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Markets regulator <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sebi" source="keywords">SEBI</keyword> has proposed expanding the <keyword id="22367248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-finance-framework" source="keywords">sustainable finance framework</keyword> in the <keyword id="20922662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="securities-market" source="keywords">securities market</keyword> by introducing a new category of financial instruments. This category will include <keyword id="20518791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-Bonds" source="keywords">social bonds</keyword>, <keyword id="22623575" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sustainable-Bonds" source="keywords">sustainable bonds</keyword>, and <keyword id="22623576" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sustainability-linked-Bonds" source="keywords">sustainability-linked bonds</keyword>, in addition to the current <keyword id="22819966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-debt-securities" source="keywords">green debt securities</keyword>. It aims to provide issuers with flexibility in raising funds for projects that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. In a consultation paper released on Friday, SEBI proposed that issuers, in addition to existing green debt securities, should be allowed to raise funds through issuance of social bonds, sustainable bonds, and sustainability-linked bonds. These bonds will collectively be known as ESG Debt Securities. This will enable issuers to raise money for more sustainable projects, assisting in closing the funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals. SEBI said it received representations from market participants including the Confederation of Indian Industry to expand the scope of the regulatory framework pertaining to sustainable finance to include social bonds, in addition to existing green debt securities as a mode of raising sustainable finance, in line with global practices. As per the consultation paper, SEBI said, it "proposed to introduce the concept of sustainable securitised debt instruments for the purpose of providing originators of the underlying credit facilities which are within such international or domestic frameworks for sustainable finance, and thereby provide investors as well an opportunity to participate in the sustainable securitised debt instruments". The consultation paper also addressed the initial and continuous disclosures for sustainable securitised debt instruments that would be based on international frameworks. Initial disclosures could be made in the offer document for the securities, while continuous disclosures might be included in annual reports or other mandated formats. The markets watchdog also suggested that issuers of ESG debt securities and sustainable securitised debt instruments appoint an independent external reviewer or certifier, to facilitate transparency and credibility. The review could take various forms including, second-party opinions, verification, certification, or scoring/ rating. The <keyword id="19901204" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Securities-and-Exchange-Board-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Securities and Exchange Board of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Securities and Exchange Board of India">Securities and Exchange Board of India</keyword> (SEBI) has invited comments and suggestions from the public on the consultation paper by September 6.

SEBI proposes expansion of sustainable financial framework in securities market

Imagine trying to reach a specific destination, but your map is outdated, the signs point in different directions, and fellow travelers argue over the best route. This is a reality of the struggle many companies face when it comes to tackling <keyword id="6361617" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword>, a new study explains. Despite their best efforts, companies are getting tangled in a web of conflicting national targets, inconsistent government guidance, and limited options for reducing their <keyword id="66463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="carbon" source="Orion">carbon</keyword> footprint. This frustrating situation may be hindering their ability to effectively contribute to global climate goals, the research elaborates. The challenge begins with mixed messages. Governments and regulatory bodies often send conflicting signals, with national targets and international standards failing to align perfectly. This leaves companies confused and unsure of the best course of action. Furthermore, standardised data sources and accounting methods don't always capture the unique picture of each company's emissions. This leads to inaccurate assessments and suboptimal reduction strategies, something the world, in the current stage of the climate crisis, cannot afford. Adding to the confusion, the research explains that some companies rely far too heavily on <keyword id="1690954" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="carbon-offsets" source="Orion">carbon offsets</keyword> to compensate for their emissions, instead of focusing on concrete reductions within their own operations. This act might make the operations seem emission-free, effectively tricking shareholders. Much like greenwashing, this can be compared to paying someone else to complete your errands while your own to-do list remains untouched. While this might ease the immediate pressure, it certainly doesn't address the root cause of the problem. Finally, companies juggle competing demands from regulators, shareholders, and customers. This makes it difficult to prioritise efficient decarbonisation strategies and resource allocation. This act of trying to please everyone at once often leads to compromises and suboptimal outcomes, the study reads. To navigate this complex maze, the researchers propose a two-pronged approach. First, companies need a more dynamic framework. This means combining a <keyword id="66463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="carbon" source="Orion">carbon</keyword> measurement and management process with a flexible "Plan, Do, Check, Act" cycle. This ensures alignment between climate targets, actions, monitoring, and reporting, just like having a clear, up-to-date map and constantly checking your progress. Second, governments and regulatory bodies need to work together to create a more unified international framework, similar to the somewhat recently released <keyword id="12704208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="issb" source="Orion">ISSB</keyword> standards. This step would empower companies to accurately assess, manage, and reduce their carbon footprints, similar to having clear and consistent road signs throughout your journey. Reaching global climate goals requires a collaborative effort. Companies, governments, and regulators need to work together to create a clearer roadmap, remove conflicting roadblocks, and prioritise efficient resource allocation. Only then can companies truly navigate the climate maze and contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future. The findings of this research have been published in <keyword id="6355515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business" source="Orion">Business</keyword> Strategy and the Environment and can be accessed <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bse.3635" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>.

