| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.88 |
| Liaison | Sam Lubow |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2022 |
Stanford University
PA-10: Sustainable Investment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.33 / 5.00 |
Melissa
Maigler Sustainability Analytics Manager Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Positive sustainability investment
41,900,000,000
US/Canadian $
Value of holdings in each of the following categories:
| Value of holdings | |
| Sustainable industries (e.g., renewable energy or sustainable forestry) | 1,200,000,000 US/Canadian $ |
| Businesses selected for exemplary sustainability performance (e.g., using criteria specified in a sustainable investment policy) | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Sustainability investment funds (e.g., a renewable energy or impact investment fund) | 32,100,000 US/Canadian $ |
| Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) or the equivalent | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens (or the equivalent) | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Green revolving funds funded from the endowment | 0 US/Canadian $ |
If any of the above is greater than zero, provide:
Companies related to renewable energy, electric vehicles, travel reduction, recycling, input-efficiencies, and other businesses with clear sustainability benefits. Includes funds with dedicated climate and social impact mandates as well as sustainable investments held via generalist public and private equity funds.
Percentage of the institution's investment pool in positive sustainability investments:
2.94
Part 2. Investor engagement
Sustainable investment policy
Yes
None
A copy of the sustainable investment policy:
None
The sustainable investment policy:
Statement on Investment Responsibility:
https://stanford.app.box.com/v/stmt-investment-responsibility
Ethical Investment Framework:
https://smc.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SMC-Ethical-Investment-Framework.pdf
https://stanford.app.box.com/v/stmt-investment-responsibility
Ethical Investment Framework:
https://smc.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SMC-Ethical-Investment-Framework.pdf
None
Does the institution use its sustainable investment policy to select and guide investment managers?:
Yes
A brief description of how the sustainable investment policy is applied:
In 2018, the University adopted the Ethical Investment Framework to govern the endowment and compliment the Board of Trustees' existing Statement on Investment Responsibility. The University also developed and applied certain investment responsibility proxy voting guidelines which address many current Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues.
For example, the University adopted a climate change proxy voting guideline that states the following: “Stanford votes ‘Yes’ on resolutions that companies analyze levels of greenhouse gas emissions, develop action plans to reduce them, report on significant company actions to remediate, reduce and/or eliminate them, and continually assess and report on material impacts caused by company action and/or inaction with respect to greenhouse gas emissions.”
Stanford has also adopted investment policies which preclude owning specific companies with operations in Sudan, companies in the tobacco industry and companies whose principal business is the mining of coal for use in energy generation.
Additionally in 2018, Stanford University committed $10 million over a 10-year period for a new initiative that will develop an expanded platform of educational and research opportunities for students and faculty with interests in responsible, sustainable and impact investing and governance.
More details may be found at these sites:
http://irsr.stanford.edu/
https://smc.stanford.edu/investment-responsibility/
For example, the University adopted a climate change proxy voting guideline that states the following: “Stanford votes ‘Yes’ on resolutions that companies analyze levels of greenhouse gas emissions, develop action plans to reduce them, report on significant company actions to remediate, reduce and/or eliminate them, and continually assess and report on material impacts caused by company action and/or inaction with respect to greenhouse gas emissions.”
Stanford has also adopted investment policies which preclude owning specific companies with operations in Sudan, companies in the tobacco industry and companies whose principal business is the mining of coal for use in energy generation.
Additionally in 2018, Stanford University committed $10 million over a 10-year period for a new initiative that will develop an expanded platform of educational and research opportunities for students and faculty with interests in responsible, sustainable and impact investing and governance.
More details may be found at these sites:
http://irsr.stanford.edu/
https://smc.stanford.edu/investment-responsibility/
Proxy voting
Yes
None
A copy of the proxy voting guidelines or proxy record:
None
A brief description of how managers are adhering to proxy voting guidelines:
See linked policy
Shareholder resolutions
No
Examples of how the institution has engaged with corporations in its portfolio about sustainability issues during the previous three years:
SMC engages regularly with its external managers on issues of sustainability as described in the Ethical Investment Framework. Stanford University adopted an investment policy which precludes directly owning securities in specific companies whose principal business is the mining of coal for use in energy generation.
The resolution means that Stanford will not directly invest in directly held publicly traded companies for which coal extraction is the primary business, and will divest of any current direct holdings in such companies. Stanford also will recommend to its external investment managers, who invest in wide ranges of securities on behalf of the university, that they avoid investments in these public companies as well.
The resolution means that Stanford will not directly invest in directly held publicly traded companies for which coal extraction is the primary business, and will divest of any current direct holdings in such companies. Stanford also will recommend to its external investment managers, who invest in wide ranges of securities on behalf of the university, that they avoid investments in these public companies as well.
Divestment efforts and negative screens
Yes
A brief description of the divestment effort or negative screens and how they have been implemented:
Coal - Stanford University adopted an investment policy which precludes directly owning securities in specific companies whose principal business is the mining of coal for use in energy generation.
Tobacco – During the 1990s, Stanford implemented many proxy voting guidelines and engaged corporations in an effort to end injuries caused by company products. In 1998, Stanford ended investment in core tobacco companies.
Human Rights – Stanford adopted investment policies which preclude directly owning securities in specific companies with operations in Sudan.
Tobacco – During the 1990s, Stanford implemented many proxy voting guidelines and engaged corporations in an effort to end injuries caused by company products. In 1998, Stanford ended investment in core tobacco companies.
Human Rights – Stanford adopted investment policies which preclude directly owning securities in specific companies with operations in Sudan.
Approximate percentage of endowment that the divestment effort and/or negative screens apply to:
100
Investor networks
Yes
None
A brief description of the investor networks and/or collaborations:
Stanford participates in the College and University Consortium on Investor Responsibility and routinely speaks with the investment teams at peer institutions about sustainability issues.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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