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Geneva-based specialist asset manager QUAERO CAPITAL has launched Quaero Capital Funds (Lux) - Net Zero Emission this week. It is a new UCITS fund invested in companies whose services, products or technologies contribute to the transition to a carbon-free economy. 

The strategy selects current and future leaders in the field of energy and ecological transition, as well as the circular economy, from around the world and across different sectors, the firm said in a statement. 

In addition to energy, the fund managers Olivier Ken and Martina Turner focus on food, textiles, heavy industry, transport, urban planning and the entire supply chain, the firm continued.

According to the Paris Climate Accord, the world needs to limit warming to below 2.0°C and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The fund's investment process is consequently based on an in-depth analysis of the causes of CO2 emissions in the various sectors; it identifies the most promising technologies before selecting the stocks to invest in. The result is a concentrated portfolio of 30 to 35 holdings, mainly in large caps, and the fund is classified under Article 9 of the EU’s Sustainable Financial Disclosure Regulation.  

QUAERO CAPITAL said that responsible investment is at the heart of its management philosophy and processes and, in light of this, it has had an in-house team of ESG analysts for some five years. 

The firm has been a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment since 2015, as well as the Net Zero Asset Manager initiative and the statement of support for the Task Force on Climate Disclosure. Furthermore, it is a member of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) and a signatory of the CDP since 2019. 

Jean Keller, CEO of QUAERO CAPITAL, said: "We consider that it is our responsibility as a company to do everything possible to ensure that our activity has a positive impact on the planet and on all our stakeholders. This is why we are resolutely committed to responsible and sustainable asset management, which is an irreversible industry trend and meets a strong expectation on the part of investors."

Ken added: "The massive public investments planned in the world's major economies, as well as changing consumer preferences, will generate extraordinary growth opportunities for the companies leading this transition to net zero emissions."