The UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (AOA) has more than doubled its membership since its September 2019 launch to 25, with Denmark’s MP Pension announcing its membership today, World Environment Day.

MP Pension, with assets under management (AUM) of $18.7 billion, brings the AOA’s total AUM to nearly $4.7 trillion.

Jens Munch Holst, CEO at MP Pension, said:

“As investors, we need to play our part in making sure the economy recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in a more sustainable way. It is key that we invest decisively in cleaner technologies and ask businesses and governments to do their part in breaking the curve on global warming and move to carbon neutrality. We look forward to sharing experiences and joining forces with like-minded investors to this end.”

MP Pension, the third Danish asset owner to join the Alliance, manages the pensions for Danes who hold MAs, MScs and PhDs, and who are employed in the public sector at universities and upper secondary schools. It has more than 138,000 members, who own the fund. There are no shareholders and any profits are eventually returned to the members.

MP is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment, UN Global Compact and is active in Climate Action 100+, co-leading the dialogue with A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group.

Launched in September 2019 during the UN Climate Action Summit, the AOA  is an international initiative bringing together investors that are committed to transitioning their investment portfolios to carbon neutrality by 2050. The AOA’s action focuses on implementing the Paris Agreement, the main goal of which is to limit the rise in global average in temperature to 1.5°C.

The AOA is part of the  Race to Zero Campaign, launching today, World Environment Day. The UNFCCC and COP26 global  campaign – under the stewardship of the UN High Level Climate Champions for the UK and Chile – will rally ‘real economy’ leaders to join the largest ever coalition of leaders – from countries, businesses, cities, regions, investors, and civil society – all committed to the same overarching goal: achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the very latest.

Read more about the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance

Read more about MP Pension