Sustainability and Stewardship Report

Explore our latest Sustainability and Stewardship Report.

Our purpose is to invest for a better tomorrow.

Our Sustainability & Stewardship Report details Ninety One’s work – on behalf of our clients and all of our stakeholders – towards a more sustainable future, with a deep dive into how we invest, advocacy and our corporate footprint.

Download the report

Inside this report:

Highlights, key figures and significant developments
Priorities for 2026-2027
Our net-zero transition plan and progress
Invest – how we invest sustainably for our clients and integrate environmental, social and governance factors
Advocate – how we use our voice in the markets to advocate for positive change among investors, companies and policymakers
Inhabit – how we aim to inhabit our own ecosystem in a manner that ensures a sustainable future for all

Our key figures

£4.1 billion

managed in sustainable strategies*

4 and 5 stars

PRI scores between 4 and 5 stars across all applicable modules**

353

engagements

14,656

proxy votes cast

As at 31 March 2026. See bottom of page for footnotes.

Sustainability highlights

Reviewed transition plan and recommitted to investment and operational targets, and real world decarbonisation.
96% support for transition plan at 2025 annual general meeting (“AGM”).
33 Transition Plan Assessments (“TPAs”) completed.
14.7% of financed emissions and 35.9% of corporate AUM with SBTi commitments or targets approved.
15 top emitters have strengthened plans, progressing on at least one TPA indicator.
Transition Forum set up to share technical knowledge across investment teams.

Invest

Delivering on our transition plan and targets

Reviewed transition plan and recommitted to investment and operational targets, and real world decarbonisation.
96% support for transition plan at 2025 annual general meeting (“AGM”).
33 Transition Plan Assessments (“TPAs”) completed.
14.7% of financed emissions and 35.9% of corporate AUM with SBTi commitments or targets approved.
15 top emitters have strengthened plans, progressing on at least one TPA indicator.
Transition Forum set up to share technical knowledge across investment teams.

Addressing risks and opportunities through high quality integration and active ownership

2025 Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals Financial Services Sector Sustainability Award; 2026 Alexforbes Paragon Impact Just Transition and Economic Inclusion Award.
Introduced AI-powered tools to enhance sustainability analysis, including identifying nature risks and assessing remuneration.
62% of engagements fully or partially achieved their objectives, including collaborative engagements via Climate Action 100+ and other initiatives.
Developed guidance to assist analysis of responsible AI, human rights and water.
Strengthened strategic focus on emerging risks, including physical climate and nature risks, and responsible technology adoption.

Investing sustainably for impact

Invested c.£1 billion in assets delivering measurable impact via our sustainable funds.

Improving transparency and disclosure

Maintained signatory status to the Financial Reporting Council UK Stewardship Code.
Published first annual sustainability report for Emerging Markets Transition Debt.
Achieved PRI Assessment scores between 4 & 5 stars across all applicable modules.

Advocate

Advocating for policy and industry standards

Advocated for a fair and inclusive transition for emerging markets, financed through active investment rather than divestment.
Contributed to the development of the UK Transition Finance Council transition finance guidelines to provide a credible baseline for assessing transition investments.
Participated in the International Sustainability Standards Board (“ISSB”) Investor Advisory Group and contributed to ISSB consultations to advance a global baseline for reporting material sustainability risks.
Undertook targeted engagement with governments and advisory bodies on policies that support transition, including UK sustainable aviation fuel policy and EU methane regulation, and via the Presidential Climate Commission (“PCC”) in South Africa.

Strengthening our industry collaborations

Co-chaired the UK Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (“EMDE”) Investor Taskforce, strengthening collaboration between government and industry on actions to mobilise capital for sustainable investment in emerging markets.
As a member of the UK Investor and Issuer Forum steering committee, contributed to work supporting alignment in the stewardship value chain, as well as a study on the stewardship implications of pass-through voting.
Co-chaired the Investor Leadership Network’s (“ILN”) climate change advisory committee, including supporting work to understand physical climate risks and assess data providers.

Inhabit

Overview

Opened our refurbished Cape Town office, significantly improving energy and water efficiency.
Launched a UK salary sacrifice electric vehicle programme, with strong uptake.
Held employee engagements aimed at equipping our people to use technology, particularly AI, effectively and responsibly.
Amplified staff charitable contributions via our charity matching programme.
Invested in a better tomorrow via support for the Earthshot Prize, Changeblazers and other initiatives.
Implemented a development programme that included a focus on leadership pipeline and succession.

Implementing our Transition Plan: Investments

Our targets

50%

of financed corporate emissions and

56%

of corporate AUM to have science-based transition pathways by 2030

Our approach

Prioritise heavy emitter engagement
Assess corporate transition plans using own framework
Aim for direct engagement with companies responsible for at least 50% of our financed emissions, prioritising our highest emitters
Grow allocation to climate solutions and transition investments

Our progress

Investments

As at 31 March 2026, 14.7% of our financed emissions and 35.9% of corporate AUM had set science-based transition targets.

Financed emissions with science-based targets

Financed emissions

Corporate AUM with science-based targets

Corporate aum

Transitioning our operations

Our targets

By 2030, reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by

46%

Our approach

Reduce overall energy consumption
Search for credible renewable energy sources
Specific focus on energy-efficiency across offices
Carbon neutral Scope 1, 2 and 3 (category 6) emissions

Our progress

Absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions

Source: Ninety One. FY = Fiscal year. See bottom of page for footnotes.

*'Sustainable strategies' is defined by Ninety One's internal framework, based on the European Commission's Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation ("SFDR") criteria for Article 8 and Article 9 funds, incorporating the Level 2 Regulatory Technical Standards (EU) 2022/1288 applicable from January 2023.
**Please see Appendix 4 for further information.
***In line with recommended sustainability accounting standards, the reporting period for emissions disclosures was amended in 2022 to align with Ninety One’s financial year (1 April – 31 March). In previous years, disclosures were reported as at calendar year end. Given the substantial overlap between FY2022 and calendar year 2021, we only report FY2022 here.

Important Information

This communication is provided for general information only and should not be construed as advice.

All the information in this communication is believed to be reliable but may be inaccurate or incomplete. The views are those of the contributor at the time of publication and do not necessarily reflect those of Ninety One.

Any opinions stated are honestly held but are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon.

All rights reserved. Issued by Ninety One.

For further information on indices, fund ratings, yields, targeted or projected performance returns, back-tested results, model return results, hypothetical performance returns, the investment team, our investment process, and specific portfolio names, please click here.