FRIENDS adds green, ethical and climate change funds

Friends Provident has widened its fund range for ethically minded investors by adding three new funds to its recently launched FRIENDS Wealth Solutions Bond.

The new funds are managed by Schroders and F&C, both of whom have expertise in global equity markets:

Stewardship Corporate Bond Fund

This is a new ethically screened fund which is part of the pioneering F & C Stewardship ethical range, whose funds are amongst the most strictly screened ethical funds in the market. The fund does not invest in gilts, which are excluded from the Stewardship range.

Investors who want to make the most of the opportunities and challenges presented by a changing climate have the option of two funds – both of which are global equity funds that invest in companies that will help to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, and help people to adapt to a rise in global temperatures. The funds are: The F & C Global Climate Opportunities Fund Supported by the 15 member F&C Governance and Sustainable Investment team, focuses on alternative energy, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, waste, advanced materials, forestry and agriculture, water, acclimatisation, and supporting services. The Schroder Global Climate Change Fund The themes are energy efficiency, sustainable transport, clean energy, environmental resources, and low carbon fossil fuels.

Julia Dreblow, socially responsible investment marketing manager at Friends Provident, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide investors with an expanded range of funds at a time when demand for green and ethical investments is increasing at an unprecedented rate.

“The new Stewardship Corporate Bond fund has been made possible by the Stewardship Committee of Reference recently approving some leading banks, who are taking environmental and social issues more seriously than ever before.

“Climate change has now become something that many leading organisations as well as individuals are seriously getting to grips with we believe the way companies respond to this challenge will impact investment returns for many years to come.”

The FRIENDS Wealth Solutions Bond now has a total of 14 funds for green and ethically minded investors. Other environmental options include the Impax Environmental Markets Fund and the Jupiter Ecology Fund. These are in addition to ten unscreened funds as well as other options that are covered by responsible engagement overlays.