ESG Strategy Series #4
As we emerge from our’ lockdown bubbles’ and evolve into our ‘new norm’, reflection on business preparation and resilience is at the forefront. World events can very quickly impact company operations. The pandemic has put into sharper focus several aspects of corporate performance, including how businesses prepare for and contribute to a range of direct and indirect issues. In our fourth ESG series article we discuss the benefits of embedding the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and how this can build Climate Resilience.
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD):
The TCFD recommendations require voluntary consistent climate rated financial disclosures. Since its release in June 2017, the topic of “TCFD” has fast been gaining momentum and moving up the corporate agenda and is increasingly seen as the go to framework to build climate resilience. The financial metric-based approach of the framework also enables greater transparency and aligns its approach with how interested stakeholders are starting to want to gather this data. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) Industry benchmarks such as GRESB, PRI and CDP have also aligned their climate resilience modules with the framework. In addition, the UK Government’s July 2019 Green Finance Strategy states that ‘The Government expects all listed companies and large asset owners to be disclosing in line with the TCFD recommendations by 2022’.
“Increasing transparency makes markets more efficient, and economies more stable and resilient.”—Michael R. Bloomberg
How it works:
To communicate or report performance aligned with the TCFD recommendations, a company must provide information on four thematic areas:
– Governance: The organisation’s governance around climate-related risks and opportunities.
– Strategy: The actual and potential impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities on the organisation’s businesses, strategy, and financial planning.
– Risk Management: The processes used by the organisation to identify, assess and manage climate related risks.
– Metrics and Targets: The metrics and targets used to assess and manage relevant climate-related risks and opportunities.
TCFD, Final Report – Recommendations of the TCFD, June 2017
How it helps:
– Builds confidence and trust; by quantifying and disclosing climate related information investors and lenders are able to see that climate related risks are appropriately assessed and managed.
– Adds value and manages risk; by increasing awareness and understanding of climate related risks and opportunities a business may be exposed to, thus enabling more informed and strategic planning.
– Establishes consistent and efficient implementation; by proactively addressing investor’s demands for climate related information within an industry accepted and approved framework.
The Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy Series offers a topical and practical perspective on how ESG can benefit business. Each month, our Sustainable Business team will provide the best of their insight, findings and ESG consulting project experience on how ESG can build value. We welcome inquiries and feedback at esg@itpenergised.com
Please click here to download ‘Using ESG to Build Climate Resilience’
Our full ESG Strategy Series :
- #1 Using ESG to Build Resilience
- #2 ESG and Stock Price Resilience
- #3 Formalising ESG: Building from Best Practice
- #4 Using ESG to build Climate Resilience
- #5 Build Back Better with ESG
- #6 UK Oil & Gas: Building a Successful ESG Approach
- #7 Defining & Achieving the Pathway to Net Zero
- #8 Climate Related Financial Disclosures
- #9 Renewable Energy Assets & ESG
- #10 2021 GRESB Infrastructure Assessment
- #11 Building a Practical TCFD Approach
- #12 Carbon Offsetting
- #13 What is Driving the Biodiversity Emergency?
- #14 Starting a Carbon Offsetting Plan – Critical Aspects to Consider
- #15 The Process and Benefits of The Science Based Targets Movement