With political and business leaders gathering in Dubai this week for this year’s UN Climate Change Conference, S&P Global has released new research highlighting the need for an expedited energy transition, in a special edition of its quarterly sustainability report titled, “Advancing the Transition”.
Drawing on data and insights from across S&P Global, the report casts a new light on the challenges, risks and opportunities as the world looks to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius. It explores key aspects of the transition, including evolving climate disclosure rules, steps that automakers are taking to decarbonize, and physical risks that climate change poses to countries and companies absent significant global action.
“As the international community unites to discuss the climate crisis, the need for an all-hands-on-deck approach from business and policymakers across the globe couldn’t be more pressing,” says Dr Richard Mattison, vice-chair of S&P Global Sustainable1. “Our comprehensive research underscores the dangers posed to nature and biodiversity, and the physical risks the current climate warming trajectory could have on markets, investors, and communities, while providing a roadmap for global leaders to collectively mitigate the negative impact of the global climate threat.”
Highlights from the report include:
* Lost GDP: Potential impacts of physical climate risks: Physical risks linked to climate change may become an increasing source of supply-side shocks for the global economy, particularly if adaptation and resilience investments are not stepped up.
* Quantifying the financial costs of climate change physical risks for companies: Without adaptation measures, the physical impacts of climate change represent a significant financial risk for many companies.
* Climate transition risk: Historical greenhouse gas emissions trends for global industries: This research highlights the industries that are more exposed to climate transition risks, including those related to climate policy, and legal, technology and market changes to address mitigation.
* How automaker decarbonisation efforts can reach Paris Agreement targets: S&P Global Mobility analysis shows that automakers building EVs may not be enough to hit Paris Agreement goals.
* Navigating CSRD: Global implications and corporate readiness: EU corporate sustainability reporting rules are evolving, and S&P Global Market Intelligence explores implications for other parts of the world.
* Will oil and gas producers lose access to external financing as lenders decarbonise?: How will financial institutions respond to ever-changing regulations and policies on net-zero GHG commitments, stakeholder pressures and competing energy technologies?
* Islamic finance’s role in the climate transition: Global harmonisation of Islamic finance principles could smooth the process for issuing sustainable sukuk to fund climate change mitigation measures in core markets.
* Middle East sustainable bonds may expand further: Heightened exposure to climate change, as well as government initiatives and company pledges, will fuel sustainable, mostly green, bond issuances in the Middle East.