Global sustainability solutions provider South Pole Group and Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS"), leading provider of end-to-end corporate governance and responsible investment solutions to the financial community, have agreed on the sale of South Pole Group's investment climate data advisory unit to ISS.
As pioneers in the development of climate-smart industry solutions, South Pole Group developed its investment climate data advisory unit - also known as Climate Neutral Investments (CNI) - in 2010 as a premier offer for screening carbon emissions in investment portfolios.
What started as a novelty for the financial industry soon caught the attention of large investors globally: CNI established the world's largest database on corporate climate change data and pioneered the leading, standardised investment carbon emission screening tools, resulting in the successful screening of over USD 2 trillion of assets under management for climate change implications.
"For our company, this is certainly a historic milestone. From incubating the completely unknown space of investment carbon footprinting back in 2010, to growing the business and co-shaping our own market to now finally selling the investment carbon footprinting business to a large financial industry player - it has been an absolutely amazing journey," says Renat Heuberger, CEO of South Pole Group.
The sale of CNI will allow South Pole Group to significantly scale its global sustainability business, which comprises the full suite of environmental risk and performance assessment - including climate change, energy, water, land use and deforestation. The company will continue to be one of the world's largest sustainability project developers and a global provider of renewable energy and carbon credits, creating value for its wide range of public, private and civil society clients.
“We believe that there are excellent opportunities to execute smart, sustainable investments in every economic situation and in every market. We are excited to take our unique combination of climate change and sustainability expertise, ESG knowledge, and detailed analyses to the next level for investors and corporates around the world," says John Davis, Director Financial Industry, South Pole Group.
Media contact
Nadia Kahkonen, Communications Manager, South Pole Group
n.kahkonen@thesouthpolegroup.com
About South Pole Group
South Pole Group is one of the world's leading climate action solution providers, measuring and reducing climate impact for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with 16 offices around the globe and over 200 climate change professionals, the company has achieved savings of over 80 million tonnes of CO2 since being incorporated in 2006. South Pole Group adds value to its wide range of public, private and civil society clients in the key areas of corporate climate action, public advisory, sustainable supply chains, renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as green finance. The company offers access to new sustainable finance instruments and in-depth knowledge in fund & portfolio advisory, ensuring that investments are channeled into promising clean tech investment opportunities that trigger positive impacts. A pioneer in emission reduction and renewable energy projects, the South Pole Group's portfolio is at present the largest available on the market. For more information, visit thesouthpolegroup.com.
