Dear,
I have a question on applying the Portfolio Coverage approach for setting targets on the fossil fuel industry. Through the Portfolio Coverage approach the FI commits to having a portion of their borrowers/investees set their own SBTi-approved science-based targets such that the FI is on a linear path to 100% portfolio coverage by 2040. However, as currently commitments are paused from fossil fuel companies for the time being, does this not potentially impede achieving portfolio coverage targets? What are SBTi’s thoughts on this? Thanks!
Kind regards
FIs may set a Portfolio Coverage target that covers the fossil fuel sector but indeed the validation of fossil fuel companies is currently paused, which could potentially impact the achievement of the Portfolio Coverage target until the SBTi Oil & Gas sector guidance is published. However, if the target covers various sectors (e.g., equity investments in all sectors), the FI could focus on any portion of that particular portfolio to achieve the target.
Thank you Howard, but if the target only exclusively covers fossil fuel companies, there is no workaround for this? When is the oil & gas sector guidance expected to be published and ready for use? Thanks.
Using the Temperature Rating method is another option. A new target method has also been proposed for FIs to cover the fossil fuel sector in draft Version 2 of the Near-Term Financial Sector SBT Guidance. Please see FI-C17.4 and Section 5.4.4 for more details.
The proposed changes in draft Version 2 are up for public consultation so we welcome your feedback/questions on this document, and two other new documents, through the survey by Aug 14.