The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is asking its signatories what they want from it over the next three years. The UN-backed body has launched a consultation on its 2027-2030 strategy.
“As we mark the PRI’s 20th anniversary, this triannual strategy consultation comes at an inflection point for our organisation and the global investment community,” it said in a statement.
The next phase of its agenda will require the board to “make choices about where to focus resources, how we prioritise across issues, activities and markets, and how the PRI should continue evolving alongside investor expectations and market developments”.
The PRI is asking its signatories about their greatest challenges and priorities. Options include climate, nature, human rights and governance issues.
It also suggests that investors may be grappling with the implications of social change, such as shifting demographics and income inequality. Defence, geopolitics and cybersecurity are also namechecked.
The survey pays particular attention to the role of artificial intelligence in responsible investment, including how signatories think it might reshape internal skills and operating models, and the impact it could have on capital allocation, research and stewardship.
It also flags the potential to work more on emerging and developing market economies.
The PRI is asking investors whether it should do more around system-level risks, using tools such as collaboration, policy advocacy, benchmarking and implementation support.
Elsewhere, it considers the idea that its signatories might help shape the next iteration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The targets underlying the SDGs are due to expire in 2030, and efforts are underway to review the post-2030 phase.
“To what extent should investors contribute to the development of a post-2030 global guidance for sustainability targets?” the consultation asks.
The PRI is also reconsidering the role of asset managers in its governance structure.
“Since the last governance review in 2014, the signatory base has evolved significantly,” it explained, noting that investment managers now represent approximately three-quarters of its signatories.
“As part of its ongoing governance review, the board is considering whether the addition of one investment manager-elected director could strengthen representation and bring additional perspectives, expertise and market experience to board discussion (and ensure investment manager representation across its sub-committees) while maintaining asset owner majority representation”.
The consultation is open until August.
