Our Sustainability policies and reports
We are firmly committed to embedding sustainability into our business practices and culture. Download our policies to know more.
Top-level policies
We were among the first asset managers to put in place a blanket exclusion for companies active in the coal sector, which we have extended to unconventional oil & gas since. We have also decided to exclude assets linked to food commodities, deforestation and other unsustainable practices causing natural ecosystem conversion, and follow exclusion rules on the main controversial weapons such as anti-personnel landmines.
We also manage Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Responsible Investment funds applying additional exclusions policies (e.g. violation of international norms & standards regarding Human Rights, Society, Labor and Environment, or companies with severe ESG controversies) through our ESG Standards policy, to help address the most severe sustainability risks in the investment decision-making process.
Climate Risk Policy
To support Paris Agreement goals and the transition to a low-carbon economy, we aim to progressively reduce our exposure to carbon intensive sectors by excluding companies most exposed to coal and unconventional oil & gas activities and by engaging with a selection of companies not excluded by our criteria.
Controversial Weapons Policy
We consider that investment in companies involved in Controversial Weapons activities or provisions to such companies should be avoided.
Ecosystem Protection & Deforestation Policy
Deforestation and natural ecosystems conversion have devastating consequences, both for the environment and society, and has pushed many species to the brink of extinction. We aim to avoid investment in companies involved in deforestation and natural ecosystem conversion when negative business practices are clearly identified.
Soft Commodities Policy
We strive not to participate in short-term instruments commodities or enter into speculative transactions that may contribute to price inflation in basic agricultural or marine commodities.
Why We Shouldn’t ‘Just Quit’ Coal
In this podcast, Tim Gould, Chief Economist at the IEA, and our in-house experts, discuss AXA IM’s role as an investor in engaging with companies in their more ambitious targets.
ESG Standards policy
Our standards help us to manage ESG and sustainability tail-risks, and mitigate the negative impacts our investments might have on sustainability factors. They focus on material issues such as certain aspects affecting health, human rights and social capital, while also onsidering severe controversies as well as low ESG quality.
Download the ESG Standards policy (January 2024)Stewardship policies
Through our stewardship activities, we seek to use our influence as investors to encourage companies to mitigate environmental and social risks relevant to their sectors
We are continuously pushing for more ambitious climate strategies and expect more ‘say-on-climate’ resolutions to be put to investors. Companies which we consider to be laggards in addressing climate change and its risks will be subject to a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ principle. This policy aims to define clear areas of improvement for those companies, tailored to their activities, and communicated to their management at the beginning of the engagement with a clear and short timeframe for progress.
Engagement policy
At AXA IM, we consider investor engagement as a change process where investors seek to improve investee companies’ practices with a specific objective in mind. We do this on behalf of our equity and bond holdings, in listed and non-listed markets.
Conflict of Interests policy
To comply with regulations regarding the prevention of conflict of interest, we created a conflict of interests policy in relation to our stewardship activities.
Corporate governance and voting policy
Our corporate governance and voting policy provides a robust global framework for encouraging high-quality, responsible leadership. In 2022, we unveil a new voting policy to urge investee companies to further consider environmental and social issues.
Board ESG oversight
Integrating ESG issues into a company’s corporate strategy can help it identify growth opportunities and strengthen its risk management processes – and in doing that, we believe the potential exists to positively impact financial performance.
Public Affairs Charter
The role of AXA IM's Global Regulatory Developments and Public Affairs function is to identify and assess major asset management trends, as well as related wider emerging policies and regulatory initiatives that are relevant for global asset managers.
Active engagement: case studies
In line with our engagement policy, at the beginning of each engagement, we defined clear objectives and a corresponding timeframe to allow investee companies to achieve those. When progress is too slow or when the level of responsiveness is not satisfactory we can use escalation techniques.
One technique is to co-file a shareholder resolution at a company's annual general meeting (AGM) alongside other investors. Read about why we have chosen to escalate in that way with three of our investee companies.
Hold steady: Sustainability in the face of polycrisis.
In this podcast, Simon Rawson, Deputy Chief Executive of ShareAction speaks with our in-house experts about shifting corporate priorities and why it is important that CEOs to hold steady on their sustainability commitments.
Inclusion for progress
At AXA IM, diversity and inclusion are closely linked to our values and to our culture of respect for employees, clients and the communities around us. We always aim to create an environment where everyone feels they belong, are included and can thrive.
Download our global inclusion & diversity policy (May 2021)Our sustainability reports
PRI 2023 Assessment report
The assessment report is designed to provide feedback to signatories and support ongoing learning and development.
Climate Progress Report
Explore our Climate Progress Report for a comprehensive overview of our progress and actions against our climate commitments and net zero goals.
2022 Article 29 / TCFD report
Our joint Article 29 of the French Energy & Climate Law & Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) report reflects in a comprehensive manner our commitments and strategies regarding the integration ESG criteria in our activities, notably regarding climate change & biodiversity.
2022 Impact Investing report
At AXA IM Alts, our goal is to bring together private capital, entrepreneurial talent and technology to deliver solutions that address social progress and ensure the environment can sustain us now and into the future.
PRI 2021 Assessment Report
The assessment report is designed to provide feedback to signatories and support ongoing learning and development.
PRI Assessment report 2020
The assessment report is designed to provide feedback to signatories and support ongoing learning and development.
PRI Leaders'Group 2020
As part of our 10-year Blueprint for responsible investment, the PRI committed to showcasing leadership and increasing accountability, with a view to raising standards of responsible investment amongst all our signatories.
Sound Progress Podcast: "Radical transparency- Does more data add up to greater climate progress?"
More than 80% of the world economy aims to be net zero by 2050. Such commitment requires significant action, and the investment world is no exception. But with many studies showing that greenwashing, a lack of common language and data are standing in the way, we ask: is more transparency always a good thing? Does more data add up to greater climate progress?
