The Canadian pension fund La Caisse (formerly Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec) has announced that it will double its investments in green technologies to 400 billion USD by 2030. Although environmental protection is not the primary focus, the fund is emphasizing return potential through investments in companies that work on decarbonization or promote climate-friendly technologies.
Sustainability as a Strategy
La Caisse’s CEO, Charles Emond, emphasizes that sustainable investing is not a short-term trend but an essential part of the fund’s fiduciary responsibility. Companies in the portfolio are encouraged to develop robust climate strategies and focus on long-term value creation and risk management.
Political Headwinds and Strategic Orientation
Despite political headwinds and the hesitance of other large financial players regarding sustainable investments, La Caisse remains true to its strategy. This distinguishes the fund from other major Canadian institutions like the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board or the Royal Bank of Canada, which have partly abandoned their sustainability goals. La Caisse’s strong commitment to sustainable investments aims to maximize financial returns.
In summary, La Caisse is doubling its investments in green projects to sustainably maximize returns, less out of pure environmental altruism.