Desjardins

Desjardins identified and prioritised its impacts through a materiality assessment process which included feedback from external stakeholders. Desjardins publicly commits to gender equality and women’s empowerment. The financial institution publishes case studies describing where it has engaged successfully with clients on sustainability themes and impact topics. The financial institution discloses a list of trade associations of which it is a member including sustainability- and non-sustainability-related organisations.

As a member of Climate Action 100+, Desjardins discloses that its asset management arm collectively engages with its clients on the topic of climate change. The financial institution discloses the aggregate amount and share of finance it devotes to climate solutions while specifying what these solutions are. The financial institution discloses time-bound targets for its climate solutions. The financial institution aims to finance CAD 2 billion in climate solutions by 2025. The financial institution discloses progress against the targets it has set for its climate solutions. Furthermore, the financial institution provides evidence that it collectively engages with companies to which it provides financial services on the topic of their nature- and biodiversity-related impacts.

Desjardins discloses the proportion of its total direct operations workforce for each employee category by age group. The financial institution discloses the proportion of women in its total direct operations workforce for each employee category. The financial institution also discloses a public commitment to protect personal data.

In terms of its approach to senior leadership accountability, there is no evidence that Desjardins links the remuneration of its executive or management teams to sustainability performance criteria. In terms of female representation in leadership positions, women are underrepresented on the board of directors where only eight out of 22 board members are women. There is no evidence that the financial institution discloses the ratio of basic salary and remuneration of women to men in its total direct operations workforce for each employee category. There is no evidence that the financial institution discloses the actions taken to address any pay gaps. The financial institution has an opportunity to describe its engagement approach on sustainability themes and impact topics with clients and investees.

There is no evidence that Desjardins discloses a target to reach net-zero financed emissions by 2050. The financial institution has an opportunity to disclose the key sectors and companies it has identified as priorities to engage with on climate change, specifically on the alignment with the Paris Agreement. Regarding nature and biodiversity, no evidence was found that the financial institution is committed to minimising its negative impacts or financing regenerative solutions.

There is no evidence that Desjardins has a publicly available policy statement committing it to respect human rights laid out in the UNGPs and the ILO declaration on fundamental rights at work. The financial institution has an opportunity to describe a comprehensive process for identifying its human rights risks and impacts across all its activities, especially its financing activities. To provide transparency on financial inclusivity, Desjardins has an opportunity to disclose the amount of finance directed towards, for example, women-owned businesses, small- and medium-sized enterprises or low-income developing countries.