Finance

RIA Conference Vancouver 2024RIA Conference Vancouver 2024Finance

IRMA at Responsible Investment Association

In May IRMA  presented at the annual conference of the Responsible Investment Association in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Launched more than 30 years ago, the RIA’s vision is to align capital with sustainable and inclusive development as codified in the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Today, the RIA today serves the needs of investment institutions, financial planners and industry service-suppliers collectively managing more than C$44 trillion in assets. The RIA serves as a secretariat for Climate Engagement Canada, a finance-led initiative to drive dialogue between finance and industry to promote a just transition to a net zero economy.

IRMA participated as part of the Critical Minerals and Mining: Balancing Net-Zero Ambitions with Social Responsibilities panel. IRMA board and secretariat members also hosted a side session to introduce IRMA to Vancouver-based colleagues, and to talk about the issues of climate, energy transition, materials needed from mining, Indigenous rights and the role investors serve.

Given Canada’s large support for mining and mine finance, Canadian investors have the potential to play a major role in encouraging mining companies to pursue the IRMA Standard. IRMA’s strategy includes an effort to engage the RIA and its institutional members.

READ MORE
Credit: Rainforest Foundation NorwayCredit: Rainforest Foundation NorwayFinance

Investors managing US$2.7T identify IRMA as ‘Key Initiative’

Thirty investment institutions with over US$2.7 trillion in assets under management have endorsed a statement calling for responsible mining practices in the nickel supply chains of the electric vehicle industry, with new signatories still joining after the initial February 20 launch.   

Led by the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO) and Rainforest Foundation Norway, the statement uniquely specifies the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) as key to advancing responsible nickel mining

Consistent with the IRMA Standard, the statement calls for upstream suppliers to commit to the adoption of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), independent third-party auditing, multi-stakeholder consultations, fair compensation to affected rights-holders, effective grievance procedures and a commitment to report publicly on the implementation of these actions. 

The list of signatories includes pension funds and asset managers well-recognized in the sustainable investing space including PGGM, Storebrand, and Triodos Investment Management.

READ MORE