Nynäshamn has become the first Swedish municipality to set climate evaluation requirements in the procurement of pension insurance and pension administration.

Pension providers were asked to report on key figures relating to carbon dioxide emissions in their operations and progress on the target of net zero by 2030.

They were also asked to disclose the carbon dioxide footprint in their equity portfolios.

Nynäshamn chief negotiator, Petra Pilgelt, said that the municipality has ambitious climate and environmental goals that are followed up every year.

“We aim to be a municipality with net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045,” she commented.

“We also have an extended sustainability program with the goal that the municipality should already be an ecologically and socially sustainable municipality by 2030.

“If we are to meet the tough goals, we officials consider all purchases at all levels. It was obvious to set evaluation requirements with regard to sustainability in the procurement of pension insurance.”

Nynäshamn and the Haninge municipality have a joint procurement organisation, Procurement Södertörn.

Procurement Södertörn sustainability strategist, Lena Mårdh, noted that there was still more to do, even while current legislation allows the tightening of sustainability requirements for public procurement.

“Many procurers want to achieve a lot, but it is often based on personal commitment or projects,” she continued.

“There is often a lack of a comprehensive approach to sustainability issues.

“The procurers should not have to know everything themselves, but take the help of other expert officials. This does not only apply to sustainability issues, of course. The procurement authority exists as a support for public procurers.

“With regard to financial services in general and pension management in particular, however, there is no concrete guidance to be found with regard to, for example, climate requirements.”

The municipality of Rättvik has also announced that it will be setting climate requirements when procuring pension insurance and administration.

KPA Pension procurement specialist, Veronica Nilsson Lövgren, added: “It would definitely be helpful if the Procurement Authority provided guidance on sustainability requirements for financial services. In the meantime, municipalities and regions must act themselves, to the best of their ability.

“We have a dialogue with the Procurement Authority and the Climate Municipalities about climate requirements in procurements. Nynäshamn is a member of the Climate Municipalities, and hopefully more municipalities will pay attention to their good examples.”

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