5月26日對(duì)我們的地球家園來(lái)說(shuō)是利好的一天。面對(duì)股東在氣候方面的施壓,以及一家荷蘭法院做出的對(duì)大型石油公司不利的判決,三家全球最大的石油天然氣公司被迫采取根本性的改革措施,以減少其碳排放。
由于具有環(huán)保意識(shí)的投資者持續(xù)推動(dòng)減排,5月26日,埃克森美孚和雪佛龍?jiān)獾焦蓶|“反水”,與此同時(shí),一家荷蘭法院要求荷蘭皇家殼牌公司加快大幅削減其碳排放。
大型石油公司似乎不能繼續(xù)在氣候方面無(wú)所作為,而且注重環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理的投資者無(wú)論數(shù)量還是實(shí)力都在增長(zhǎng),因此這些公司將面臨越來(lái)越大的壓力。
彭博行業(yè)研究的分析認(rèn)為,按照目前的速度,全球環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理資產(chǎn)的規(guī)模到2025年有望超過(guò)53萬(wàn)億美元,在140.5萬(wàn)億美元管理資產(chǎn)中的占比將超過(guò)三分之一。
因此,5月26日預(yù)示著我們將迎來(lái)更清潔的未來(lái)。
5月26日發(fā)生了什么?
在兩場(chǎng)表決中,支持可持續(xù)發(fā)展的比例都超過(guò)了支持追逐利潤(rùn)的比例。在雪佛龍,有61%的股東支持減少因使用公司產(chǎn)品所產(chǎn)生的排放。與此同時(shí),在其主要競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手??松梨冢患倚⌒突钴S型對(duì)沖基金Engine No. 1取得了兩個(gè)董事席位。該基金在埃克森美孚持有的股份價(jià)值5,000萬(wàn)美元,而埃克森美孚的市值高達(dá)2,500億美元。Engine No. 1表示,它有能力推動(dòng)??松梨谙蚋沙掷m(xù)的發(fā)展方向轉(zhuǎn)型。
??松梨诤脱┓瘕埖谋頉Q為石油天然氣行業(yè)具有歷史意義的投資者維權(quán)主義代理季劃上了句號(hào)。在這個(gè)代理季初期,在康菲石油和Phillips 66,有三項(xiàng)與氣候有關(guān)的提案獲得了多數(shù)票支持。
Boston Trust Walden公司的環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理股東參與(ESG Shareowner Engagement)的負(fù)責(zé)人蒂姆?史密斯稱(chēng),??松梨诘墓蓶|立場(chǎng)轉(zhuǎn)變是投資者主導(dǎo)的“氣候反抗”。
他告訴《財(cái)富》雜志:“在??松梨谀甓裙蓶|大會(huì)上的表決是前所未有的,具有歷史意義。投資者竟然有機(jī)會(huì)根據(jù)環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理標(biāo)準(zhǔn)選舉新董事會(huì)成員并罷免現(xiàn)任董事會(huì)成員,以前從未發(fā)生過(guò)這樣的情況?!?/p>
而在大洋彼岸,一家荷蘭法院在一起標(biāo)志性的氣候相關(guān)案件中,判決殼牌必須大幅減少溫室氣體排放,這可能從法律上促使大型石油天然氣公司對(duì)其碳排放負(fù)起責(zé)任。
哇!
