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☆ Companies Might Be Forced to Report Their Impact on Nature. A New Framework Aims to Help.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Joshua Kirby | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

New nature-reporting recommendations aim to help companies assess their impact on and risks from the world’s natural systems. This is despite growing awareness of the catastrophic effects of biodiversity loss, Capgemini said in a report, based on a survey of executives of large organizations from major economies. The TNFD recommendations are currently voluntary, but come as regulation tightens around degradation of the natural world. Separately, in the EU, many companies are already facing obligations to report their impact on nature under the bloc’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. “We recognize that nature loss poses both risks and opportunities for business, now and in the future,” said Jennifer Motles, PMI’s chief sustainability officer.

Persons: ”, Elizabeth Mrema, David Craig, TNFD’s, “, Capgemini, Aurélie, Philip Morris, Jennifer Motles, laurent gillieron, Gillon, Gucci, Zoe Balmforth, ” Balmforth, Joshua Kirby, joshua.kirby@wsj.com Organizations: Sustainable Business, United Nations, Force, Economic, World Bank, EU, Philip Morris International, European Union, Unilever Locations: “, France, Montreal, Canada, Switzerland, ”

"This new generation of high ambition targets can enable a cleaner greener food and agriculture sector," said Eric Usher, Head of the U.N. Environment Programme Finance Initiative, which helped convene the group and approved the targets as ambitious. Ahead of the COP27 global climate talks in Egypt in November, investors are increasingly focusing on links between a healthy food system and efforts to fight global warming and preserve biodiversity. "The wider finance sector must use COP27 to supersize its ambition and grow a more sustainable food and agriculture sector," Usher said. "Identifying what a state-of-the-art, credible target to finance sustainable food and agriculture looks like is a vital part of addressing the urgent climate and food crises," said Wiebe Draijer, co-chair of the Good Food Finance Network and former CEO from Rabobank.

While no final decisions have been reached, Wednesday's announcement resonated with investors who have been frustrated by Monro's sagging share price and the tight grip of the company's controlling investor, investment banker Peter Solomon. The company is currently valued at $1.5 billion and its stock price has tumbled 22% since January. Solomon, 84, is able to overrule votes from all other shareholders because he owns all of Monro's outstanding Class C Preferred shares. Pressure has been building on Monro since investment firm Ides Capital began pushing for changes two years ago. More recently, Ides called for a strategic review committee to be formed to explore alternatives for the company.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with 17 industry groups representing more than 1,000 firms in the clean energy supply chain, more than 2,000 utilities and more than 1 million American workers, a Treasury official said. The Treasury guidance will tell companies how they can take advantage of clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. The incentives are crucial for companies seeking to invest in solar and wind power, electric vehicles, clean energy manufacturing, and energy efficiency. The act extends 30% tax credits for wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources, and offers incentives for carbon capture and tax credits of up to $7,500 on zero-emission electric vehicles. The roundtable follows Treasury's issuance of six notices requesting public comments on topics such as tax credits for wind, solar and nuclear power, incentives for energy-efficient homes and clean vehicle credits.

The new targets include a plan for a 35% reduction in so-called Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity from the oil and gas sector, those linked to clients' own operations and energy use. Intensity is a measure of emissions per unit of output. "Ultimately, the achievement of our Scope 3 target range will require a concerted effort from consumers, industries and governments globally," RBC said in a statement. For the power sector, RBC said it was targeting a 54% reduction in Scope 1 emissions, while for the automotive sector it was aiming for a combined 47% reduction in Scope 1, 2, and 3 reductions. Reporting by Simon Jessop in London and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Some progress has been made, but it's not enough," Rebecca Marmot, chief sustainability officer at consumer goods company Unilever (ULVR.L), said. While regulators have pushed for more rigorous reporting on the companies' environmental impact and efforts to battle climate change, broader impact on nature and biodiversity has not yet been subject to similar scrutiny. The COP15 talks in Montreal will see countries try to agree a new Global Biodiversity Framework to combat the crisis that threatens over one million plant and animal species with extinction. "Assessment and disclosure are an essential first step to generate action, but it will only have an impact if it is made mandatory," the 330 businesses said in their statement. "Without this information, we are flying blind into extinction," Eva Zabey, executive director at global coalition Business for Nature, said.

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