Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 75.40
Liaison Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date Jan. 16, 2025

STARS v3.0

Western University
PA-4: Sustainable Investment Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

4.1 Sustainable investment policy or committee

Has the institution formally incorporated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and/or climate risk as material issues to be considered when making investment decisions?:
Yes

Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of how the institution has incorporated ESG factors and/or climate risk as material issues to be considered when making investment decisions:

https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/policies_procedures/section2/mapp226.pdf

Our responsible investing policy allocates capital to solutions-based investments that are considered progressive and uses ESG factors as an integral part of the investment process, such as investment decision making, Manager monitoring, and active ownership.


The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:

Points earned for indicator PA 4.1:
2

4.2 Negative screening and divestment

Does the institution employ negative screening and/or targeted divestment in support of sustainability?:
No

Narrative and/or website URL providing evidence of the institution’s use of negative screening and/or targeted divestment in support of sustainability:
---

The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:

Points earned for indicator PA 4.2:
0

4.3 Investor engagement 

Has the institution engaged in proxy voting in support of sustainability during the previous three years, either directly or through an investment manager?:
Yes

Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s proxy voting in support of sustainability:
The University has a proxy voting policy that aims to maximize value to the University when voting on various topics, including sustainability. Voting is typically delegated to the managers.
 
In August 2024, we conducted a proxy voting audit for the period of June 2022- June 2023 in collaboration with the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE) to gain insights into how our proxies are voted. This included examining votes on key issues such as climate change, human rights, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability. Additionally, we incorporated proxy voting questions into manager review meetings and reached out to specific managers to understand their proxy voting approach and gather case studies related to ESG topics.

Has the institution filed a shareholder resolution or signed on to an investor statement in support of sustainability during the previous three years, either directly or through an investment manager?:
Yes

Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the shareholder resolutions or investor statements in support of sustainability:

We co-signed letters to companies including Fiera, Aritzia, Canadian Tire through SHARE to support climate change, human rights and diversity, equity and inclusion.


Is the institution an active participant in one or more sustainability or ESG-focused investor networks?:
Yes

Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s participation in sustainability or ESG-focused investor networks:

We are a member of the University Network for Investor Engagement, Principles for Responsible Investment and Investing to Address Climate Change: A Charter for Canadian Universities.

Western is a signatory and participant in the Investing to Address Climate Change Charter and its Climate Charter Technical Committee. https://www.uwo.ca/finance/forms/docs/treasury/western-climate-charter.pdf

 


The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:

Points earned for indicator PA 4.3:
1

Optional documentation

Notes about the information provided for this credit:
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Additional documentation for this credit:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.