Corporate Toolkit to Manage Climate Change Risks
23 February 2006 at 12:02 pm
Environment coalition Ceres and the Investor Network on Climate Risk have published a 24-page “toolkit” to help companies address the strategic and financial challenges associated with global climate change.
The guidebook – Managing the Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change: A Practical Toolkit for Corporate Leaders – is designed to help corporate leaders respond to the various risks associated with climate change, including physical impacts and regulatory changes, as well as emerging market opportunities.
The toolkit is aimed at any corporate manager or director with responsibilities related to risk management, governance, climate regulations or investor relations.
Mindy S. Lubber, the president of Ceres says a growing number of investors are calling for deeper analysis, disclosure and action from companies about the risks and opportunities they face from climate change.
She says this toolkit is a powerful tool that all leading corporations should use to improve their competitive positioning on this complex issue.
The guidebook outlines the basic steps for developing a corporate climate strategy, including:
– How to assess climate risks and opportunities.
– How to implement policies and action plans to manage risks and capitalise on opportunities.
– Best practices for disclosing company findings and plans, while engaging investors and other stakeholders throughout the process.
The toolkit also includes case studies from companies that have developed successful climate strategies, including General Electric, American Electric Power, Chevron, Ford and Bank of America.
Ceres is a national coalition of investors, environmental groups and other public interest organisations working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. Ceres directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a group of more than 50 institutional investors from the U.S. and Europe managing about $3 trillion in assets.
The guidebook can be downloaded at www.ceres.org.
