A group of asset managers, including Robeco, Mirova, Edmond de Rothschild AM, I Care and Quantis, have launched a platform to assess climate emissions.

The Avoided Emissions Platform (AEP) uses a transparent methodology for calculating avoided emissions, which the group says is a vital metric essential for advancing the transition to a sustainable economy.

The AEP uses quantified data to support the comparison of decarbonised alternatives and to redirect financial flows toward companies facilitating decarbonisation.

The platform is supported by 12 asset managers, representing more than $4 trillion of assets under management, as well as an international corporate investing bank, six data providers, and an independent scientific committee.

The group estimates that $215 trillion needs to be invested to achieve global net-zero emissions by 2050, which is why it says the development of harmonised metrics is “essential” for directing capital into effective climate solutions.

The interactive tool models the avoided emission factors for 65 climate solutions and is supported by recommendations from a dedicated scientific committee, which the asset management firms said will ensure consistency with existing guidance on avoided emissions and a credible approach to assessing potential emission savings across sectors.

The platform can be accessed with a license and will be expanded over time with new solutions.

The group said the AEP will allow companies to accurately calculate and report their avoided emissions as well as enable regulatory bodies to gain insights to support policy development.

“Robeco has a long-standing commitment to invest in the net zero transition - in particular, our climate products, such as the Smart Energy and the Global Climate Transition funds, have been investing in climate solutions for many years,” said Lucian Peppelenbos, climate & biodiversity strategist at Robeco. “This new database will help us credibly quantify their true contribution to climate mitigation and addresses the high demand from our clients for more extensive impact measurement.”

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