Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.18
Liaison Daimon Eklund
Submission Date Oct. 12, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Washington, Seattle
PA-9: Sustainable Investment

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.05 / 4.00 Allison Bromley
Investment Officer
UWINCO
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Option 1: Positive Sustainability Investment 

Does the institution wish to pursue Option 1 (positive sustainability investment)?:
Yes

Total value of the investment pool:
3,361,000,000 US/Canadian $

Value of holdings in each of the following categories:
Value of Holdings
Sustainable industries (e.g. renewable energy or sustainable forestry) 499,000,000 US/Canadian $
Businesses selected for exemplary sustainability performance (e.g. using criteria specified in a sustainable investment policy) 185,000,000 US/Canadian $
Sustainability investment funds (e.g. a renewable energy or impact investment fund) 14,000,000 US/Canadian $
Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) or the equivalent 0 US/Canadian $
Socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens (or the equivalent) 0 US/Canadian $
Green revolving loan funds that are funded from the endowment 0 US/Canadian $

If any of the above is greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the companies, funds, and/or institutions referenced above:
The UW’s investment portfolio includes nearly $500 million in sustainable industries including among others solar, wind, and renewable energy technologies. Investment mandates with $185 million incorporate ESG factors into investment decisions in sourcing exemplary businesses. The UW has $14 million invested in sustainability focused funds. The UW also owns substantial sustainable university trust forest lands.

Percentage of the institution's investment pool in positive sustainability investments:
20.77

Option 2: Investor Engagement 

Does the institution wish to pursue Option 2 (investor engagement)?:
Yes

Sustainable Investment Policy 

Does the institution have a publicly available sustainable investment policy?:
Yes

None
A copy of the sustainable investment policy:
---

None
The sustainable investment policy:
University of Washington Treasury Office Global Climate Change Initiatives - proposed and adopted November 2013 The UW Investments Office Proposes the following actions to further the University’s efforts to support sustainability and the concern over global climate change: 1. Create New Research Assistant (RA) position 2. Increase alternative energy investments 3. Incorporate ESG factors into investment analysis and decision making 4. Explore opportunities for shareholder advocacy on climate change 5. Establish a framework for future engagement with students These efforts are aligned with the broader university mission and will enhance the UW's position as a leader in sustainability. From University of Washington's Statement's Investment Policy: D. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 1. While fiscal goals are of central importance, due consideration shall be given to the degree of corporate responsibility exercised by the companies in which investments are made. 2. Direct investment in companies doing business in Sudan whose business activities support the Sudanese government in its continuing sponsorship of genocidal actions and human rights violations in Darfur is prohibited. 3. Direct investment in tobacco companies is prohibited. 4. Direct investment in coal companies whose principal business is the mining of coal for energy is prohibited.

None
Does the institution use its sustainable investment policy to select and guide investment managers?:
Yes

None
A brief description of how the policy is applied, including recent examples:
The UW used its Global Climate Change Initiative to guide the selection of an investment in a Global Environmental Opportunities funded January 2015.

Proxy Voting 

Has the institution engaged in proxy voting, either by its CIR or other committee or through the use of guidelines, to promote sustainability during the previous three years?:
Yes

None
A copy of the proxy voting guidelines or proxy record:
---

None
A brief description of how managers are adhering to proxy voting guidelines:
The UW's investment policies contains language regarding proxy voting: Take action as appropriate in support of shareholder resolutions related to human rights violations in Burma. Engage in shareholder activism as appropriate on issues related to global climate change. The UW works with CERES and outside vendors to identify proxies. The UW connects with investment managers before the proxy voting season to discuss the best process to communicate directions on specific proxies. The University has on going communications with investment managers during the proxy voting season and confirms proxies are voted accordingly.

Shareholder Resolutions 

Has the institution filed or co-filed one or more shareholder resolutions that address sustainability or submitted one or more letters about social or environmental responsibility to a company in which it holds investments during the previous three years?:
No

None
Examples of how the institution has engaged with corporations in its portfolio about sustainability issues during the previous three years:
The UW participates with CERES' Investor Network on Climate Risk that works on issues that companies are facing, focusing on climate change, energy, water scarcity, and sustainability reporting. The UW Consolidated Endowment Fund is prohibited from making direct investments in tobacco companies and in any companies that do business in Sudan "whose business activities support the Sudanese government in its continuing sponsorship of genocidal actions and human rights violations in Darfur."

Negative Screens / Divestment Efforts 

Does the institution have a publicly available investment policy with negative screens?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the negative screens and how they have been implemented:
1. While fiscal goals are of central importance, due consideration shall be given to the degree of corporate responsibility exercised by the companies in which investments are made. 2. Direct investment in companies doing business in Sudan whose business activities support the Sudanese government in its continuing sponsorship of genocidal actions and human rights violations in Darfur is prohibited. 3. Direct investment in tobacco companies is prohibited. 4. Direct investment in coal companies whose principal business is the mining of coal for energy is prohibited.

None
Approximate percentage of the endowment that the negative screens apply to:
27

Investor Networks 

Does the institution engage in policy advocacy by participating in investor networks and/or engage in inter-organizational collaborations to share best practices?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the investor networks and/or collaborations:
The University participates in CERES, Investor Network on Climate Risk. The University is also a member of U.S. SIF (Sustainable Investor Forum). U.S. SIF – The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment is the U.S. membership association for professionals, firms, institutions and organizations engaged in sustainable, responsible, and impact investing. U.S. SIF and its members advance investment practices that consider environmental, social and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://green.uw.edu/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Examples of past shareholder activism can be found here: https://www.washington.edu/regents/files/2013/11/minutes-2013-11.pdf http://www.washington.edu/news/2015/05/14/uw-regents-vote-to-divest-from-coal-companies/

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.