In a recent Bloomberg survey, 85% of executives said they have started assessing climate risk but taking positions can seem as much fortune telling as data modelling. Edo Schets, product manager for climate finance solutions at Bloomberg LP discusses how investors can assess risk when it comes to ESG.
According to a recent report by the New Climate Economy, transitioning to net zero is set to deliver up to $26tn in investment and job creation opportunities by 2030. But unless investors are using a reliable platform to help them sift through rhetoric and company promises, they are left without a holistic picture to correctly assess opportunities.
For instance, take a cement company that naturally has high carbon emissions. To reduce emissions, this company then launches a project to offset carbon emissions and issues a sustainability-linked bond to finance this project. As a result, this company looks on track to meet both its targets and government legislation and investing in this company’s stock or in this bond suddenly looks pretty favorable to an investment firm.
With climate change affecting every industry and business, investment decisions must now consider ESG commitments, actions and activities. How can data and insights ensure investors make successful decisions?
Why is climate risk so difficult to assess?
Climate-related risks are more difficult to measure than ‘traditional’ financial risks because, rather than looking at historical patterns as is customary in risk management, climate change looks forward.