Is there a fundamental problem preventing businesses from contributing efficiently to climate mitigation efforts?

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financing-a-sustainable-future-2022"></a><div type="image" title="A photo of Novartis headquarters building with the logo" height="2756" width="3674" msid="92709566" hostid="261" sizebytes="513936"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="14386095" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="novartis" source="Orion">Novartis</keyword>'s first integrated social impact report was released earlier this year.</li><li>A coalition of <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> organizations has recommended integrated reporting to improve the quality of information.</li></ul>In March 2022, global pharmaceutical company Novartis published its first-ever <a href="https://www.reporting.novartis.com/2021/novartis-in-society.html">Novartis in Society</a> integrated report.That means the company combined its report on annual financial performance together with details of its progress toward sustainability goals, or <keyword id="12011554" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="esg" source="Orion">ESG</keyword>. Other companies that produce integrated reports include <a href="https://investors.etsy.com/financials/annual-reports-and-proxy/default.aspx">Etsy</a> and <a href="https://corporate.ford.com/social-impact/sustainability.html">Ford.</a> From Ford's 2022 report: "Last year we were proud to launch our inaugural Integrated Sustainability and Financial Report,building on more than two decades of sustainability reporting at Ford and giving our stakeholders a more holistic view of our performance." Such reporting is not new, but it's also not universally adopted. Advocates of this type of reporting say that it deepens the connection between business strategy and sustainable goals.Global organizations for decades have wrangled with not just what to report on sustainability goals, but how to report. Novartis' decision to combine financial and sustainability reporting into one combined overview is something more companies may choose to do as international bodies adopt these standards. <h2>Measuring impact on community health</h2>Public health and sustainability goals are not new to Novartis, but the global pandemic clearly brought them under a new kind of scrutiny. Lutz Hegemon, group head of corporate affairs and global health, told Insider about how the pandemic had impacted the company's community health goals. "Our priority now, more than ever before, is to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential medicines, including antibiotics, to all those who need them, wherever they may be," he said.Hegemann also said that the pandemic had demonstrated how fragile infrastructures and public health systems fail to reap the benefits of health innovation. "COVID-19 reinforces the need to continue to do more to strengthen healthcare systems across the globe as we implement the Novartis Access Principles across our portfolio," he said.To learn more about the Novartis Access Principles, Insider turned to the company's integrated report. "We aim to implement an access strategy for all new medicines launched," the report reads. "These strategies include innovative pricing and access models, earlier launches in low- and middle-income countries, and approaches to strengthen healthcare systems." The report includes a data table of patients reached through "access approaches," at 56.2 million in 2021, including the proportion that was funded by the <a href="https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-reinforces-commitment-patient-access-pricing-eur-185-billion-sustainability-linked-bond">company's 2020 sustainability-linked bond</a>. In keeping with the principles of the integrated report, it also includes broader reporting of the company's financial performance, reflecting $52 billion in net sales, a 4% increase over the past year. <h2>Global reporting standards </h2>Integrated reporting is not a new concept. According to <a href="https://www.esgthereport.com/why-are-integrated-reports-increasing-in-popularity/">ESG - The Report</a>, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), issued its first global framework in 2013, following consultation with accounting, business, and investor groups. Other acronym-heavy organizations have recently weighed in on the benefits of combining externally facing materials. On <a href="https://www.ifrs.org/news-and-events/news/2022/05/integrated-reporting-articulating-a-future-path/">May 25, 2022</a>, the International <keyword id="12759223" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="financial-reporting" source="Orion">Financial Reporting</keyword> Standards Foundation (IFRS), the chairs of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), announced they would be incorporating the IIRC's current framework."We are convinced that the Integrated Reporting Framework drives high-quality corporate reporting and connectivity between financial statements and sustainability-related financial disclosures which improves the quality of the information provided to investors," read a statement by Andreas Barckow, chair of the IASB, and Emmanuel Faber, chair of the ISSB.Hegemann said Novartis decided to merge its previous Novartis in Society ESG Report and Annual Review into one document to "increase the quality of our ESG disclosures by providing a streamlined and integrated view of how we create value for our stakeholders through our purpose and corporate strategy."Novartis tapped the Integrated Reporting Framework in developing the report, as well as SASB Standards provided by the <keyword id="14386096" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="value-reporting-foundation" source="Orion">Value Reporting Foundation</keyword>.Standards are constantly evolving, and Hegemann said the integrated approach leaves the company "well positioned to continue to enhance our ESG disclosures and adapt to emerging ESG reporting standards."

