OCC Consults on Principles for Climate Risk Management for Large Banks

These draft principles provide a high-level framework for the safe and sound management of exposures to climate-related financial risks, consistent with the existing risk management framework described in existing OCC rules and guidance. The principles are intended to support efforts by banks to focus on key aspects of climate risk management. The principles will help bank management make progress toward answering key questions on exposures and incorporating climate-related financial risks into banks’ risk management frameworks. The general principles cover aspects such as governance; policies, procedures, and limits; strategic planning; risk management; data, risk measurement, and reporting; and scenario analysis. Among other facts, the proposed principles stipulate that climate-related scenario analyses should be subject to oversight, validation, and quality control standards that would be commensurate to their risk. Climate-related scenario analysis results should be clearly and regularly communicated to all relevant individuals within the bank, including an appropriate level of information necessary to effectively convey the assumptions, limitations, and uncertainty of results. 

OCC also notes that boards and management should consider and incorporate climate-related financial risks when identifying and mitigating all types of risk. These risk assessment principles describe how climate-related financial risks can be addressed in various risk categories, including credit risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, legal/compliance risk, and other financial and non-financial risks. With respect to credit risk, OCC notes that the board and management should determine credit risk appetite and lending limits related to the climate-related risks. OCC plans to elaborate on these principles in a subsequent guidance that would distinguish roles and responsibilities of boards of directors and management, incorporate the feedback received on the principles, and consider lessons learned and best practices from the industry and other jurisdictions. In keeping with its risk-based approach to supervision, OCC intends to appropriately tailor any resulting supervisory expectations to reflect differences in banks’ circumstances such as complexity of operations and business models.

Related Links

• News Release
• Bulletin 2021-62
• Principles (PDF)

Keywords: Americas, US, Banking, Lending, Credit Risk, Climate Change Risk, ESG, Guidance, Scenario Analysis, Stress Testing, Proportionality, OCC