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Analysis of Climate-Related Disclosures and Financed Carbon Footprint
11th Aug. 2026
Inaugural CRD report: A comparison of carbon emissions across KiwiSaver and other investments
Mindful Money has undertaken the first in-depth analysis to compare the carbon emissions financed by New Zealand's KiwiSaver and managed investment funds.
Mandatory reporting is required to provide robust and comparable reporting for the fund management industry, for informed decision-making by investors and for the sound allocation of investment resources.
Findings:
The report builds the case for a resumption of mandatory reporting by KiwiSaver and other managed fund providers to provide robust and comparable reporting that will support informed decision-making by investors.
- The emissions financed by KiwiSaver growth funds ranged from 10.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per $ million invested to 43.9 tonnes. It shows there are significant differences between the level of emissions from KiwiSaver funds. As emissions data becomes more comparable, Mindful Money will provide KiwiSaver investors with the carbon emissions and targets for their funds.
“This research shows that comparison is possible, but clear rules are needed to ensure reporting is consistent. Some fund managers are doing the work to measure and disclose their financed emissions properly but others are providing almost no information at all. Kiwis who want their retirement savings aligned with a low-carbon future need clear and comparable climate reporting, and the ability to influence the climate footprint of their hard-earned savings. ” - Barry Coates Founder & Co-CEO Mindful Money
The External Reporting Board (XRB) are currently consulting on policy changes that could rectify the misguided changes introduced in October 2025. Mindful Money is calling climate reporting that is built on clear rules and metrics, international comparability, mandatory reporting by managed fund providers and differentiated levels of reporting by scale of investment management.