Novartis debuted its first integrated sustainability and finance report this year — more companies are likely to follow suit

Leaders from Walmart, AB InBev, Honeywell, Carlyle, and more share advice for getting started — and sticking to — sustainability goals

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financing-a-sustainable-future-2022"></a> <div type="image" title="Headshot of Esohe Denise Odaro, IFC’s head of investor relations and sustainable finance" height="1692" width="2250" msid="91625716" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Social bond issuance reached nearly $200 billion last year, from a little over $10 billion in 2019.</li><li>These bonds can tackle societal inequities like financing affordable housing or lending to women-owned businesses.</li></ul>For people in banking and finance, the subject of <keyword id="1281116" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="social-bonds" source="Orion">social bonds</keyword> can induce mixed feelings. Investors may feel good about knowing their money is going to worthy causes, while skeptics wonder whether this debt is another way for companies to present as good corporate citizens. Conflicting opinions aside, there's no doubting the numbers. Social bonds, which support initiatives like affordable housing or women-owned businesses, have soared since the global pandemic has encouraged companies to help tackle societal inequalities. Roughly $192 billion worth of social bonds were priced globally last year, on top of $165 billion in 2020, according to Refinitiv data supplied to Insider. Before that, social bonds barely registered above $10 billion a year, the data showed. "The applicability of the social bond has come to shine in dire circumstances. And the pandemic has definitely helped kick that off," Esohe Denise Odaro, the <a href="https://www.ifc.org/">International Finance Corporation</a>'s head of investor relations and <keyword id="8481269" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="sustainable-finance" source="Orion">sustainable finance</keyword>, told Insider. "It takes real-life situations to educate people as to how to use it." The IFC played a big part in social bonds, both as an investor and an issuer. Last month, IFC invested in <keyword id="303353" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="sub-saharan-africa" source="Orion">sub-Saharan Africa</keyword>'s first-ever gender bond by Tanzania's NMB Bank. The $32 million deal got a $10 million anchor investment from IFC through its Banking on Women business initiative. Proceeds from the issuance — dubbed a 'Jasiri Bond' — will finance more than 2,000 women-owned small businesses in Tanzania. Back in January, the multilateral bank issued its own CA$500 million ($384 million) social bond to support low-income communities, women entrepreneurs, and small businesses in emerging markets. <h2>The emerging framework for social bonds </h2>While social bonds have taken off, they're still in their infancy, especially compared to mature ESG debt instruments like green bonds, which debuted a decade ago. For issuers, determining what can be classified as a social project can be confusing, and sometimes expose companies to extra scrutiny from market experts that will ensure these issuers come good on their social promises, Odaro said. "A lot of businesses are set up as an enterprise, not a social enterprise," Odaro said. "There's this fear of putting a spotlight on your business through issuing a social bond. And if your company's strategy is not going in the right direction, you're opening yourself up to a lot of market scrutiny." That fear, in part, comes from the reporting that social-bond issuers need to complete to ensure the proceeds from the bond are going to where they're intended. For example, the <a href="https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/c6f3d4c9-3928-4f89-9dd3-13c4d9c98520/FY22+Social+Bonds+Factsheet.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&amp;CVID=nZB2mLK">IFC's Social Bond Fact Sheet</a> comprises strict lending requirements to women-owned businesses or lending to projects that meet the criteria outlined in the Social Bond Principles. The <a href="https://www.icmagroup.org/sustainable-finance/the-principles-guidelines-and-handbooks/social-bond-principles-sbp/">Social Bond Principles</a>, defined by the International Capital Markets Association, require issuers to keep an up-to-date list of projects where the proceeds will go. The borrowers also need to update this information on an annual basis. It's early days for social debt instruments, and while there will be inevitable growing pains, they're proving to be ideal for issuers at the earlier stages of their ESG journeys because of their simplicity. Unlike sustainability-linked bonds, which allow issuers to put the proceeds to an array of needs, social bonds are ring-fenced for a specific objective, which can make the educational process much easier for the issuer and investor. Not only is this ideal for the issuer, but investors can take comfort in knowing that the bond's proceeds are allocated toward initiatives that meet social bond frameworks. "Social bonds are better suited to early-stage ESG adopters," Odaro said. "And if you're concerned about the use of proceeds, you don't have to have too big of a concern because of the explicit restrictions that proceeds go toward pre-determined projects."

