Our commitments | RBC Global Asset Management

UN Principles for Responsible Investment

RBC GAM is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). We are committed to the PRI's six Principles of Responsible Investment into practice and believe that they are aligned with our existing approach to responsible investment. We are also a signatory to the PRI Statement on ESG in Credit Ratings, which encourages credit rating agencies to proactively take ESG factors into consideration for relevant issuers.

PRI signatories commit to implement the six Principles of Responsible Investment and report on their activities and progress in implementing them.

1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.

2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.

3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.

4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.

5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.

6. We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

RI Transparency Report

RBC GAM’s detailed responses to the UN PRI on our responsible investing activities for the most recent year.

We work closely with other like-minded investors and investor coalitions to improve the ESG-related disclosure and practices of our investee companies.

Canadian Coalition for Good Governance

RBC GAM is a founding member of Canadian Coalition for Good Governance (CCGG). The CCGG promotes good governance practices in Canadian public companies and works to improve the regulatory environment to best align the interests of boards and management with their shareholders. Members of RBC GAM’s Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment team serve on the Public Policy and Environmental & Social committees.

Responsible Investment Association

RBC GAM is a sustaining member of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). The RIA is Canada’s membership association for responsible investment. A member of RBC GAM’s Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment team is a member of the RIA board.

30% Club Canadian Investor Group

RBC GAM is a signatory to the 30% Club Canadian Investor Group. The group is a coalition of Canada’s largest institutional investors with the objective of achieving a minimum of 30% women on the boards and in senior management roles of S&P/TSX composite index companies by 2022. For more information on the investor group’s commitment to gender diversity, please see its Statement of Intent.

Investor Stewardship Group

RBC GAM is a founding member of the Investor Stewardship Group (ISG). The ISG is a collective of institutional investors brought together to establish a framework of basic standards of investment stewardship for institutional investors and corporate governance principles for U.S. listed companies.

UK Stewardship Code

RBC GAM is a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code (2020). The Code aims to promote the responsible allocation, management, and oversight of capital to create long-term value for clients and beneficiaries, leading to sustainable benefits for the economy, the environment, and society. We have recently published our Stewardship Code Statement of support and met the expected standard of reporting.

Japanese Stewardship Code

RBC GAM is a signatory to the Japanese Stewardship Code. The Code sets out the principles that institutional investors should adhere to in order to fulfill their stewardship responsibilities to clients, beneficiaries and investee companies.

International Corporate Governance Network

RBC GAM is a member of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN). The ICGN aims to promote effective standards of corporate governance and investor stewardship to advance efficient market and sustainable economies worldwide. RBC GAM’s Head of Corporate Governance & Responsible Investment is a member of the ICGN Global Governance Committee.

Council of Institutional Investors

RBC GAM is a member of the Council of Institutional Investors (CII). The CII aims to promote effective corporate governance, strong shareowner rights and vibrant, transparent and fair capital markets.

CDP

RBC GAM is a signatory to the CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project. The CDP runs the global disclosure system that enables entities to measure and manage their environmental impacts and strives to advance environmental disclosure.

Sustainability Accounting Standards Board

RBC GAM is a member of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Alliance and SASB’s Investor Advisory Group. SASB’s mission is to help businesses around the world identify, manage and report on the sustainability topics that matter most to their investors.

Climate Action 100+

RBC GAM is a signatory to the Climate Action 100+. This investor collaboration focuses on active engagement with the world’s largest publicly traded and systemically important carbon emitters, or companies with significant opportunity to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

RBC GAM is a supporter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and commits to producing annual climate-related financial risk disclosures aligned with the recommendations of the TCFD. The TCFD recommendations have quickly become a global framework for building comparable and effective disclosures on climate-related risks and opportunities.