This month, we bring practical help regarding climate disclosures, research on framework alingment and investor expectations regarding environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects including deforestation. Read on for more…
Practical help with climate-related information
In September, CDSB launched an e-learning platform designed to help organizations fill the knowledge gap and enhance their disclosures of climate-related information. Hosted on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures TCFD Knowledge Hub, the courses will be CPD accredited and suitable for companies, investors and finance professionals. September also saw CDSB and SASB launch the TCFD Good Practice Handbook. The Handbook offers real-world examples of TCFD reporting from across the G20 to help organizations report more effectively on the material climate-related risks and opportunities they face.
Better Alignment Project’s report shows framework alignment with the TCFD
On 24 September, the Corporate Reporting Dialogue’s (CRD’s) Better Alignment Project report was launched during Climate Week in New York. The report finds higher levels of alignment between global reporting frameworks and the TCFD recommendations than expected. The two-year project seeks to improve the coherence, consistency and comparability of the participant’s frameworks and standards. Ian Mackintosh, Chair of CRD, comments that constituents are asking “for one strong internationally-recognised and used set of standards” for ESG but that implementing this is challenging. Read the report here.
Investors call on companies to disclose deforestation policies
In the wake of the Amazon forest fires, a group of 230 institutional investors have released a statement calling on companies to disclose and implement no deforestation plans that include quantifiable, time-bound commitments that cover the entire supply chain and establish monitoring and verification systems for supplier compliance with the policy. Ceres and UN PRI lead this group which represents USD $16.2 trillion in assets under management.
Missed our Reporting Exchange webinar?
Listen to our webinar recording on ESG data and decision-making from 25 September here with the slides. We discussed the value of ESG information for investor decision-making and the role of blockchain in the sustainability agenda. We also heard from Tom Liu, our Reporting Exchange moderator, on the developments in Hong Kong around ESG reporting.
G big in ESG: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute report shows membership attitudes on ESG reporting
The CFA 2019 Financial Reporting Survey revealed that CFA members tend to incorporate governance factors into their investment analyses more so than environmental or social factors. The report also highlights that investors are calling for clear definitions and metrics for ESG and that they believe securities regulators should develop or support the development of ESG disclosure standards.