Social bonds are on the rise, but issuers and investors are still learning the merits of this new-age debt instrument

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financing-a-sustainable-future-2022"></a><div type="image" title="gary gensler sec chair" height="1330" width="1773" msid="92836001" hostid="261" sizebytes="61828"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="11898795" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sec" source="Orion">SEC</keyword> proposed a new rule regarding climate-risk disclosure in March.</li><li>It asked the public to weigh in — and many large companies answered the call. </li><li>Here are the key takeaways.</li></ul>In March, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a big rule change, one that would require registered companies to disclose climate risk. The agency asked the public for comments, and major companies — in industries from finance and tech to consulting and retail — have <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12.htm">weighed in</a>. <keyword id="11896276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gary-gensler" source="Orion">Gary Gensler</keyword>, the chair of the SEC, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sec-chair-gary-gensler-benefits-of-the-climate-change-rule-2022-4">told Insider</a> the proposed plan is to make environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, reporting more formalized. Since we're over three months into that hearing process, Insider went through the responses to look for trends and standout replies. Here's what we found. <h2>The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD, is popular </h2>From Deutsche Bank to Etsy, many of the responding firms called out preexisting ESG frameworks as inspirations to draw from. The most popular is TCFD, a set of letters you should get used to if you're interested in climate policy. The Financial Stability Board — which a number of international bodies created in the wake of the Great Recession in 2008 — established the TCFD in 2015. The task force developed its own set of international recommendations for climate reporting, with "<a href="https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/recommendations/#core-recommendations">core recommendations</a>" centered around governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. TCFD — which Michael Bloomberg, the CEO of Bloomberg, chairs — has gained support from 3,600 companies in 95 countries, the organization told Insider. <h2>But companies have framework fatigue </h2>There are many reporting frameworks like this one. Trying to adhere to several of them replicates work for issuing companies. By their nature, many of these organizations operate globally, and the climate crisis is a global issue. "In our view, there are too many frameworks that companies are asked to align their reporting to, which makes it difficult for investors to compare across companies and for companies to organize and publish ESG-related information," Prat Bhatt, Cisco's SVP and chief accounting officer, said in a <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12-8911751-244395.pdf">statement</a>. "As such, we believe a global framework would be ideal, but it may not be practicable unless there is widespread support and adoption by all stakeholders of such a global framework." KPMG, a global accounting firm, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12-8911579-244359.pdf">added</a> that without a global framework, there will be less consistency, clarity, and reliability, all owing to the lack of standardization. Getting the world to agree on a single set of standards is a major undertaking, but having the SEC put its weight behind a standard could help formulate that global consensus. <h2>One point of contention: Scope 3 reporting</h2>Within <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/scope-1-and-scope-2-inventory-guidance">greenhouse-gas emissions</a>, scope 1 is "direct," the kind that comes from company vehicles or facilities, while scope 2 is "indirect," taking the form of energy purchased for the company's own use. Scope 3 is also indirect, but it covers everything scope 2 does not — a full 15 categories ranging from waste generation and employee travel to the use of products the company has sold. As You Sow, a shareholder-advocate group, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12-20118792-271629.pdf">made an argument</a> for requiring scope 3 reporting, noting <a href="https://newclimate.org/resources/publications/corporate-climate-responsibility-monitor-2022">research</a> from this year that found that among 25 large companies, 87% of total emissions were scope 3, but just under a third of those companies disclosed moderately detailed plans regarding what they were going to do about it. Danielle Fugere, the president of As You Sow, said not requiring scope 3 reporting would be a big miss. "Without rules requiring reporting on all 15 scope 3 categories, investors may assume that a company reporting its scope 3 emissions is reporting in full, while in reality, it is reporting only a fraction of such emissions," she said. "Further, required reporting of only scope 1 and 2 emissions can incentivize companies to outsource emissions to supply chains, making it appear that they are reducing emissions while, in reality, those emissions are being located elsewhere." Scope 3 has its critics, because — as noted in the <a href="https://hbr.org/2022/04/we-need-better-carbon-accounting-heres-how-to-get-there">Harvard Business Review</a> and <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fscope-3-rules-hinder-progress-on-emissions-researchers-say-11649942039">elsewhere </a> — it can be hard to get good data on all those outputs. <h2>How synced should ESG reporting be with preexisting quarterly and annual reports?</h2>Companies disagreed on whether this reporting should follow the regular quarterly and annual reporting schedule or be on an alternative timeline. FedEx, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12-8911740-244390.pdf">for example</a>, pointed out that ESG information isn't available in the same time frame as the financial information current reports require. But PricewaterhouseCoopers <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12-8905928-244100.pdf">argued</a> that "investors should be provided with an integrated, holistic report including both financial and non-financial information" — so climate disclosures should be included in an annual report. <h2>But what about going beyond climate? </h2>There's more to ESG than just the "E." Martin Whittaker, the CEO of JUST Capital, pointed this out in his <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12-8922517-245118.pdf">statement</a> asking that the SEC create a set of standard metrics "that includes but is not limited to climate-related disclosure." For example, while there's been discussion around diversity, equity, and inclusion, the numbers are still meager. According to Whittaker, just 31 of the 100 largest companies acknowledge having done a race-and-ethnicity-based pay-equity analysis, and just under half of those — 14 companies — have publicized the results. <h2>Making a new norm</h2>In its <a href="https://www.sec.gov/comments/climate-disclosure/cll12-8911753-244396.pdf">comments</a>, Walmart said that the SEC needs to foster a cultural shift of sorts. What needs to emerge is a "GAAP for ESG" — referring to the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gaap.asp">Generally Accepted Accounting Principles</a> that govern how public companies file their financial statements. "The financial reporting field has taken 80 years to mature to where it is today: detailed standards and interpretations informed by experience, a robust body of practice, and processes to assure accuracy and integrity," Kathleen McLaughlin, David Chojnowski, and Gordon Y. Allison, three Walmart executives, argued. "We believe ESG reporting will mature far more quickly but needs to follow a similar path."

