Dutch pension fund ABP has signed up to the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, committing to do more to help combat the loss of nature and biodiversity.

Under the pledge, financial institutions promise, among other things, to share knowledge, discuss and take action against the decline in the number of plants and animals around the world.

Fourteen other financial institutions signed up for the pledge on the same day as ABP, bringing the total number of signatories to 140 from 23 countries.

ABP’s executor APG also signed up to the pledge, bringing the combined assets under management of signatories to €19.5trn.

By signing up to the pledge, the financial institutions also promise to map their biodiversity impact, set goals and targets, and to disclose the results of their activities before 2025.

ABP stated that it would give more weight to the importance of nature and biodiversity in its investments.

It will take this into account in its voting policy, and demand more from the companies in which the pension fund invests and that have a ‘major impact’ in this area.

Commenting on the announcement, ABP board of directors chair, Harmen van Wijnen, said: "Biodiversity is more than an environmental, social and governance) topic.

“It is about how economies and societies can be fundamentally sustainable, to preserve what is valuable and essential for the planet and every species living on it, as well as the climate, which is why we fully support this initiative.”

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