ESG 國際新聞週報 1/22-1/28

Resource:ESG TODAY

1.EU Lawmakers Approve 2 Year Delay of Sustainability Reporting Standards for Specific Sectors and non-EU Companies
歐洲議會法律事務委員會批准推遲兩年《企業可持續報告指令》（CSRD）的提案


The European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee has voted 21-2 to delay key elements of the Corporate Sustainable Reporting Directive (CSRD) by two years. This includes the adoption of sector-specific sustainability disclosure standards and reporting requirements for non-EU companies operating in the EU. The delay, proposed by the EU Commission as part of its 2024 Work Programme, aims to reduce reporting burdens and give companies time to implement the initial ESRS rules adopted in July 2023. These rules set general sustainability reporting requirements, with sector-specific standards originally due by June 2024. The proposal also allows more time for the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) to develop new standards. MEPs agreed to the postponement but requested the early publication of standards before the new deadline and annual progress consultations with the Commission. The proposal now moves to the Parliament plenary for approval and negotiation with the EU Council.

歐洲議會法律事務委員會以21票對2票批准了推遲《企業可持續報告指令》（CSRD）關鍵部分兩年的提案。這包括針對公司提供特定行業可持續性披露的標準和歐盟境外公司的可持續性報告的採用。這項延期是歐盟委員會作為其2024年工作計劃的一部分提出的，旨在減輕公司的報告負擔，並給予公司時間實施2023年7月通過的首批ESRS規則。這些規則設定了一般的可持續性報告要求，原定於2024年6月前采用特定行業標準。該提案還為歐洲財務報告顧問小組（EFRAG）提供了更多時間來制定新標準。歐洲議會議員同意推遲，但要求在新截止日期前儘早公布標準，並要求與委員會進行至少每年一次的進展諮詢。該提案現在將移交至議會全體會議進行批准和與歐盟理事會的談判。


2.ECB: A “Staggering 90%” of Banks’ Portfolios Misaligned with Climate Transition
歐洲中央銀行（ECB）的研究: 90%的歐洲銀行的貸款組合與全球氣候目標和歐盟2050年氣候中立目標不符

 

A European Central Bank (ECB) study reveals that 90% of European banks have loan portfolios not aligned with global climate goals and the EU's 2050 climate neutrality target. Covering 75% of euro area loans from 95 banks, the study used an 'alignment assessment' to evaluate risks in key carbon-intensive sectors like Power, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Steel, Coal, and Cement. Only 8 banks were found to align with a 2050 net zero pathway, primarily due to slow phase-out of high-carbon production and lagging renewable energy development. The report highlights substantial reputational and litigation risks, with most banks committed to net zero yet failing to align their strategies. Credit risks are less pronounced, though some banks have large misalignment exposures. The study also found significant risks from financing carbon-intensive technologies and insufficient renewable energy funding. ECB's Frank Elderson emphasizes the importance of stable banks in the green transition, urging them to identify and measure decarbonization risks.

歐洲中央銀行（ECB）的研究顯示，90%的歐洲銀行的貸款組合與全球氣候目標和歐盟2050年氣候中立目標不符。該研究涵蓋了來自95家銀行的75%的歐元區貸款，使用了一種“對齊評估”方法來評估像電力、汽車、石油和天然氣、鋼鐵、煤炭和水泥等關鍵碳密集行業的風險。僅有8家銀行被認為與2050年零排放路徑一致，主要原因是高碳生產的緩慢淘汰和可再生能源發展的滯後。報告強調了重大的聲譽和訴訟風險，大多數銀行承諾實現淨零排放，但未能使其戰略與之一致。信用風險較不顯著，儘管一些銀行的錯位風險曝光較大。研究還發現，資助碳密集技術和對可再生能源資金不足導致了顯著風險。歐洲中央銀行的Frank Elderson強調，在綠色轉型過程中穩定的銀行尤為重要，敦促它們識別和衡量脫碳經濟轉型的風險。

3.U.S. Invests Over $100 Million in Projects to Decarbonize Federal Buildings
美國投資1.04億美元對31個聯邦設施進行淨零脫碳目標項目


The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $104 million investment in energy conservation and clean energy projects at 31 Federal facilities, as part of a net zero focus. This funding is the first of three from a $250 million program initiated by the Biden administration to support federal agencies in achieving net zero building projects through the AFFECT program. It follows President Biden's executive order aiming for net zero emissions by 2050, with a specific goal for a net zero government building portfolio by 2045. The projects include building electrification, on-site solar, and heat pump installations. These initiatives are expected to significantly reduce energy and water costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy usage, aligning with the government's aim to lead by example in energy efficiency and climate resilience.

