Our Approach to:

ESG & Sustainability

As a committed sustainable investor, our approach to
ESG & Sustainability has three guiding principles when it comes to sustainable impact investing

Our Purpose Statement
The objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)
Our commitment to the principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)

265,000 MWh

Renewable Energy Generated pa

>250

Jobs Created

55,000t

CO2e Saved

So why is financing solutions for sustainable development important? We believe global economic development has enhanced the quality of life and wellbeing of billions of people. However, inequality is rising, conflict and insecurity are an ongoing concern, ecosystems are being degraded, resources depleted, and greenhouse gas levels are climbing. These trends are detrimental to communities, environments, businesses, and long-term economic prospects.

Iona was founded with the strong belief that the increasing recognition and focus on climate change, resource efficiency, and ecosystems are creating valuable opportunities for sustainable impact investing in new markets, technologies and business models emerge.

Principles For Responsible Investment

Iona has been a signatory to the PRI since 2018, and is committed to incorporate the PRI’s six core principles (see below) in its approach to ESG & Sustainability.

Indeed, the PRI’s six core principles are central to Iona’s ESG & Sustainability Policy and our sustainable investment processes and procedures. Iona received an ‘A’ score in each reportable category in the most recent PRI rating. 

Iona's 6 PRI Principles
7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 11

13. Climate Action
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 15. Life on Land

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Iona has also adopted the objectives of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide its approach to its sustainable impact investing.

At the SDG’s heart are the 17 goals that recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Within the context of these 17 SDGs, Iona sees its investment activities contributing primarily to 6 of the SDGs.

Sustainability in Practice

ESG & Sustainability Policy

Iona has developed a clearly articulated ESG & Sustainability Policy, which lays out our approach to sustainable investing and feeds directly into the design of our ESG Management System and the integration of ESG into our investment activities. The key attributes of our ESG & Sustainability Policy are to:

  • Maintain strong ethical standards and comply with sustainability-related regulations
  • Incorporate sustainability risks and opportunities in developing and pursuing our fund strategies
  • Implement and continually refine an appropriate ESG Management System that ensures the integration of ESG within our investment and corporate activities
  • Integrate ESG factors within our investment processes and progressively integrate, engage and report on ESG factors in our ongoing asset management
  • Actively engage within the market to promote the spread of ESG principles and sustainable investing.
  • As a small business, incorporate ESG principles into our day-to-day work to the benefit of our stakeholders, our employees and our local communities.