Sustainable Investment
Responsible Investing
Downing invests for return while caring for the world. ESG is a set of tools to enable this, including the integration of material factors to investments and risks, reporting, transparency and active ownership and structured engagement for positive outcomes.
c.1,800
property developments funded since 2017*
c.700
special education needs school spaces created since 2012, includes sites in development*
c.273,000
UK homes equivalent annual electricity generated from renewables*
c.3,000
specialist and elderly care home places managed since 2012, includes sites in development*
*as at 31 March 2024
"As providers of debt and equity, investors have an important role in achieving net gain for climate and nature, positive outcomes and access to the systems for a society to function, and structures for boards, management teams and shareholder rights that provide strong governance."
Actively identifying, considering, monitoring and managing ESG factors throughout the investment process and throughout the period of our ownership enables us to create value for our investors and communities.
In all investment decisions, we identify ESG factors. Risks are mitigated and a foundation for engagement is set.
We aim to use an ESG scorecard is used to identify material factors like biodiversity, energy, waste and stakeholder impacts.
This is followed by preliminary and then detailed evaluation, including, for most investments.
We are committed to transparency and reporting our impact, as well as advocating for progress in sustainable investment.
Downing is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Stewardship Code, and the UN Global Compact. We are also members of GRESB, the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change. We publicly support the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) and the Transition Pathway Initiative.
Active ownership and structured approaches to stewardship across all asset classes, to achieve positive outcomes during our period of investment.
We engage to empower positive change, from support in reporting greenhouse gas emissions to protecting and enhancing local ecosystems, with clarity on the subject and audience for engagement and monitoring of progress.
2023’s Sustainability Report goes through our activities as a sustainable investor, lays out our key ESG milestones and achievements, outlines the environmental impact of our greenhouse gas emissions, and gives an overview of our investor voice through stewardship.
Please click below on the relevant document to download.
Sustainability and Responsible Investment Policy
UNPRI Senior Leadership Statement
Private Markets Responsible Investment Policy
FRC Stewardship Code 2023
SFDR Disclosures
Sustainable Investment: Exclusions Policy
DFM Voting and Engagement Policy
Biodiversity Net Gain Strategies
B Corp Impact Report
Solar sheep maintain the land in which a solar farm is located in a fully sustainable and eco-friendly way while enabling dual purpose land use. The sheep support the biodiversity of the area by avoiding the use of pesticides, thus allowing local wildlife and pollinators to flourish and thrive. They also offer a low cost yet highly effective method for stopping grass and weeds from overgrowing.
Downing is pleased to be partnering with Earth Energy Education, a company dedicated to getting children out of the classroom and visiting renewable energy sites across the UK to educate them about green energy.
In our second annual Downing Sustainability and Responsible Investment Report, we outline our approach to sustainability. At Downing, we do not claim to be saving the environment or society, or to invest only in the best-governed assets – but we are pragmatic and we recognise the importance of ESG. Find out more in our report.
Find out more about the Sustainability team and how our expertise can deliver investments for charities.
Downing LLP does not provide advice or make personal recommendations and investors are strongly urged to seek independent advice before investing. Investments offered on this website carry a higher risk than many other types of investment and prospective investors should be aware that capital is at risk and the value of their investment may go down as well as up. Any investment should only be made on the basis of the relevant product literature and your attention is drawn to the risk, fees and taxation factors contained therein. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change in the future. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Downing LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 545025). Registered in England No. OC341575. Registered Office: St Magnus House, 3 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6HD.
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