Aberdeen sustainability score: 34/100

·Financial Services / Banking·Edinburgh, United Kingdom·Founded 2017·Last verified 30 August 2026
34
out of 100
Below expectationsPending ReviewMixed evidence· 12 src

Aberdeen scores 34/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment — scored from public data only, no company payment can change a number. Last verified August 2026.

That places Aberdeen joint 394th of 658 companies scored, and joint 29th of 46 in Financial Services / Banking.

Aberdeen is a £511bn asset manager with operational emissions down 74–80% since 2018, but this masks a fundamental problem: financed emissions of ~111.7 billion kg CO₂e dwarf operational progress. The company holds $7.1bn in fossil fuel bonds, lacks any coal exclusion policy despite PPCA membership, and uses intensity targets instead of absolute reductions for its portfolio—a material gap between stated climate commitments and investment reality.

Is this your company?

This score is built from public data only. If your practice is stronger than your disclosure, submit evidence for review — or challenge any question, free.

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The calculation

How is Aberdeen's SINK score calculated?

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale
Industry base impact
Financial Services / Banking sector ceiling.
50 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
47 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 50) + (0.7 × 47) = 47.9
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 0.7
Final score
Rounded. Below expectations.
34 / 100
The ten questions

What is Aberdeen doing well, and where does it fall short?

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Transparency & Accountability (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Resource Use & Waste and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (3/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

What evidence is Aberdeen's score based on?

12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported
Aberdeen Group Sustainability and TCFD Report 2024

Total Scope 1 and 2 (location based) 1,726 2,161 9,736

2025
Q1Q9
View →
[2]Third-party verified
The Ferret — Aberdeen Investments Financed Emissions Investigation

Abrdn's investments in the 20 highest polluting companies in its portfolio resulted in the equivalent of 4.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) entering the atmosphere in 2022

2022
Q2Q10
View →
[3]Self-reported
Aberdeen Corporate Sustainability — Environment

we still have more to do to collect data for some material Scope 3 categories, such as emissions related to our supply chain

Ongoing
Q2Q3Q4Q8
View →
[4]Self-reported
Aberdeen Climate Change — Institutional

We have committed to reducing emissions from energy use by 50% by 2025, procure 100% renewable electricity for our buildings

Ongoing
Q4Q8
View →
[5]Self-reported
Aberdeen Climate Transition Plan 2026

Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. Target is against 2018 baseline for all operating activities

2026
Q4
View →
[6]Self-reported
Aberdeen Preserving Natural Capital — Investment Approach

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Forum members — The TNFD Forum is a global multi-disciplinary consultative group of institutions with over 650 members

2022
Q5Q7
View →
[7]Self-reported
Aberdeen Group Sustainability

We want to help shape a sustainable future by supporting inclusive growth and a just transition to a low-carbon economy

Ongoing
Q6
View →
[8]Self-reported
Aberdeen Sustainability in Focus — 2026 Update

An overview of Aberdeen's 2025 sustainability progress, with insights from Group Head of Sustainability Kristina Church

2026
Q6Q9
View →
[9]Public record
Portfolio Adviser — Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative Relaunches

Asset managers that remain signatories to NZAM include Aberdeen Investments, Amundi, Impax AM, Sarasin, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management

2026
Q8
View →
[10]Third-party verified
Toxic Bonds — Aberdeen Coal, Oil, Gas Expansion Financing

abrdn has no policy to stop new, or phase out existing, investments in coal

2024
Q8Q10
View →
[11]Third-party verified
InfluenceMap — Standard Life Aberdeen ESG Policy Engagement

C-Performance Band · 59% Organization Score

Unknown
Q10
View →
[12]Public record
Portfolio Adviser — Aberdeen AGM Disrupted by Climate Protestors

Abrdn ranked alongside BlackRock, Invesco and Vanguard as financiers of the worst fossil fuel bonds in 2023, with investments in BP, Conoco Philips and Eni totalling $7.1bn

2024
Q10
View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Aberdeen in context

How does Aberdeen compare with other financial services / banking companies?

Where Aberdeen sits among financial services / banking peers.

Among the 46 major financial services / banking brands we've scored, Aberdeen is tied =29th of 46, with 2 others.

=29/46
Aberdeen's rank
38
Industry average
23
Industry low
65
Industry high
How this score has moved

Has Aberdeen's score changed?

today

Score history begins .

As Aberdeen's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

Has Aberdeen's score been challenged?

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a UK-based asset manager headquartered in Edinburgh, managing approximately £511 billion in assets under management across equity, fixed income, and alternative investments. Founded in 2017 through a merger, it serves institutional and retail clients globally with a workforce of around 4,000 employees across 25+ offices.

Founded
2017
Headquarters
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Employees
~4,000
Annual revenue
~£1,370M
Company website ↗
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