6 takeaways from the massive debate about the SEC's proposed new climate rule

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financing-a-sustainable-future-2022"></a><div type="image" title="pepsico" height="3666" width="4888" msid="92529698" hostid="261" sizebytes="2254190"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>For years, PepsiCo has been a leader in the ESG space.</li><li>The company has aggressive <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> goals over the next decade.</li><li>Here's how the company is planning to bolster sustainability internally, and throughout the industry.</li></ul>PepsiCo — the parent company of iconic <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-brands/creating-smiles/our-products">brands</a> like Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade, and Quaker Old Fashioned Oats — has been committed to environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, initiatives for several years. In 2021, the consumer packaged goods company expanded that commitment with the debut of <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/who-we-are/our-commitments/pepsico-positive">PepsiCo Positive</a>, a strategic sustainability and governance plan focusing on three pillars: agriculture, value chain, and choices. "It's a strategic end-to-end transformation with sustainability and human capital at the center," Anna Palazij, PepsiCo's vice president of ESG reporting and strategic investments, told Insider. "What we're trying to do is transform the way we source our products in a more sustainable way, how we manufacture our products, and how we bring them to consumers." PepsiCo has been a leader in the ESG space. The company recently ranked second on the 2022 list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, and it's made the list <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-stories/story/pepsico-named-to-100-best-corporate-citizens-list">every year since 2009</a>. Palazij said PepsiCo Positive aims to drive growth internally and throughout the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Expanding its ESG commitment comes as investors, suppliers, stakeholders, and customers are asking for more commitments on sustainability. The CPG industry is also feeling strained through <a href="https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/climate-change-and-the-future-of-food/#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20climate%20change%20is,to%2030%20percent%20by%202050.">droughts and hotter temperatures</a>. Governance is crucial to all of this because it ensures companies are setting goals, tracking performance, and reporting to stakeholders to ensure accountability. "We knew that now was the time to act, and we felt a responsibility and an opportunity," Palazij said. <div type="image" title="Pepsi Cola King Can on Store Shelf" height="2349" width="3132" msid="92529699" hostid="261" sizebytes="758580"></div>PepsiCo Positive is a standalone ESG program to help the company grow and become more resilient for the future. It's embedded into the company's overall financial framework, Palazij said. PepsiCo issued a <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/esg-topics-a-z/green-bond">$1 billion green bond</a> in 2019 to produce a more sustainable food system by focusing on better packaging, decarbonization of operations and supply chain, and water sustainability. At the end of 2020, PepsiCo had distributed $858 million of the bond, which had helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use and improve energy efficiency. Here's a look at how PepsiCo is transforming its business operations to produce products more sustainably. <h2>Sustainability and governance are interconnected</h2><a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/esg-topics-a-z/corporate-governance">Governance</a> is intertwined with PepsiCo's ESG goal-setting and progress reporting.PepsiCo aligns its sustainability efforts with the <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action/case-studies/pepsico">Science-Based Targets initiative</a>, which ensures it's meeting ambitious goals that follow the latest climate science. For example, the company plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 — meaning the greenhouse gas emissions produced are balanced with emission reductions — and be net water positive by 2030, in which the company will replenish more water than it uses. In 