Danish FSA warns pension funds on billion-euro green power pledge

The biggest pension funds in Denmark have said they’ll plow over EUR 45 billion into sustainable energy within the next decade. Now, the country’s regulator says such green investments will only fly if they offer competitive returns.
Jesper Berg, the head of the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, says pension funds looking for greener investment options risk a run-in with the regulator if they sacrifice returns. | Photo: Daniel Hedelund
Jesper Berg, the head of the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, says pension funds looking for greener investment options risk a run-in with the regulator if they sacrifice returns. | Photo: Daniel Hedelund
BY FRANCES SCHWARTZKOPFF / BLOOMBERG

Jesper Berg, the head of the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, says pension funds looking for greener investment options risk a run-in with the regulator if they sacrifice returns. The rules, as they stand now, require that funds always target the best possible return for their customers, he says.

In an interview in Copenhagen, Berg said that “as long as they believe they can raise [green] investments without lowering returns, fine.” If funds want to make a point of prioritizing ethical investments over returns, then they need to wait for lawmakers to step in, he said.

The reality check from the regulator comes as Danish pension funds take coordinated action to address climate change through their investment targets. The goal, which builds on the Paris Accord, means most funds in Denmark’s EUR 440 billion pension industry are shunning companies that don’t live up to specific climate goals.

While some research has shown that green investments are at least as profitable as those that don’t take the environment into consideration, the findings aren’t conclusive.

Already a subscriber?Log in here

Read the whole article

Get access for 14 days for free. No credit card is needed, and you will not be automatically signed up for a paid subscription after the free trial.

With your free trial you get:

  • Access all locked articles
  • Receive our daily newsletters
  • Access our app
Must contain at least 6 characters
Must contain at least 2 characters
Must contain at least 2 characters

Get full access for you and your coworkers

Start a free company trial today

Share article

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay ahead of development by receiving our newsletter on the latest sector knowledge.

Newsletter terms

Front page now

Further reading