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On 10th March, the Netherlands Advisory Board on Impact Investing (NAB) hosted its first Breakfast Inspiration Workshop of the year on Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, in collaboration with Robeco. 

 

The workshop explored how climate considerations are embedded across portfolios, from engagement strategies and sovereign bonds to real assets and why strategic engagement remains essential to enable companies to reach their full impact potential.

 

Kaboo Leung representing NN Group opened the session by outlining how the organisation as an asset owner approaches climate mitigation and adaptation. She highlighted that engagement plays a vital role in their corporate investment strategies. It is a key driver of real-world emissions reduction, with evidence showing a positive correlation between constructive engagement and improved climate outcomes. It is crucial to distinguish between portfolio-level emissions reductions and reductions in the real economy. Institutional investors must continuously refine their net‑zero strategies to maximise actual climate impact.

 

She added that decarbonisation cannot be achieved in isolation. Systemic change requires collaboration across the investment ecosystem to ensure climate mitigation and adaptation efforts are implemented effectively without compromising financial returns.

 

While private investors are key players in mobilising capital, governments and sovereign actors remain central to enabling the climate transition. As highlighted by Paul Ruijs from Robeco, governments influence the speed of transition by setting policies, directing capital towards clean technologies, and implementing mechanisms such as pollution pricing. Paul introduced Robeco’s Climate Euro Government Bond ETF Index which integrates climate considerations into sovereign bond investments by adjusting country allocations based on climate performance. 

 

The index combines aspects of climate ambitions, policies in place and factual evidence from ground level actions, thus providing a credible assessment of climate performance of countries and allows investors to steer investment strategies towards long-term performing portfolios.  It also encourages countries to strengthen their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts by translating data into actionable insights with a forward-looking framework. 

 

Further to the line-up, Ralf Kooken brought a fiduciary manager’s perspective. He demonstrated how integrating climate risks into real assets portfolios enables institutional investors to diversify portfolios and create additional impact. Additionally, by taking megatrends into account - from geopolitical risks to demographic shifts - investors can assess whether investing in an asset remains viable in the long term and determine the best timing for doing so. Ralf added that natural capital - such as timberlands, croplands and farmlands - have demonstrated long-term stability, increasing their long-term attractiveness for institutional investors seeking resilient and future-oriented assets.

 

Natalia Pasishnyk brought an emerging markets perspective to our stage. She explained how SAIL Investments has been engaging with companies in EMDEs to ensure they remain credit-worthy and attractive destinations for capital. While noting that the agri-food sector accounts for up to 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Natalia highlighted the significant opportunities for impact through early climate assessments. These assessments evaluate not only company-level risks but also regional and country-level climate exposure. With robust due diligence and data-driven insights, investors can engage with companies to unlock commercial potential and support their transition.

 

She further stressed the importance of maintaining close relationships with portfolio companies. Continuous engagement helps companies recognise their own growth and transition opportunities, strengthening long-term partnerships and improving their attractiveness to investors. The use of covenants and targeted requirements can help guide companies towards measurable improvements and ultimately generate positive impact.

 

Key highlights from our workshop also include:

• Investor engagement shows a positive correlation with emissions reductions in the real economy.

• Asset owners are continuously updating climate strategies and increasingly focus on engagement efforts.

• Real assets and natural capital are gaining interest as investors integrate climate risks into portfolios.

• Investors should ensure they maintain a constructive dialogue, and improving their engagement processes is fundamental. 

• Although due diligence, engagement, and reporting require significant effort, maintaining a clear focus on achieving real-world impact remains crucial.​

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After our speaker presentations, we engaged in meaningful conversations with the audience, and we remain grateful to everyone who joined and made it an insightful event.

 

A special thank you to our hosts – the Robeco team for collaborating with us for this 

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You can download the slides of the presentation by clicking here.