Sustainable investment is the greatest economic opportunity: Marc-Andre Blanchard, executive VP, CDPQ
Marc-Andre Blanchard, executive vice president and global head of sustainability at CDPQ, one of the biggest global investors in infra-related assets in India.
«When we talk about ESG and sustainability, we're really talking about good management and value creation,» Blanchard said. «As a pension fund, we are driven by the desire to build businesses that drive performance and progress. For us, capital takes on its full value when it generates positive change.»
The Canadian leader stated that CDPQ is a global investment group with over $452 billion in assets under management, including 12% in the Asia-Pacific region. What sets CDPQ apart is its dual mandate: generating returns for its depositors-representing over 6 million Quebecers-while contributing to Quebec's economic development. CDPQ is also Canada's second-largest pension fund, he said.
According to Blanchard, this dual mandate drove the fund to approach sustainability differently. In 2017, CDPQ became the first institutional investor to implement a comprehensive climate strategy, aiming to lead in sustainable investing globally, he said.
«Since then, we have reduced our carbon footprint by 59%, now holding $53 billion in low-carbon assets and $330 billion in assets with a low-carbon footprint. Nearly 80% of CDPQ's portfolio is in low-carbon or low-intensity sectors, where we actively help reduce emissions beyond our own footprint,» Blanchard noted.
He stated that finance will play a critical role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
«Globally,
