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State of net zero climate policies and actions 2026
14th Oct. 2026
The fifth net zero climate survey shows New Zealand institutional investors have been making progress in iterating climate into their investment practices. This is important, but it has been at risk by government policy that aims to end mandatory reporting for all managed investment schemes.
The State of Net Zero Investment report is based on survey responses by 14 major institutional investors with more than NZ$200 billion under management. It shows significant strides in climate governance and emissions reporting.
Whilst demonstrating solid climate governance and reporting capabilities, investors are still moving slowly in translating climate ambition into investment action. The urgency of climate impacts needs an acceleration of the investment response.
Key Findings of Respondents:
The findings show a marked improvement in climate governance:
- 91% of investors reported board-level awareness of climate risks and strategies;
- Nearly half (48%) have now set net zero targets, up from 30% in 2023;
- 93% are measuring at least some of the emissions associated with their portfolios.
However, the report highlights a persistent gap between climate risk awareness and capital allocation:
- Only 17% of investors currently invest in climate solutions such as renewable energy or low-carbon infrastructure; and
- Only 13% have set public targets to increase these investments.
“New Zealand investors clearly understand the financial imperative of managing climate risk,” said Barry Coates, CEO of Mindful Money. “But despite falling costs and rising opportunities in clean technologies, investment in climate solutions remains low. This is potentially a missed opportunity for both returns and impact.”