2020, PepsiCo <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/sustainability/sustainability-report">achieved 100% renewable electricity in its US operations</a>, which is the company's largest market, and plans to expand that to 15 countries by the end of 2021. Progress on sustainability is reviewed by the Executive Council, which comprises members of the executive leadership team. "Our governance starts at the top of PepsiCo," Palazij said, adding that executive compensation is tied to sustainability performance and progress. PepsiCo regularly shares progress on ESG initiatives with stakeholders, including investors and consumers. The company provides updates on its website, where it lists <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/esg-topics-a-z">details for more than 50 ESG topics</a>, including environmental impact, people, product and nutrition, and ethics and governance."We continue to look at what's needed to be transparent and tell our story, but in an authentic and transparent way, and we align our reporting to that," Palazij said.<h2>Supporting people and communities is central to the value chain commitment </h2>Creating a safe and equitable environment for employees, the communities it reaches, and everyone involved in its supply chain is a key part of PepsiCo's initiatives. "People are such an important part of PepsiCo and sustainability as a whole, and ultimately our PepsiCo Positive agenda looks at how we drive better outcomes for people and the planet," Palazij said. And that spans the full value chain from the farmers who grow the crops to the consumers who enjoy them. <div type="image" title="Anna Palazij is PepsiCo's vice president of ESG reporting and strategic investments." height="1026" width="1365" msid="92529700" hostid="261" sizebytes="39754"></div>PepsiCo plans to <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/esg-topics-a-z/agriculture">expand regenerative farming</a> across 7 million acres and so far has rolled out regenerative farming on 345,000 acres. The company, Palazij said, is committed to improving the livelihood of the 250,000 people in its agriculture supply chain through partnerships with the <a href="https://nationalblackgrowerscouncil.com/">National Black Growers Council</a> and the <a href="https://www.usaid.gov/">US Agency for International Development</a>. PepsiCo plans to sustainably source 100% of ingredients, like oats and potatoes — a goal it's already achieved in some countries. The company also hopes to provide <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/esg-topics-a-z/water">safe water access</a> to 100 million people by 2030, and Palazij said the company now delivers water to 68 million people globally. Building <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/esg-topics-a-z/diversity-equity-and-inclusion">diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplaces</a> across the company is part of its commitment to people. In 2020, PepsiCo launched the <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/diversity/racial-equality-journey/racial-equality-journey-hispanic-initiative">Racial Equity Journey</a> with plans to invest $570 million in the next five years to support Black and Hispanic businesses and communities. PepsiCo also pledged $100 million through 2025 to support opportunities for women in the workforce. <h2>Driving ESG innovation to improve the packaged goods industry </h2>PepsiCo's <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/who-we-are/awards">recognition for its ESG initiatives</a> helps validate the value of the company's work and shows that it's resonating with stakeholders and others in the industry, Palazij said. The company seeks to drive innovation in sustainability through its <a href="https://labs.pepsico.com/">PepsiCo Labs</a> program, which works with venture capital to identify new technology to help accelerate its sustainability agenda. PepsiCo champions innovation from competitors, which ultimately improves the CPG sector as a whole. "Consumers consume our products <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/who-we-are/about-pepsico">more than a billion times a day</a>, so we have a unique opportunity from a size and scale standpoint to transform," Palazij said. "We think that is both an obligation and an opportunity to change the way business is done. It goes beyond the competition with others because we want everyone engaged in this collaboration."

