For journalists and professionals
On this page you can find a list of communication material on the energy transition, including the English video interview with Daan Spaargaren and the Dutch podcast ‘PME voor een duurzaam pensioen’. This material is free from copyright and can be used for other media.
PME puts more focus on energy transition
Investments in fossile oil and gas sold
The Hague, 3 September 2021 - PME is putting more focus on its climate policy and making more efforts towards the energy transition. Over the last few months, PME has sold all its investments in fossile oil and gas industry and distribution. This step does not affect the expected total return on investments.
There is a clear call for solutions to climate change. According to research, participants, pensioners and employers at PME all recognise the importance of more stringent climate policy. The IPCC's clear language cannot be ignored. A growing number of countries and companies pursue ambitious climate goals. Judges interpret treaties, laws and agreements to the letter of the law. Judicial rulings in the Urgenda and Shell cases show that international climate agreements cannot simply remain empty words. Judges feel that these agreements should be carried out both in word and in deed.
Eric Uijen, chairman of PME's executive board: “It all points in the same direction: CO2 emissions must and will decrease significantly across the globe. The consequences of climate change are becoming evident as we speak. As a consequence, we will invest more in sectors that enable the energy transition, such as grid management and energy storage.” In this process, PME particularly considers the pensions of participants and pensioners. Uijen continues: “The pensions of the people on whose behalf we make investments will not be affected. Our ambitious climate policy and a good pension go together quite well indeed.”
Marcel Andringa, executive board member equity and asset management: “As a result of our climate policy, the percentage of investments in fossile oil and gas companies had already shrunk significantly. A number of individual companies had falled by the wayside through dialogue and exclusion. And now we have said a final goodbye to our interests in fossile oil and gas companies.” Andringa stresses that this sale does not have a tangible impact on the risk profile. “On the contrary. Climate change is a real risk within our investment portfolio and we want to control that risk even better by taking this step.”
PME will continue the engagement programme regarding climate change, but the programme will be given a different focus. From now on, PME will concentrate on large fossile-energy consumers. They have an action perspective and they are expected to change their behaviour towards using clean energy sources.
Videos and podcasts
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Interview with Daan Spaargaren:
Interview with executive board members Eric Uijen and Marcel Andringa (06:35):
Interview with executive board members Eric Uijen and Marcel Andringa, use for social media square (01:08)
Interview (in Dutch) with executive board members Eric Uijen and Marcel Andringa, use for social media vertical (01:08)
Dutch podcast ‘PME for a sustainable pension’
Listen to podcast via Spotify (in Dutch)
Dutch podcast BNR De top van Nederland
16 september 2021 - Pensioenfonds PME has stopped investing in oil and gas. Did the fund take this step because of public pressure? In ‘De top van Nederland’ you can listen to an extensive interview with Eric Uijen, chairman of the executive board at pensioenfonds PME.
Listen to the podcast (in Dutch)