| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.39 |
| Liaison | Stephanie MacPhee |
| Submission Date | Feb. 5, 2025 |
Dalhousie University
PA-9: Committee on Investor Responsibility
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Stephanie
MacPhee Executive Director Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have a formally established and active committee on investor responsibility (CIR) or equivalent body?:
The charter or mission statement of the CIR or other body which reflects social and environmental concerns or a brief description of how the CIR is tasked to address social and environmental concerns:
Dalhousie has a Board of Governor’s Finance, Audit, Investment and Risk Committee. At this committee, investment decision are made in accordance with University policy. Environmental, Social and governance principles (ESG) are incorporated in the University’s investment policy. Five clauses in the policy highlight specific action around ESG that this committee addresses.
The Finance, Audit, Investment and Risk Committee is “composed of not less than three and not more than six members of the Board. Because of the matters before the Committee, its members shall generally be external members of the Board.” Membership currently includes administrative staff, alumni, senate, community members. The Board of Governors have released reports on divestment as well as the Senate. A new account has been established by the University to receive donations that are invested in Low Carbon Investment options.
Does the CIR include academic staff representation?:
Does the CIR include non-academic staff representation?:
Does the CIR include student representation?:
Members of the CIR, including affiliations and role:
Mr. Paul Beesley (Chair) Board Representative
Mr. Aubrey Palmeter Non-Board, External
Dr. Greg Hebb Senate Nominee
Dr. Andrew Cochrane, Nominee, retiree
Ms. Gitta Kulczycki (Vice-President, Finance & Administration) Senior Officer for Liaison and Member)
Ms. Cheryl Earle (CFO and Asst Vice-President, Financial Services) Internal Appointment
Support:
Ms. Nancy-Beth Foran (Treasurer)
Consultant: Mr. Bob Mitchell
Dalhousie University became a signatory to the PRI (Principles of Responsible Investing) June 2019.
Dalhousie University was one of 15 Universities to sign the Climate Change Charter. A little info on what the Charter stands for:
Universities have a duty to manage their long-term investment portfolios in ways that acknowledge and account for these developments. With these considerations in mind, the signatories to this charter pledge to abide by the following principles and practices, and encourage other Canadian universities to do the same:
1. Adopt a responsible investing framework to guide investment decision-making, in line with recognized standards such as the UN-supported Principles of Responsible Investment (UN-PRI). Such a framework should:
a. Incorporate ESG factors into investment management practices
b. Encourage active engagement with companies to foster disclosure of ESG (including climate) related risks, and adoption of operational practices that reduce carbon emissions and foster ESG-positive behaviour more broadly
2. Regularly measure the carbon intensity of our investment portfolios, and set meaningful targets for their reduction over time
3. Evaluate progress towards these objectives on a regular basis, and share the results of such assessments publicly
4. Ensure that the performance evaluation of our investment managers takes into account their success in achieving such objectives, alongside the other criteria for assessing their performance
Dalhousie last had a review of fossil fuel investments in 2018. The Board had requested to have the Investment Committee to undertake such a review and report back. This culminated in the report that went to the Board of Governors in February 2019 and was approved unanimously.
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