Thursday 4 February 2021

Smart Pension pledges to become a net zero business before 2050

Pensions and retirement technology business Smart Pension has pledged to deliver net zero and develop its investment approach before the 2050 deadline.

The business has signed up to screenwriter Richard Curtis’ Make My Money Matter campaign, which will help it to halve its emissions before the Paris Climate Agreement’s 2030 deadline. The campaign calls for pension funds to invest money responsibly and sustainably, as well as committing to net zero by 2050.

The pension provider aims to invest in products that tackle the climate crisis and are in the best interest of its members. Smart Pension claims the investment will not only have a positive impact on the environment but also a financial one, with an increase in the value of investments over each of its members’ pension lifespan.

The company states that since the Make My Money Matter campaign launched in 2020, more than 13 million UK pensions have committed to going net zero.

Paul Bucksey, Managing Director of Smart Pension, said: “We are really excited about the difference our scheme can make over the short and medium term and are currently actively working with our partners to develop funds that actually decarbonise the economy, rather than offsetting in other ways which does not address the real problem.

“As you can expect with Smart Pension, we are looking to bring real innovation in this space for the benefit of society and our members, and plan to make some further exciting announcements over the coming months.”

Richard Curtis, Make My Money Matter Co-Founder, said: "Smart Pension joins a growing list of organisations stepping up to ensure their pensions are fighting, not causing climate change, and we urge all schemes to follow suit ahead of the international climate change conference this November.”