Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Church Investments: Environmental, Social and Governance Leadership

Thursday 1 December 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Church of England is a co-founder of the transition pathway initiative, which has supporters representing $50 trillion under management, committed to transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
  • Alexander Stafford thanked the minister for supporting the all-party parliamentary group on environmental, social and governance, praising its work as valuable.
  • Olga Hancock, from the Church Commissioners, chairs the policy committee of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alexander Stafford
Religion & Faith Environment
Context

The question arises from concerns about the Church of England's role in demonstrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership within its investment strategies. It seeks to understand concrete actions taken by the Church.

Question

Whether the Church of England is taking steps to show environmental, social and governance leadership in its investments.

Answer from Andrew Selous

The transition pathway initiative, of which the national investing bodies of the Church of England are co-founders, has supporters representing a combined $50 trillion under management, all committed to making the transition to a low-carbon economy. The Church Commissioners also co-chair the investors policy dialogue with Indonesia on reversing deforestation.

Answered
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Q2 Alexander Stafford
Climate Environment
Context

A report by an all-party parliamentary group on environmental, social and governance recommendations that the Government should consult widely with stakeholders. The question focuses on whether the Church Commissioners have had discussions with the Government concerning these recommendations.

Question

My hon. Friend will, of course, be aware that a report on the UK's upcoming green taxonomy was published this morning by the all-party parliamentary group on environmental, social and governance, of which he is a valuable vice-chair. I thank him for his support and his endeavours. One of the report's key recommendations is that the Government should consult widely with stakeholders. What discussions have the Church Commissioners had with the Government, including the Treasury, about the UK's green taxonomy and its implications for the Church's ESG policy and investments?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I thank my hon. Friend for his brilliant work of chairing the all-party parliamentary group on environmental, social and governance, which are so important. I am pleased that Olga Hancock, of the Church Commissioners, chairs the policy committee of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association, which is a member of the Government's green technical advisory group, so I can reassure my hon. Friend that the Church is right at the heart of this important work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific discussions between the Church Commissioners and the Government are not detailed, only their involvement in relevant groups is mentioned.

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