A new environmental, social and governance course launched by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) yesterday aims to help super funds to incorporate ESG issues into their investment strategies.

The half-day course, which was launched in

Sydney by Minister for Superannuation, Senator Nick Sherry, is available nationally and has been developed with Colonial First State Global Asset Management.

AIST chief executive officer Fiona Reynolds said the course recognised the growing importance of ESG considerations in investment decisions, particularly in the wake of the global financial crisis and the many corporate collapses since then.

“Super funds and other investors are increasingly recognising that they must protect and manage their investments for the long term by considering ESG risk in their decision-making processes,” she said.

Sherry recently asked the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to review super fund trustee guidance on ESG investment considerations.

The course is designed to complement other educational and research initiatives by AIST including research on climate change and sustainable investing to better position super funds as

Australia
moves towards a low-carbon emissions economy.