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Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR)

The Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) is a network of 100 institutional investors representing more than $10 trillion in assets committed to addressing the risks and seizing the opportunities resulting from climate change and other sustainability challenges. INCR members are: changing their practices throughout the investment value chain; engaging with companies in their portfolios; and advocating for strong climate and energy policies at the international, federal, regional and state levels.

The Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) is a network of 100 institutional investors representing more than $11 trillion in assets committed to addressing the risks and seizing the opportunities resulting from climate change and other sustainability challenges.

INCR members are

Investors Headline Paper

Changing their practices throughout the investment value chain to address climate and sustainability risks and opportunities.

Engaging with companies in their portfolios on climate and sustainability issues.

Advocating for strong climate and energy policies at the international, federal, regional and state levels.

INCR’s key strategies and initiatives for addressing climate change, water scarcity and related sustainability risks and opportunities are described in the INCR Investor Action Plan (provide link) released at the 5th Investor Summit on Climate Risk and Energy Opportunities (provide link) at the United Nations in January 2012.

Through INCR Working Groups, corporate engagement initiatives and powerful collaborations like the Ceres-led Investor-Business Roundtable for a Sustainable Economy, INCR members are working with Ceres to continuously enhance their investment practices around ESG issues.

Corporate Engagement

Table Engagement There are myriad ways that investors engage with portfolio companies to integrate climate and sustainability into core business practices. Ceres designed the Investor-Business Roundtable for a Sustainable Economy to identify opportunities for large-scale collaboration between the business and investor communities. INCR investors also use tools like the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability and the Ceres Aqua Gauge to support direct company engagement on sustainability challenges like climate change and water availability and participate in stakeholder engagement meetings through the Ceres Coalition. They also file shareholder resolutions to elevate key sustainability issues at companies.

Climate and Energy Policy

Capitol Building Strong climate and energy policies that promote investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and other low-carbon solutions are essential for the transition to a sustainable global economy.

The INCR Policy Working Group works at the international, national, regional and state levels, with a particular emphasis on achieving such policies in the United States.

Sustainable Investment PRACTICES

Windmills From supporting shareholder resolutions on ESG issues, to the risk/return assumptions underpinning asset allocation models, to identifying opportunities in climate and sustainability themed strategies and products, investors are finding innovative ways to safeguard their portfolios and generate positive returns by focusing on climate change and other material sustainability issues.

INCR provides best practice frameworks and opportunities to share experience and highlight success stories.

Climate and Sustainability Disclosure

Pen and Calculator (Disclosure) In 1997, Ceres launched the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a voluntary framework for sustainability disclosure that is now used by more than 3,000 companies worldwide.

INCR members spearheaded the successful petitions to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Canadian securities regulators to issue formal guidance requiring companies to disclose material climate change risks and opportunities. INCR members, in coordination with Ceres, continue to engage the SEC and other regulators and to support emerging trends in climate and sustainability disclosure.

Sustainable Stock Exchanges

NASDAQ Ticker As part of a global initiative to encourage the world’s stock exchanges to establish listing standards for corporate sustainability disclosure, the INCR Sustainable Stock Exchanges Working Group is engaging key North American stock exchanges on their sustainability practices, listing requirements and engagement with regulators.