雖然石油天然氣公司反對(duì)這些最新舉措,聲稱(chēng)公司的未來(lái)業(yè)務(wù)、收入和現(xiàn)金流可能會(huì)受到影響,但民意卻站在了它們的對(duì)立面。
全球最大的投資者參與行動(dòng)組織Climate Action 100+的董事長(zhǎng)安妮?辛普森在一份聲明中稱(chēng):“氣候風(fēng)險(xiǎn)是一種金融風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。作為受托人,我們必須確保董事會(huì)不僅是獨(dú)立和多元的,并且具備氣候治理能力?!?/p>
明日世界
環(huán)境責(zé)任經(jīng)濟(jì)聯(lián)盟的石油天然氣業(yè)務(wù)高級(jí)總監(jiān)安德魯?洛根在一份報(bào)告中說(shuō):“這場(chǎng)投資者發(fā)起的行動(dòng)是前所未有的,迫使所有公司都認(rèn)識(shí)到董事會(huì)成員可能會(huì)因?yàn)楣驹跉夂蛏系牟蛔鳛樵獾搅T免?!?/p>
“埃克森美孚和雪佛龍的權(quán)力中心已經(jīng)真正轉(zhuǎn)移,而且面對(duì)氣候危機(jī),石油天然氣公司對(duì)外界要求其有所作為的壓力不能繼續(xù)視而不見(jiàn),否則他們要付出沉重代價(jià)。”洛根補(bǔ)充道。
劍橋大學(xué)的可持續(xù)發(fā)展法律專(zhuān)家馬庫(kù)斯?格林告訴《財(cái)富》雜志,法院的判決證明,《巴黎協(xié)定》已經(jīng)對(duì)國(guó)內(nèi)法的法律解讀產(chǎn)生了直接影響?!栋屠鑵f(xié)定》提出,世界各國(guó)應(yīng)承諾“努力將全球平均氣溫上升幅度,限制在工業(yè)化前平均溫度的1.5攝氏度”。
但未來(lái)仍然有漫長(zhǎng)的路要走,而且荷蘭法院的積極立場(chǎng)是否會(huì)成為主流仍然有待觀察。瑞銀集團(tuán)的分析師在一篇研究報(bào)告中指出:“到目前為止,美國(guó)各州地方法院的判決是這個(gè)問(wèn)題不屬于其管轄范圍?!眻?bào)告中還表示,在美國(guó)這個(gè)全球最大經(jīng)濟(jì)體,氣候問(wèn)題可能被認(rèn)為是聯(lián)邦法院或者政府政策需要解決的問(wèn)題。
在此之前,國(guó)際能源署發(fā)布過(guò)一份激進(jìn)的報(bào)告,報(bào)告中提出,為了加快減少二氧化碳排放,以保證在2050年之前實(shí)現(xiàn)凈零排放,今年必須停止新石油天然氣開(kāi)采項(xiàng)目。
世界氣象組織最新發(fā)布的氣候情況通報(bào)稱(chēng):“未來(lái)五年,至少有一年全球平均氣溫臨時(shí)比工業(yè)化前的水平高出1.5攝氏度的概率約為40%,而且隨著時(shí)間推移,這個(gè)概率會(huì)提高?!?/p>
清算的時(shí)刻終于來(lái)臨。隨著各國(guó)政府和人民開(kāi)始在應(yīng)對(duì)氣候變化方面發(fā)揮作用,大企業(yè)逃避責(zé)任的日子一去不返了。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
5月26日對(duì)我們的地球家園來(lái)說(shuō)是利好的一天。面對(duì)股東在氣候方面的施壓,以及一家荷蘭法院做出的對(duì)大型石油公司不利的判決,三家全球最大的石油天然氣公司被迫采取根本性的改革措施,以減少其碳排放。
由于具有環(huán)保意識(shí)的投資者持續(xù)推動(dòng)減排,5月26日,??松梨诤脱┓瘕?jiān)獾焦蓶|“反水”,與此同時(shí),一家荷蘭法院要求荷蘭皇家殼牌公司加快大幅削減其碳排放。
大型石油公司似乎不能繼續(xù)在氣候方面無(wú)所作為,而且注重環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理的投資者無(wú)論數(shù)量還是實(shí)力都在增長(zhǎng),因此這些公司將面臨越來(lái)越大的壓力。
彭博行業(yè)研究的分析認(rèn)為,按照目前的速度,全球環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理資產(chǎn)的規(guī)模到2025年有望超過(guò)53萬(wàn)億美元,在140.5萬(wàn)億美元管理資產(chǎn)中的占比將超過(guò)三分之一。
因此,5月26日預(yù)示著我們將迎來(lái)更清潔的未來(lái)。
5月26日發(fā)生了什么?
