LFDE continues its quest for impact with Echiquier Climate & Biodiversity Impact Europe and supports the organisation Osons Ici et Maintenant
A pioneer in listed impact investment in France, La Financière de l’Echiquier (LFDE) is strengthening the integration of biodiversity within its management and extending its quest for impact by supporting a high social impact project of the organisation Osons Ici et Maintenant.
Following work with its stakeholders from the academic, scientific and financial worlds, LFDE has strengthened the biodiversity-related criteria within its impact fund dedicated to the energy transition, Echiquier Climate Impact Europe. Two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to biodiversity have been integrated into its strategy, SDG 14 Aquatic life and SDG 15 Terrestrial life. These complement the SDGs covering Climate, SDG 7 Clean and affordable energy and SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities. As a result, Echiquier Climate Impact Europe, launched in France in December 2020, will change its name to Echiquier Climate & Biodiversity Impact Europe as of 22 March 2022.
In addition to ESG and financial criteria, stock selection is based on a proprietary methodology that assesses the “climate and biodiversity maturity” of companies. The management team, composed of Adrien Bommelaer, Luc Olivier and Paul Merle, has also strengthened its support of companies by setting improvement targets.
LFDE has also committed, within the framework of the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, to integrate biodiversity criteria into its analyses by 2024, to measure the impact of all its investments and to publish them in full transparency.
As sharing management fees is an integral part of LFDE’s approach, part of the management fees of this impact fund will finance a high social impact project in 2022: designed by Osons Ici et Maintenant, “100% Transition” is a support programme promoting the integration of young people in the service of ecological and social transition.
Bettina Ducat, Managing Director of LFDE, says:
The stakes are high, 50% of the world’s GDP depends on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The approach of Echiquier Climate & Biodiversity Impact Europe is pragmatic to address this complex issue, which is related to climate change, and seeks to involve all sectors to meet the challenge.
Olivier de Berranger, Managing Director and CIO of LFDE, adds:
Part of the management fees of our fund supports a project of Osons Ici et Maintenant. “100% Transition” combines the search for social and environmental impact and offers young people the opportunity to cultivate boldness and optimism, two virtues that we value.