PepsiCo's world-class ESG agenda is centered on supporting people, communities, and the entire packaged goods industry

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financing-a-sustainable-future-2022"></a><div type="image" title="Alberto Carrillo Pineda is SBTi’s cofounder and chief technical officer." height="2092" width="2790" msid="92443005" hostid="261" sizebytes="504570"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Science Based Targets Initiative, or SBTi, helps large companies identify <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> targets.</li><li>SBTi's cofounder said organizations are signing on due to growing expectations from investors.</li><li>Here's how SBTi is helping companies set science-based greenhouse-gas emission-reduction targets.</li></ul>Achieving sustainability doesn't happen overnight. It requires setting the right targets — clear short- and long-term goals for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions across all stages of a business. <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/">Science Based Targets initiative</a>, or SBTi, is a nonprofit that works with some of the world's largest companies — from <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action/case-studies/net-zero-case-study-astrazeneca">AstraZeneca and </a><a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action/case-studies/sony">Sony to </a><a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action/case-studies/procter-gamble">Procter &amp; Gamble</a> — to identify and hit those targets. SBTi boasts being the first framework for helping corporations set net-zero targets based on the latest climate science and the <a href="https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement">2015 Paris Agreement</a>, a treaty on climate change. Since its founding in 2015, companies with approved targets have seen 29% reductions. The scale is growing, too, with partner companies representing 35% of global market capitalization. Alberto Carrillo Pineda, SBTi's cofounder and chief technical officer, said more organizations are interested in the company's services due to growing expectations from investors and regulators that companies address emissions and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors across their supply chains.In 2019, the UK passed a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-becomes-first-major-economy-to-pass-net-zero-emissions-law">law to achieve net-zero emissions</a> by 2050. This March, the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-46">US Securities and Exchange Commission issued a proposed rule</a> that would require registrants to include climate-related disclosures in reports. SBTi is a key vendor in the sustainability revolution, enabling companies to demonstrate to investors and other stakeholders that they're working toward emission reductions, filling in the gaps left by standard ESG disclosures. "More and more investors are looking at the climate targets of companies in their portfolios, and they're engaging with companies that don't have targets in place yet to incentivize them to set targets," Pineda told Insider. Here's a look at how the process to set science-based targets works and how businesses benefit. <h2>Offering industry-specific technical assistance helps companies set realistic emissions targets</h2>Setting climate-based targets alone can be difficult for businesses because many don't know where to start, Pineda said. That's where SBTi can help. SBTi works with companies by offering clear industry-specific guidance on how to set emissions goals to achieve net-zero. The organization provides worksheets, how-to guides, and online tools, then evaluates a business' targets based on the latest climate science, Pineda said. "The transition to a net-zero economy requires a transformation of every aspect of the economy — transportation, energy production, the food system, the industrial system, and the land-use system," he said, adding that the path to achieving net-zero often varies by industry. Pineda said SBTi helps "translate" the transition to net-zero based on the specifics of a company or sector, such as using carbon credits and guidelines for different types of passenger, freight, and commercial vehicles in the <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/sectors/transport">transportation sector</a>, so they can set more realistic targets. Companies in the <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/sectors/oil-and-gas#what-is-the-sb-tis-policy-on-fossil-fuel-companies">oil and gas sector</a> aren't yet able to set targets with SBTi, but the organization is developing guidance for that industry. SBTi <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/about-us/funders">receives funding</a> from companies across industries, governments, and foundations. In November, the organization<a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/news/sbti-secures-37m-usd-to-scale-up-exponential-growth"> raised $37 million</a> from Bezos Earth Fund, IKEA Foundation, and Laudes Foundation to help support its growth.<h2>SBTi helps hold companies accountable for sustainability goals</h2>SBTi charges companies $9,500 to set and validate their targets, which starts with organizations registering <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfib_cuqxfiixppglIOCIG-N6Hxq-FUQzJRUVOrobFD-lkPYA/viewform">on the SBTi website</a> and submitting a <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/files/SBT-Commitment-Letter.pdf">commitment letter</a>. Companies have 24 months to set and submit targets, which Pineda said may involve collecting data or conducting energy modeling. SBTi provides <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/legacy/2019/03/SBTi-criteria.pdf">recommendations</a> and <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/sectors">industry-specific guidance</a> to assist organizations in developing targets. After a company submits its targets, SBTi analyzes them to ensure they cover most direct and indirect emission sources, that the target is ambitious — companies are required to pledge to reduce their emissions by at least 4.2% a year — and whether a company is setting short-term emission-reduction targets or long-term net-zero targets. Pineda said SBTi requires companies to have short-term goals for approval so that they're driving action to reach net-zero.Once SBTi approves a target, it publishes a <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action/">list of companies taking action</a> on its website and encourages organizations to share details about their targets with stakeholders. SBTi expects companies to report progress every year and recalculate targets every five years to ensure they remain valid and align with the latest science, Pineda said. SBTi had approved nearly 1,100 targets by the end of 2021 and saw over 1,100 commitments.The organization is working on a new <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/measurement-reporting-and-verification-mrv">measurement, reporting, and verification</a> (MRV) system, which will launch in 2023, to standardize how companies report progress on targets, which Pineda said will increase transparency and accountability. <h2>Setting targets boosts a company's credibility with investors </h2>The benefits for companies that set emission-reduction and net-zero targets include increased profits, improved investor confidence, heightened innovation, decreased regulatory uncertainty, and stronger brand reputation, according to SBTi. For example, setting science-based targets led <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action/case-studies/sony">Sony to develop a new type of plastic</a> made of 99% recycled materials that saves 80% carbon emissions when the company manufactures it. More than a third of companies say setting targets is <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/blog/six-business-benefits-of-setting-science-based-targets">helping their business become more resilient </a>to future regulations. Working with SBTi brings a sense of credibility to these goals, Pineda said, and it helps companies communicate their sustainability initiatives and the progress they're making. It also helps fill in gaps for investors and financial institutions seeking information about a company's ESG disclosures. "More transparency on environmental and climate action makes it easier for investors to understand if companies are transitioning to net-zero or not," he said.

