Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions: Changing investor attitudes

PAID CONTENT

When it comes to addressing climate change, companies are seeing increasing demand for action from their shareholders. The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance reports that in the United States, average investor support for environmental shareholder resolutions rose to 41% in the first half of 2021, up from 32% in 2020.¹ Support for environmental resolutions may remain a minority position, but it is one that looks to be rapidly growing.

One way for asset managers to approach the climate change risks and opportunities faced by their investee companies is through thoughtful proxy voting on climate-related shareholder proposals. Historically, RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) has generally seen climate-related shareholder proposals requesting that companies report on their sustainability initiatives. Although we continue to see these shareholder proposals, we have also seen proposals asking that companies consider climate change more holistically throughout the company’s overall strategy.

RBC GAM supports the principles of the Paris Agreement and the international goal of holding global warming to “well below 2°C.”²  Scientists agree that in order to meet this goal, GHG emissions must decline by at least 7.6% annually between 2020 and 2050, and achieve net-zero by mid-century.³  RBC GAM also recognizes and supports the need to achieve a just transition to a low-carbon economy that boosts economic prosperity while simultaneously safeguarding equality. Getting there will require substantial commitments from the private sector.

Investors have continued to request that companies enhance their disclosure and policies on climate change-related risks and opportunities. Over the past year, we saw a rise in government and corporate commitments to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets. Consistent with this trend, this proxy voting season, we saw a number of shareholder proposals requesting companies specifically adopt net-zero GHG emission targets or report on how their current policies align with a net-zero ambition.

Many companies already have plans, or are actively developing plans, to reduce their GHG emissions. However, in cases where a company may be lagging in this area, one way for shareholders to direct attention to this topic is through a shareholder proposal. This year we saw Imperial Oil – a large oil and gas producer in Canada – receive a Climate Action 100+ flagged shareholder proposal requesting that the company adopt a company-wide goal to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by or before 2050. Although the company has a short-term target to reduce its GHG emissions by 2023, it was falling behind peers on adopting long-term targets. In addition, with Canada’s commitment to having net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, there was increased regulatory risk that the company might not be ready to adapt in the event of new regulation for the energy sector. RBC GAM generally supports shareholder proposals requesting that companies adopt or implement initiatives to reduce GHG emissions where the company has not already made commitments, and was supportive of this shareholder proposal.

As investee companies create their strategic plans to reduce GHG emissions, it can be challenging for investors to determine which companies’ plans are feasible and how they are progressing on their stated goals. This is why Climate Action 100+ created a list of disclosure assessment indicators to gauge how focus companies compare against this benchmark. The indicators include ten key assessments, which include whether the companies have set net-zero carbon emissions targets by 2050, and whether they report in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).⁴ This season, we saw a number of Climate Action 100+ focus companies receive shareholder proposals requesting disclosure on meeting the criteria of the net-zero GHG emissions indicator.⁵

For example, the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturer, Caterpillar, received such a shareholder proposal. The company made significant progress on reducing its GHG emissions through 2019 but did not have a GHG reduction target past 2020. Further, it was concluded that, as of January 2021, the company did not meet any of the Climate Action 100+ net-zero benchmark indicators. RBC GAM generally supports shareholder proposals requesting enhanced disclosure on climate-related risks and opportunities, and therefore felt that a supporting vote for this shareholder proposal was warranted.

For more information on our climate change initiatives, please refer to Our approach to climate change or read the full 2021 CGRI Semi-Annual Report.

---

¹ Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, 2021 Proxy Season Review: Shareholder Proposals on Environmental Matters, August 11, 2021. https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2021/08/11/2021-proxy-season-review-shareholder-proposals-on-environmental-matters/ ² The Paris Agreement, United Nations Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement ³ The Emissions Gap Report, United Nations Environment Programme, November 26, 2019. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/30797/EGR2019.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y ⁴ Climate Action 100+, “Net-Zero Company Benchmark”, 2021. https://www.climateaction100.org/progress/net-zero-company-benchmark/ ⁵ Climate Action 100+, “2021 Proxy Season: Climate Action 100+ flagged shareholder resolutions”, 2021.  https://www.climateaction100.org/approach/proxy-season/

This document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) for informational purposes only and may not be reproduced, distributed or published without the written consent of RBC GAM or its affiliated entities listed herein. This document does not constitute an offer or a solicitation to buy or to sell any security, product or service in any jurisdiction; nor is it intended to provide investment, financial, legal, accounting, tax, or other advice and such information should not be relied or acted upon for providing such advice. This document is not available for distribution to investors in jurisdictions where such distribution would be prohibited.

RBC GAM is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) which includes RBC Global Asset Management Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, RBC Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited, and BlueBay Asset Management LLP, which are separate, but affiliated subsidiaries of RBC.

In Canada, this document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (including PH&N Institutional) which is regulated by each provincial and territorial securities commission with which it is registered. In the United States, this document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., a federally registered investment adviser. In Europe this document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In Asia, this document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited, which is registered with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong.

Additional information about RBC GAM may be found at http://www.rbcgam.com.

This document has not been reviewed by, and is not registered with any securities or other regulatory authority, and may, where appropriate and permissible, be distributed by the above-listed entities in their respective jurisdictions.

Any investment and economic outlook information contained in this document has been compiled by RBC GAM from various sources. Information obtained from third parties is believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by RBC GAM, its affiliates or any other person as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. RBC GAM and its affiliates assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

Opinions contained herein reflect the judgment and thought leadership of RBC GAM and are subject to change at any time. Such opinions are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be investment or financial advice and should not be relied or acted upon for providing such advice. RBC GAM does not undertake any obligation or responsibility to update such opinions.

RBC GAM reserves the right at any time and without notice to change, amend or cease publication of this information.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. With all investments there is a risk of loss of all or a portion of the amount invested. Where return estimates are shown, these are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as a prediction of returns; actual returns may be higher or lower than those shown and may vary substantially, especially over shorter time periods. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Some of the statements contained in this document may be considered forward-looking statements which provide current expectations or forecasts of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties. Do not place undue reliance on these statements because actual results or events may differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Before making any investment decisions, we encourage you to consider all relevant factors carefully. ® / TM Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. © RBC Global Asset Management Inc., 2021

 Publication date: September 21, 2021