After a first campaign in 2024 targeting CAC 40 companies with high biodiversity stakes, Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to sustainable investment, is launching a written questions campaign focused on biodiversity issues ahead of the general meetings, expanding its scope of action to the companies in STOXX 600, the 600 largest European stock market capitalizations.

This initiative aims to promote biodiversity-related issues by encouraging companies to support sustainable supply chains and reduce their impact on nature. Through written questions sent ahead of the general meetings, Mirova seeks to encourage large companies to demonstrate the ambition of their biodiversity strategy, with a dual objective:

• To urge companies to utilize the reporting framework on nature led by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)¹ and to report biodiversity as a material issue under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)²;
• To encourage these companies to fulfill their commitment to preserving natural ecosystems through science-based targets, such as the Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN).

The campaign conducted last year yielded very encouraging results: all companies contacted responded, and the vast majority were able to demonstrate advanced approaches on the subject. Despite some disparity, the initiative fostered a constructive and promising dialogue, the results of which are expected to manifest progressively over the long term.

Louise Schreiber, Head of Sustainable Development Research – Listed Assets said : “By expanding our engagement campaign to STOXX 600, we aim to strengthen our direct dialogue with the companies in our portfolio in a constructive manner to improve their consideration of biodiversity issues, which, like climate change, should be integrated into the core strategy of each company. We hope that this new campaign will encourage companies to systematically include this topic on the agenda of their General Meetings.”

This new campaign is part of Mirova's overall engagement strategy, characterized by a 360-degree approach: active dialogue with companies throughout the year, targeted action in high-impact sectors, and ongoing participation in the development of the best frameworks. Beyond direct and collaborative dialogue, Mirova systematically exercises its voting rights to influence companies and raise awareness among their stakeholders regarding the proper consideration of sustainability issues. An active advocacy for public policies that favor sustainable development complements this approach, allowing Mirova to contribute to a regulatory framework that encourages companies to adopt responsible practices.

This questions campaign, along with its participation in Nature Action 100³, is one of the elements of Mirova's overall action in favor of the transition to sustainable practices for the preservation of nature. Mirova is also involved in several initiatives addressing issues of persistent pollution, deforestation, and resource protection. At the same time, the company adopts a similar approach regarding its other priorities: climate (reducing emissions and implementing transition plans), the well-being of populations (inequalities, creation of quality jobs, and protection of communities), as well as managing sustainability issues in the context of technological transition (environmental impacts of data centers and social issues of artificial intelligence).

Mirova's engagement priorities and voting policy are available on its website: https://www.mirova.com/en/research/voting-and-engagement