Finance ClimAct, moving towards more sustainable financing

The ACT team is delighted to announce the publication of its latest methodology: ACT Adaptation. Rising temperatures, a lack of operational frameworks to assess the adaptation strategies of private players, and a growing concern for adaptation, led us to develop this methodology. ACT Adaptation assesses the quality and comprehensiveness of a company's adaptation strategy, from physical risk analysis to governance, taking into account the entire value chain. This methodology is the result of long-term work by Stephia Latino, Adaptation Methodology Engineer at ADEME, supported by Romain Poivet, Head of Climate and Energy Commitment and Robert Bellini, Head of Adaptation to Climate Change. In particular, it has been tested by 13 international volunteer companies from different sectors to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. Download file

The world has already exceeded +1°C global warming compared to the pre-industrial period (1850-1900). Climate change has been definitively linked with severe and widespread consequences across the globe (see the World Weather Attribution initiative). Thus, adaptation to the current and future climate system is essential and must be taken into consideration alongside mitigation efforts. Thus, the ACT Initiative has developed an ACT Adaptation methodology that aims at assessing the quality and comprehensiveness of company’s adaptation strategy, from their physical risk analysis to their governance. It applies to companies from all sectors, size and geographical location. This ACT Adaptation draft methodology has been tested during a Road Test with 13 companies and the support of Climate Sense. We are pleased to announce the publication of the ACT Adaptation Road Test Report ! Download file

The production of this study is part of the cyclical operation of the Climate Transparency Hub (CTH). Following the analysis of 29 climate reports from French financial institutions for the year 2020, this study provides an overview of the state of climate reporting practices, based on the sample analysed. It is a study of the practices identified by the 29 proactive institutions supporting the CTH initiative, based on a matrix of analysis criteria. As part of the analysis of the 2020 reports, which are the last before the application of article 29 of the Energy and Climate Law, we have integrated into this analysis grid certain specific elements that will be expected in the next system. A focus is made on the most significant elements (taxonomic and fossil exposures, remuneration policy, means, objectives, risk management system, continuous improvement plan), materialized by a mention "New Art. 29 ECL" and a reminder of the new regulatory provisions introduced. This report is mainly intended for financial institutions subject to this reporting exercise in order to help them improve their practices. It will also be of interest to regulators and climate analysts who would like to observe the different responses given by financial institutions on specific questions of this dense and heterogeneous exercise. Download file

The study was produced by ADEME as part of the Climate Transparency Hub, which is part of the LIFE Finance ClimAct project. For several years now, French regulations have required investors to publish an annual report describing their practices for taking into account sustainability aspects in the broad sense (environmental, social and governance criteria) in their management/investment activity. With regard to the requirement of the Decree implementing Article 29 of the Energy and Climate Law (Article 1-V of the Decree), Since 1 January 2022, the financial entities concerned must transmit their extra-financial report at entity level each year within six months of the end of the financial year to the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) on the Climate Transparency Hub (CTH) for statistical study purposes "The analysis carried out provides a global view of the discounts. The study aims to provide a statistical analysis of the 429 "Article 29 LEC" reports that were submitted to the CTH platform in 2022 in respect of the 2021 financial year and to highlight the elements that could be used to improve the quality of remittances. The reports were screened against an analytical grid, which allowed the construction of a database from which the statistics presented in this study are drawn. The main findings are presented here. They concern the scope and formalism of the reports as well as the state of practices. Download file

The taxonomy evaluation report aims to promote the acculturation of the reference system within ADEME, to better understand the different contribution criteria and DNSH, and to propose an initial assessment of the possible operationalisation of this reference system. This evaluation examines 60 major projects financed by ADEME in 2021, representing 334,889,657 euros and covering 25 economic activities referenced in the taxonomy The taxonomy evaluation report was produced by ADEME as part of the LIFE Finance ClimAct project and aims to anticipate a potential request for the progressive alignment of calls for projects with regard to the Taxonomy's reference framework. It describes the evaluation method, its scope and the various issues involved in incorporating the Taxonomy into ADEME's work. Download file

As part of the Finance ClimAct project, ADEME has published a summary report on the aluminium industry in France. The aluminium industry is an electro-intensive sector that is highly exposed to international competition and whose growth prospects are high. Decarbonisation of this sector is therefore strategic but remains relatively complex. The Aluminium Sector Transition Plan proposes the exploration of two contrasting scenarios leading to the objective of -81% reduction in CO₂ emissions in 2050 compared to 2015, the objective set by the National Low Carbon Strategy. ADEME's Industry Department organised a webinar on 10 March to present the results of the Aluminium Sector Transition Plan, the replay of which is available at the following link: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8ja6v4. Download file