A Letter from Northern Trust's Connie L. Lindsey and Michael O'Grady

We hope this message finds you in good health. Throughout this year’s 2020 CSR report , you will find details of our progress toward creating long-term value for our clients, employees and stakeholders. For us, 2020 was a year focused on compassion, communication and support, during a period of extraordinary social, health and economic challenges.

In 2020, we introduced a new, highly focused philanthropic strategy that concentrates our volunteerism and contributions on four key areas of fundamental impact: educational excellence, food security, accessible healthcare and affordable housing. By extending access across the globe to these essential human needs, we are furthering Northern Trust’s commitment to creating more equitable possibilities to achieve long-term financial success for those who face unfair hurdles because of their race, ethnicity, gender, geography or socio-economic conditions.

We also see a healthy global environment as fundamental to the long-term financial success of our various stakeholders. Northern Trust set a goal to reduce our carbon emissions by 25 percent per employee by 2020 using our 2015 data as a baseline. By the end of 2020, we had reduced our emissions by more than 62 percent, and continue to reduce our carbon emissions as well as expand the types of emissions on which we report. We are continuing to develop our renewable energy electricity supply. In 2020, we supplied over 12 percent of our real estate portfolio with renewable electricity supply.

From an investment perspective, we view the integration of environmental, social and governance factors as a key aspect of our fiduciary heritage. In 2020, we launched ESG Insights, a service that offers clients a quantitative approach to measuring ESG factors as well as detailed reporting that includes carbon footprint analysis.

As we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead of us, our legacy of service, expertise and integrity undergird the sustained success of our business and focus on the future.

Finally, we recognize our employees as a critical element of our success. We are grateful for their continued commitment to our clients, communities and to one another. As we continue to strategically develop a diverse pipeline of future leaders, we provide an array of resources and unique programs that engage our talent and strengthen our culture of inclusion.

We also see a healthy global environment as fundamental to the long-term financial success of our various stakeholders.

As we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead of us, our legacy of service, expertise and integrity undergird the sustained success of our business and focus on the future. We are thankful for the continued confidence our clients, our employees and key stakeholders continue to place in us. Thank you for reading our 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

Read the full report here.