How to design sustainability targets the right way, according to a nonprofit working with Sony and Procter & Gamble

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financing-a-sustainable-future-2022"></a><div type="image" title="Ana Carolina Oliveira, head of sustainable finance at ING" height="1800" width="2400" msid="90804570" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Companies and countries are turning to green bonds to finance projects and lower carbon emissions. </li><li>The increasingly popular debt product is poised to grow as the SEC demands greater transparency.</li></ul>The sale of green bonds — a form of debt that funds renewable-energy projects like wind or solar farms, for example — entered another stratosphere in 2021.Globally, green bonds raised a record $479 billion in proceeds last year, well ahead of the $245 billion sold in 2020, according to Refinitiv data. And bankers expect the asset class to continue smashing records as companies seek to lower their emissions."They are here to stay," said Anne van Riel, BNP Paribas' head of <keyword id="13301622" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sustainable-finance" source="Orion">sustainable finance</keyword> capital markets for the Americas. "In the last two years we've seen a lot of interest in the S in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-companies-consider-governance-setting-esg-goals-2022-3">ESG</a>, but now the E is the focus of discussion."Countries such as India and Qatar are weighing their first-ever green bonds, while big companies like Apple have made them a part of annual capital-raising plans.Investors, too, are demanding more green, as they want exposure to companies charting a path toward a zero-carbon economy.These fund managers got some extra support from the Securities and Exchange Commission last month. The markets regulator drafted <a href="https://www.sec.gov/news/statement/gensler-climate-disclosure-20220321">a proposal</a> to ask public companies to divulge more information about their climate risks. It would force companies to provide more information, and greater transparency, to investors weighing a multitude of green financing.<h2>Preparing for green bonds</h2>But getting a company ready for a green bond takes time. It must have projects that are considered green — like renewable-power plants — and often companies must appoint third-party observers to certify their projects as green.Banks, too, must help companies establish a green-bond framework that outlines which projects are eligible for green proceeds and comply with principles outlined by entities like the International Capital Market Association or the Climate Bonds Initiative.It seems cumbersome, but it can put a company in a good position as big investors from BlackRock to Vanguard look to park their money with companies putting their best foot forward to mitigate climate risk.For example, the Portuguese utility Energias de Portugal raised a 1.25 billion-euro green bond in March to finance projects owned by its renewable-energy unit EDP Renováveis. Ana Carolina Oliveira, the head of sustainable finance at ING, told Insider that the demand for the bond was so great that at one point EDP obtained more than 4 billion euros in orders from investors.In circumstances like this, borrowers can leverage that investor demand to extract a cheaper interest rate on their green bond, which can make all the extra work worthwhile.<div type="image" title="Headshot of Anne van Riel, BNP Paribas' head of sustainable finance capital markets for the Americas" height="1800" width="2400" msid="90804571" hostid="261"></div>EDP was also prepared. It appointed Sustainalytics, which rates companies' ESG performance, to conduct an outside-party opinion on its renewables projects, and it picked ING to help compile EDP's green-bond framework."Companies that want to issue green bonds need to be ready, because there will be plenty of opportunities," Oliveira said. "You just need to have your framework and third-party opinions ready."More and more companies are getting ready. Refinitiv data indicates green-bond sales grew to $479 billion last year from $37 billion in 2015. And bankers say borrowers are saving 0.05% to 0.1% in interest payments if they go green."The demand for green bonds still outstrips the supply available, but hopefully not for much longer," Oliveira said. We're starting to see a more diverse group of sectors issuing these bonds and investors want to invest in companies that are fundamentally committed to change."

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