Pensions funds can save the world

Rune Riisbjerg Thomsen

Pension funds are an incredible invention: they help workers to save up for their senior years; they are designed to fund projects that benefit the broader society; they manage big funds and invest over a longer term than other investors; they are optimized to deliver long-term security for people; and, they favour boring steady returns over a quick buck. Investing in renewable energy, power transmission, and digital infrastructure is what the climate crisis calls for. For investment specialist Rune Riisbjerg Thomsen, these points make pension funds the perfect investment vehicle for the type of actions that we need to take to mitigate climate change.

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Rune Riisbjerg Thomsen works to ensure responsible investment and integration of ESG (environmental, social and governance) across PKA's investments. PKA is Denmark’s fourth largest pension fund and has more than $40bn under management and with a mission of investing 10% of that in climate-related investments by the end of 2020. Rune has previously worked with social impact investment at a small venture fund and holds a Master of Science in International Business and Politics from Copenhagen Business School.