CFRF Publishes Guides to Manage Financial Risks from Climate Change

The key outputs from the CFRF working groups, also known as the Session 2 guides, can be summarized as follows:

• The Risk Management Working Group (RMWG) has developed guides on developing climate risk appetite statements and risk management use cases. Additionally, the Risk Management Working Group has produced a paper that summarizes a firm’s training needs for climate risks and opportunities and how they could be delivered as a coherent syllabus.
• The Scenario Analysis Working Group (SAWG) has produced practical examples on how firms can incorporate sector specific points when developing an effective approach to scenario analysis. The Scenario Analysis Working Group will publish a publicly available online scenario analysis tool in the first quarter of 2022. The tool will be designed for use by smaller firms who may not have the experience or resources to attempt independently. The idea of the tool is that firms would input some basic information regarding their business activities, products, or risks into the tool, to then output a narrative description of climate risks and opportunities.
• The Disclosure Working Group (DWG) has collated a number of case studies on disclosure from a variety of organizations that will be of interest to firms as they develop their approach to climate-related disclosures. The Working Group has also produced guidance highlighting the legal risks associated with publishing a climate-related disclosure and how these risks can be effectively managed.
• The Innovation Working Group (IWG) has focused on identifying and sharing practical opportunities to mobilize financial capital and steward an economy-wide transition to meet climate targets and the resultant briefing paper highlights the key points. Additionally, the Innovation Working Group have produced a set of seven short films highlighting innovative approaches to mobilizing finance in support of the transition to net-zero.
• CFRF published a guide on climate data and metrics which recommends five areas where climate-related metrics could be employed: transition risks, physical risks, portfolio decarbonization, mobilizing transition finance, and engagement. The first part of the report provides detail on each of these areas. The second part focusses on implementation and provides practical guidance and support on convergence towards a set of common and consistent climate metrics.

Many of the Session 2 guides will help firms accelerate their efforts in responding effectively to climate-related financial risks and opportunities. In particular, the risk appetite statements, scenario analysis guide, disclosure case studies, and the climate data and metrics dashboard have been deliberately designed to enable firms to overcome the significant challenges that they have encountered in embedding climate risk management in their organizations. The Innovation report provides commentary on actionable innovation opportunities to mobilize financial capital and help steward the economy to net zero.

Related Links

• Press Release
• Session 2 Guides

Keywords: Europe, UK, Banking, Insurance, Securities, Climate Change Risk, ESG, Disclosures, Scenario Analysis, Risk Appetite, CFRF, Stress Testing, FCA, PRA