Historical archive

Expert group to examine how climate change, climate policy and the green transition may affect the Government Pension Fund Global

Historical archive

Published under: Solberg's Government

Publisher: Ministry of Finance

Climate and environmental matters have for many years been a key part of the Ministry of Finance's work with the investment strategy for the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) and the Fund framework. The Ministry is appointing an expert group to examine the importance of financial climate risk and climate-related investment opportunities for a fund with the GPFG’s characteristics.

“We need more knowledge on how the transition towards a low-emission economy could affect the pension fund's exposure to climate risk and climate-related investment opportunities. This expert group will provide important insights into these matters”, says Minister of Finance Jan Tore Sanner (Conservative Party).

The Ministry of Finance emphasises how climate change, climate policy and the green transition may affect the Fund management, risk, and return. Norges Bank incorporates assessments of financial risk arising from climate change in both risk management, investment decisions and ownership activities. Furthermore, the ethically motivated guidelines for observation and exclusion of companies from the Fund include several criteria on climate and the environment.

The group will be headed by Martin Skancke (chairman of the board of PRI, member of TCFD and board member of Storebrand). Other members will be:

  • Kristin Halvorsen (executive director of CICERO)
  • Tone Bjørnstad Hanstad (investment professional at Ferd)
  • Karin S. Thorburn (professor at NHH).

The secretary of the group will be Thomas Ekeli (former chief economist at Folketrygdfondet).

The expert group will submit its report by 15 August 2021.

Key objectives:

In order to provide the Ministry of Finance with a foundation for further deliberation, the report should provide insight into the significance of financial climate risk and climate-related investment opportunities for a fund with GPFG characteristics. The report should discuss alternative approaches to addressing these issues in the management of the GPFG.

The report should further discuss whether new, climate-related knowledge carry importance as to the key premises underpinning the fund's investment strategy, including implications for the operational management. As part of this analysis, the report should discuss how financial climate risk affects financial markets, properties of such risk relative to other elements of financial risk, including to what extent climate risk is priced in financial markets.

Where appropriate, the report should also provide examples on how these issues are addressed by peers.

Organizations and individuals that would like to provide input to the group's work may submit it in form of a short, written note to postmottak@fin.dep.no, labeled «expert group climate risk GPFG» by 31 March 2021.