Carbon Management Strategy
Management of our climate change impacts, and adaptation to the effects caused by climate change, are important components of the broader sustainability framework at VicSuper. The information in this section - our Carbon Management Strategy[1] - explains our approach to reducing climate change risk and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across VicSuper. Our approach is also formalised in our Climate Change Policy.
Why is a super fund interested in climate change?
Climate change presents a significant and unprecedented challenge to the world's ecosystems, societies and economies. Climate change is caused by the emission of excess carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases (collectively known as greenhouse gas emissions).
We regard climate change as one of the major issues facing superannuation funds and society in general. As part-owners of most of the world's large companies (on behalf of VicSuper Fund members), institutional investors such as VicSuper are exposed to the financial implications of how these organisations respond to climate change risk and opportunities. Furthermore, as owners, we are indirectly responsible for their increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This makes climate change relevant to VicSuper's stakeholders, particularly to members.
We believe that it is important that all organisations, including institutional investors such as VicSuper, address their own operational climate change impacts. It is imperative that all individuals, communities, businesses and governments act now to:
(a) reduce the amount of new greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere
(b) reduce the level of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere and
(c) implement climate change adaptation measures.
What is VicSuper's Carbon Management Strategy?
VicSuper is committed to a range of actions to reduce both our direct and indirect climate change impacts and to address climate change risks and opportunities. These actions make up our Carbon Management Strategy.
For VicSuper, having a carbon management strategy is the next logical step in our journey to building a sustainable super fund, ensuring that we continue to be well-placed to create value for our members by capitalising on sustainability opportunities and minimising risks.
For both VicSuper Pty Ltd (our 'operations') and VicSuper Fund (our 'investments'), our approach is consistent with EPA Victoria's Carbon Management Principles (a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions using a continuous improvement approach - available at EPA Victoria's website.
VicSuper's Carbon Management Strategy incorporates:
You can use the links above to read more about our approach as it applies to VicSuper Pty Ltd and VicSuper Fund or you can download a 
PDF of the full Carbon Management Strategy (102KB).
[1] Note: throughout this strategy the term 'carbon' is used as shorthand for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide is the most abundant human-caused greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. For simplicity of reporting and communication, greenhouse gas emissions are often measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalent (or CO2-e).
