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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THURSDAY OCTOBER 29, 2020
12.01AM ET, 04.01AM GMT, 05.01AM CET
             
 

Third TCFD Status Report Shows Progress & Highlights Need for Greater Climate-Related Disclosures and Transparency

The TCFD also issues implementation guidance and opens public consultation period to solicit input on forward-looking metrics

New York, October 29, 2020 - The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), published its 2020 Status Report today. Reviewing 1,700 companies' reports using artificial intelligence technology, the Task Force found that disclosure of climate-related financial information aligned with the TCFD recommendations has steadily increased since the recommendations were published in 2017. The largest increases relate to companies disclosing how they identify, assess, and manage climate-related risk. Industries considered most exposed to material climate risk have led with the highest levels of TCFD disclosure.

To date, more than 1,500 organizations have expressed their support for the TCFD recommendations, representing an increase of over 85% since the 2019 status report. However, despite the significant momentum, the 2020 Status Report highlights the continuing need for progress in improving levels of TCFD-aligned disclosures given the urgent demand for consistency and comparability in reporting. In particular, disclosure of the potential financial impact of climate change on companies' businesses and strategies remains low.

"The work that governments and businesses are doing to address the devastation caused by the coronavirus is also an opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable economy - and transparency and disclosure have an important role to play," said Michael R. Bloomberg, Chair of the Task Force and Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies. "The more companies know about their risks and opportunities related to climate change, and the more information investors have, the better we'll be able to allocate resources and make progress - so it's encouraging to see leaders in the public and private sector implementing the Task Force recommendations, as outlined in this report."

Other key findings from the Task Force's review of company disclosures, insights from users, and other research include:

• On average across the TCFD recommendations, 42% of companies with a market capitalization greater than $10 billion disclosed at least some information in line with each TCFD recommendation in 2019. Furthermore, disclosure levels for these companies exceeded 50% for certain information under the Task Force's recommendations related to strategy and climate-related metrics.
• Nearly 60% of the world's 100 largest public companies support the TCFD, report in line with the TCFD recommendations, or both.
• Energy companies and materials and buildings companies are leading on disclosure, with an average level of TCFD-aligned disclosures of 40% for energy companies and 30% for materials and buildings companies in fiscal year 2019.
• Expert users of disclosure identified the impact of climate change on a company's business and strategy as the "most useful" information for financial decision-making.
• Asset manager and asset owner reporting to their clients and beneficiaries is likely insufficient.
• The report also provides an illustrative 'roadmap' for preparers by highlighting insights from expert users on which information is most useful for decision making.

• Guidance on conducting climate-related scenario analysis; and
• Guidance on integrating climate-related risks into existing risk management processes and disclosing those processes.
   

The Task Force also seeks feedback on its consultation on decision-useful, forward-looking metrics for the financial sector. Publication of the consultation document today begins a 90-day public consultation period, ending January 27, 2021.

The 1,500 TCFD supporters include companies, financial institutions and governments, among others, with company supporters alone representing a combined market capitalization of $12.6 trillion, and the supporting financial firms being responsible for assets of nearly $150 trillion.

The full 2020 Status Report, guidance documents, and consultation document are available on the TCFD website. The Task Force will deliver its next status report to the FSB in September 2021. 

To learn more about becoming a supporter, please visit the TCFD website. Additional resources can be found in the TCFD Knowledge Hub.

Media Contacts
Veronika Henze
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
+1.646.324.1596
vhenze@bloomberg.net

Liidia Liuksila
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
+1.212.617.5424
lliuksila@bloomberg.net

About the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
On December 4, 2015, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) established the industry-led Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) with Michael R. Bloomberg as Chair. The Task Force currently has four Vice Chairs, 26 members and one special advisor. The TCFD was asked to develop voluntary, consistent, climate-related financial disclosures for use by companies in providing information to lenders, insurers, investors and other stakeholders, which were published in the TCFD Recommendations Report on June 29, 2017. More information about the TCFD can be found at www.fsb-tcfd.org.

 
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