美國能源部宣布對31個聯邦設施的能源節約和清潔能源項目投資1.04億美元，作為實現淨零排放的一部分。這筆資金是拜登政府啟動的2.5億美元計劃中的第一筆，旨在通過AFFECT計劃支持聯邦機構實現淨零建築項目。這隨著拜登總統旨在2050年實現淨零排放的行政命令，其中具體目標是到2045年實現政府建築組合的淨零。這些項目包括建築電氣化、現場太陽能和熱泵安裝。這些舉措預計將顯著降低能源和水成本、溫室氣體排放和能源使用量，符合政府在能源效率和氣候韌性方面以身作則的目標。

4.HSBC Launches Net Zero Transition Plan
滙豐推出其首個淨零轉型計劃
 

HSBC has launched its first Net Zero Transition Plan, detailing strategies to finance and support the transition to net zero and meet its climate goals. The plan follows HSBC's 2050 net zero target, set in 2020, aiming to align financing activities with the Paris Agreement and reduce financed emissions to net zero by 2050. HSBC plans to prioritize financing and investment for low carbon transition, with a $750 billion to $1 trillion finance and investment target by 2030 for customer transition support. The new plan addresses challenges due to HSBC's heavy financed emissions footprint, particularly in high-emission sectors. It includes interim targets, policies to end financing for new oil and gas projects, and plans for sector-specific transitions. HSBC's strategy involves supporting nascent technologies in hard-to-abate sectors, customer engagement, and embedding net zero in business practices, including risk management and executive compensation. The plan also emphasizes collaboration with governments, regulators, and the finance industry to shape supportive standards and policies.

滙豐今天宣布推出其首個淨零轉型計劃，詳細說明了該全球銀行為資助和支持淨零轉型以及實現過去幾年設定的氣候目標的戰略。該計劃是在滙豐2020年設定的2050年淨零目標之後推出的，旨在使其融資活動與巴黎協定的目標保持一致，並將滙豐融資的客戶和項目的碳排放量在2050年或更早之前降低到淨零。滙豐計劃優先考慮有助於低碳轉型的融資和投資，並設定了到2030年為客戶提供7500億至1萬億美元融資和投資的目標，以協助他們轉型。該新計劃針對滙豐在高排放部門的重大融資排放足跡提出了挑戰。它包括了中期目標，結束對新石油和天然氣項目的融資的政策，以及針對特定部門的轉型計劃。滙豐的戰略包括支持難以減排部門的新興技術、客戶參與和將淨零融入業務實踐，包括風險管理和高管薪酬。該計劃還強調與政府、監管機構和金融業合作，以制定支持轉型的標準和政策。

5.H2 Green Steel Raises Over $5 Billion in Financing for New Decarbonized Steel Plant
H2綠色鋼鐵為新減碳鋼鐵廠籌集超過50億美元融資
 

H2 Green Steel, a decarbonized steel startup, announced new funding arrangements totaling €4.75 billion (USD$5.2 billion) for constructing the world's first large-scale green steel plant in Boden, Sweden. This plant aims to produce steel with 95% lower emissions using blast furnace technology. The funding includes €4.2 billion in project debt financing, €300 million in equity, and a €250 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund. Founded in 2020, H2 Green Steel will use hydrogen and 100% renewable electricity to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Production is expected to start in 2025, targeting 5 million tons of nearly fossil-free steel by 2030. The company has already secured half of its initial yearly steel volumes through customer agreements with several major automotive firms. The funding includes €3.5 billion in senior debt, up to €600 million in junior debt, and new shareholders like Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund. The total funding secured is now €6.5 billion, signaling strong support for the project and its potential to inspire decarbonization in other industries.

H2綠色鋼鐵，一家減碳鋼鐵初創公司，宣布了一系列新的融資安排，總計達到47.5億歐元（約52億美元），用於資助在瑞典博登建造世界上第一個大型綠色鋼鐵廠。該廠計劃生產的鋼鐵比傳統高爐技術的排放量低95％。融資包括42億歐元的項目債務融資、3億歐元的股本和歐盟創新基金提供的2.5億歐元補助金。H2綠色鋼鐵成立於2020年，正在開發其位於瑞典博登的旗艦綠色鋼鐵廠，該項目包括作為鋼鐵生產設施一部分的吉咖級綠色氫氣廠。該公司使用綠色電力產生的氫氣來移除氧化鐵中的氧氣，從而大大減少了通常產生的二氧化碳排放，並使用100％可再生能源的電力來滿足製造過程中產生的能源需求。H2綠色鋼鐵計劃於2025年開始生產，目標到2030年生產500萬噸幾乎無化石燃料的鋼鐵。該公司已通過與幾家主要汽車製造商和汽車供應商的協議，確保了其初始年產量250萬噸鋼鐵的一半銷售。新的債務融資包括35億歐元的高級債務和高達6億歐元的次級債務設施。通過股本募集加入的新股東包括微軟氣候創新基金、Mubea和西門子金融服務。總的來說，這些新公告使H2綠色鋼鐵迄今為止確保的融資總額達到65億歐元。