When clients choose those share classes, a part of their investment is used to purchase carbon credits, which aim to reduce, remove or avoid one metric ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent from being released, per credit.
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The funds are RobecoSAM QI Global SDG & Climate Conservative Equities, Climate Global Credits and Net Zero 2050 Climate Equities.
Robeco explained the asset classes will help finance climate projects that benefit local communities and contribute to inclusive economic growth. The firm provided the example of a project in Bangladesh focused on repairing leaking gas infrastructure by purchasing and importing specialised leak detectors.
The company said that for its existing Scope 1 and 2 financed emissions, it will offer clients an equivalent of carbon credits to help sustainable projects, such as rebuilding forests.
It added that the design of the share classes has been set up to reduce emissions and to compensate rather than make funds carbon neutral.
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Lucian Peppelenbos, climate strategist at Robeco, said: “The launch of the carbon offset share classes underpins Robeco’s commitment to sustainability and responsible investing. Research shows carbon markets can halve the costs of implementing the Paris Agreement.
“At this moment, globally €1trn is invested in climate solutions. The biggest part is invested in industrialised countries. However, we need €4trn for the net-zero transition, the biggest part of which has to be invested in developing countries so that we decarbonise the wider global economy. The set-up of our carbon share classes offers the possibility to our clients to contribute to this important goal.”
