P Global Sustainable1 Analysis, Portfolio data for Australian shares and international shares asset classes at 30 June 2013, 30 September 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. Carbon to value invested: CO2e emissions per AUD million invested. Includes scope 1, 2 and non-electricity first tier supply chain emissions.

Emissions data on this page is based on company reported or estimated emissions, as sourced from our research provider/s and/or publicly available information from investee companies. AustralianSuper has not taken steps to independently verify this information (or their underlying assumptions) and we acknowledge that the data can vary and be impacted by changes in methodologies and other factors over time. We believe the development of consistent Australian climate reporting standards will assist in the improvement and reliability of data.