The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) has launched a survey for schemes to share how they have implemented environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investing in order to inform future research.

PPI said the survey would help it understand how decision-makers “think and feel about these issues” as the organisation looks to move on with its Engaging with ESG research series.

PPI senior policy adviser, Lauren Wilkinson, said: “We would welcome responses from anyone involved in the ESG decision-making process, including defined contribution and defined benefit scheme managers, trustees, investment officers, advisers, consultants and asset managers."

The series aims to which will break through the confusion surrounding ESG and climate change to identify the barriers faced by schemes and practical policy solutions for helping schemes to engage in a more meaningful way.

This includes identifying how to improve engagement among trustees and contract-based scheme providers, with the findings of the survey set to provide insight into how they have been engaging so far following changes to SIP regulations in 2018.

Wilkinson commented: “Although knowledge and understanding of ESG considerations has grown across the industry as a whole, some schemes are struggling to integrate ESG factors into their investment strategy, while others have made much bigger strides.

“We want to find out more about the actual experiences of schemes, the barriers they have faced, their difficulties and their successes, so the policy world can properly understand the circumstances in which schemes are operating. As well as gathering data through the survey, we will be carrying out follow-up interviews to gain a deeper understanding of schemes’ experiences.

“This analysis of scheme behaviour will help to clarify where there may be a role for greater support and intervention in order to improve engagement and integration going forward.”

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