Aegon UK has announced that it has signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, a global initiative that aims to help protect biodiversity and restoration.

The initiative brings together financial institutions from across 25 countries that are committed to helping preserve biodiversity, and contribute through their investments and financial activities to reversing nature loss by 2030.

Aegon stated that its decision to sign the pledge aligned with a growing trend of investors prioritising environmental considerations.

Its research found that 51 per cent of Aegon UK customers felt that impacts on nature, including biodiversity, were an important consideration when investing in a company.

The Finance for Biodiversity Pledge commits signatories to undertake several actions, including collaborating and sharing knowledge, engaging with companies, assessing impact, setting targets, and reporting publicly by 2025.

In total, 163 financial institutions representing 25 countries and over €21.7trn in combined assets under management signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge in 2023.

The pledge was initiated in 2020 by a group of 26 financial institutions calling on global leaders and committing to protect and restore biodiversity through their finance activities and investments.

Commenting on the announcement, Aegon UK head of responsible investing, Hilkka Komulainen, said: “We are proud to sign the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge and take a stand for the protection of our planet.

“Our customers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact their investments can have, and we believe that financial institutions have a responsibility to take action to address this critical issue.

“By understanding and taking ownership of the nature impact of our pension schemes, we are committed to being a force for good and use our influence to help protect the planet, on behalf of our customers.”

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