LAPFF Conference 2021: Day One

Day One of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum Annual (LAPFF) conference started with a welcome by our Chair, Cllr Doug McMurdo. 

First item was a blended panel on the Local Government Pension Scheme APPG (all Party Parliamentary Group) report on a "Just Transition". 

With Chair, Clive Betts MP, Cllr Doug McMurdo, Sabrina Muller (Policy Analyst for Sustainable Finance, Paul Hunter (PIRC) and moderated by Cllr Glyn Caron (LAPFF Executive). 

The opening event is about the
Just Transition inquiry, with APPG Chair Clive Betts speaking about the findings & how investors can facilitate a #JustTransition through engagement. 

The need to take people along whilst tackling the #ClimateCrisis is essential. "We risk having no transition at all if it is not seen as just." Sabrina Muller of @GRI_LSE speaking about the overlooked factor of location when thinking about job creation & losses. It risks exacerbating existing #inequality between UK regions.

Paul Hunter with @smith_institute summarising the landmark study by the Local Authority Pension Funds APPG https://appglocalpensionfunds.org Investors are vital but can't do it all, government strategy is a must

Next was "How is Sainsbury Plc addressing Climate Change" with Mark Given (Chief Marketing Officer, Sainsbury Plc), Jo Harlow (Non executive director, Sainsbury Plc) moderated by Rachel Brothwood (LAPFF Executive). Who presented and took questions on how the 2nd largest retailor in the UK has a "Plan for Better". 

Then "Say on Climate" with a virtual presentation by Sir Chris Hohn (Founder of TCI Fund Management) moderated by Cllr Rob Chapman (LAPFF Executive). The no nonsense self made billionaire investor did not mince his words and made it clear that he expected companies to produce 5 year action plans on Climate change and not 2050 targets. He also told us asset owners to sack fund managers who fail on Climate change and ESG. 

Final event of day was "30 Years of LAPFF  Vision & Impact"" with myself and my fellow Vice Chair of LAPFF, Cllr Robert Chapman, moderated by Brian Bailey.  A film showing our work over the past 30 years & how to bring about the best returns for local authority pension funds. "Run by us, for us". There was some interesting reminiscences about our history which are probably best kept within the LAPFF family. 

Hat tip @LAPFF feed