The 'next normal': climate change risk governance in a pandemic age – Part 1

2 minute read + PDF download 07.05.2020 Sarah Barker, Ellie Mulholland, Josh Dellios, Mark Standen

Corporate climate risk assessment and disclosure expectations in FY20.

Key takeouts

While immediate pandemic pressures may moderate short-term corporate progress on climate risk assessment and disclosure, there is little to suggest that regulatory and investor expectations have significantly diminished in 2020. Corporates may face increasing investor pressure to make a 'Paris-aligned' business strategy a central pillar of their corporate rebuilding and recovery plans, with a measurable pathway to net zero emissions.

The systemic economic fragilities exposed by COVID-19 illustrate the value of the key risk management tool underpinning corporate strategy on climate change – stress-testing and scenario planning – and the insights it provides in the estimation and reporting of financial position and prospects.

Communicating credible progress on climate risk assessment and transition strategy in the narrative reports and financial statements should remain a key focus for corporates in the lead up to 30 June.

We are seeing indications that climate change remains an institutional priority in the 2020 reporting season. This applies in a number of areas:

Narrative reports: regulatory disclosure requirements for narrative financial report components continue to apply. As an economic 'black swan' event, COVID-19 illustrates the role of stress-testing and scenario planning as a risk management tool – itself a central plank of the recommendations of the G20 Financial Stability Board Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD);
Financial statements: the reasonableness and consistent application of material climate-related financial assumptions in financial statement accounting estimates is squarely relevant to financial reporting and audit;
Mainstream investors: institutional investor expectations on corporate climate-related strategy and risk management accelerated sharply in 2019 and, having done so, are unlikely to regress significantly;
Net zero strategy: Both 'activist' investors and, increasingly, mainstream institutional investors continue to place pressure on companies exposed to the economic transition to articulate their strategy for continuing to create value in a 'net zero emissions' world; and
Regulators: Whilst central banks and financial regulators are moderating direct corporate engagement during the pandemic, their oversight of climate risk impacts and disclosures is continuing.

Download the report below to access our extended insights on corporate climate risk assessment and reporting expectations in FY20. It provides a useful resource for sustainability, finance and executive teams in their consideration of governance priorities beyond the immediate pandemic response.

Part II in our series on climate risk governance in a pandemic age will be released in the coming months: The 'Next Normal' – what next for climate risk governance and investment in a post COVID-19 world?

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The 'next normal': climate change risk governance in a pandemic age – Part 1

Key takeouts

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