Europe and US: Companies' climate-related disclosures seldom quantify impact of climate change

London, October 21, 2019 --

• The quality and depth of reporting varies widely across companies, making comparisons difficult
• Disclosures seldom quantify the potential financial impact of climate change

European and US companies' adoption of climate-related financial disclosures remains slow and gradual two years after the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Task Force recommended voluntary and consistent reporting across all industries, Moody's Investors Service said in a report today.

"Although companies have made some progress in the level of disclosure they provide, standardised and consistent quantification of the financial impact from climate risks is still in a nascent stage," said Vincent Allilaire, a Moody's Vice President - Senior Credit Officer and the report's co-author.

To gauge the extent of climate-related disclosures, the rating agency examined reporting from a sample of 28 Moody's-rated US and European companies in environmentally sensitive industries: oil & gas integrated, oil & gas refining and marketing, utilities (regulated and unregulated), and building materials.

The analysis found that while climate-related disclosures are on the rise, the quality and depth of reporting varies widely across companies. In addition, the disclosures seldom quantify the potential financial impact of climate change. As a result, it is difficult to assess or compare potential climate-related financial impact, either within a sector or across different sectors.

Full adoption of standardised frameworks will likely take several years as companies try to quantify financial impacts, set metrics and targets, and demonstrate their ability to withstand different climate scenarios.