在兩場(chǎng)表決中,支持可持續(xù)發(fā)展的比例都超過(guò)了支持追逐利潤(rùn)的比例。在雪佛龍,有61%的股東支持減少因使用公司產(chǎn)品所產(chǎn)生的排放。與此同時(shí),在其主要競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手埃克森美孚,一家小型活躍型對(duì)沖基金Engine No. 1取得了兩個(gè)董事席位。該基金在??松梨诔钟械墓煞輧r(jià)值5,000萬(wàn)美元,而??松梨诘氖兄蹈哌_(dá)2,500億美元。Engine No. 1表示,它有能力推動(dòng)埃克森美孚向更可持續(xù)的發(fā)展方向轉(zhuǎn)型。
??松梨诤脱┓瘕埖谋頉Q為石油天然氣行業(yè)具有歷史意義的投資者維權(quán)主義代理季劃上了句號(hào)。在這個(gè)代理季初期,在康菲石油和Phillips 66,有三項(xiàng)與氣候有關(guān)的提案獲得了多數(shù)票支持。
Boston Trust Walden公司的環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理股東參與(ESG Shareowner Engagement)的負(fù)責(zé)人蒂姆?史密斯稱(chēng),??松梨诘墓蓶|立場(chǎng)轉(zhuǎn)變是投資者主導(dǎo)的“氣候反抗”。
他告訴《財(cái)富》雜志:“在??松梨谀甓裙蓶|大會(huì)上的表決是前所未有的,具有歷史意義。投資者竟然有機(jī)會(huì)根據(jù)環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理標(biāo)準(zhǔn)選舉新董事會(huì)成員并罷免現(xiàn)任董事會(huì)成員,以前從未發(fā)生過(guò)這樣的情況?!?/p>
而在大洋彼岸,一家荷蘭法院在一起標(biāo)志性的氣候相關(guān)案件中,判決殼牌必須大幅減少溫室氣體排放,這可能從法律上促使大型石油天然氣公司對(duì)其碳排放負(fù)起責(zé)任。
哇!
雖然石油天然氣公司反對(duì)這些最新舉措,聲稱(chēng)公司的未來(lái)業(yè)務(wù)、收入和現(xiàn)金流可能會(huì)受到影響,但民意卻站在了它們的對(duì)立面。
全球最大的投資者參與行動(dòng)組織Climate Action 100+的董事長(zhǎng)安妮?辛普森在一份聲明中稱(chēng):“氣候風(fēng)險(xiǎn)是一種金融風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。作為受托人,我們必須確保董事會(huì)不僅是獨(dú)立和多元的,并且具備氣候治理能力?!?/p>
明日世界
環(huán)境責(zé)任經(jīng)濟(jì)聯(lián)盟的石油天然氣業(yè)務(wù)高級(jí)總監(jiān)安德魯?洛根在一份報(bào)告中說(shuō):“這場(chǎng)投資者發(fā)起的行動(dòng)是前所未有的,迫使所有公司都認(rèn)識(shí)到董事會(huì)成員可能會(huì)因?yàn)楣驹跉夂蛏系牟蛔鳛樵獾搅T免?!?/p>
“??松梨诤脱┓瘕埖臋?quán)力中心已經(jīng)真正轉(zhuǎn)移,而且面對(duì)氣候危機(jī),石油天然氣公司對(duì)外界要求其有所作為的壓力不能繼續(xù)視而不見(jiàn),否則他們要付出沉重代價(jià)?!甭甯a(bǔ)充道。
劍橋大學(xué)的可持續(xù)發(fā)展法律專(zhuān)家馬庫(kù)斯?格林告訴《財(cái)富》雜志,法院的判決證明,《巴黎協(xié)定》已經(jīng)對(duì)國(guó)內(nèi)法的法律解讀產(chǎn)生了直接影響。《巴黎協(xié)定》提出,世界各國(guó)應(yīng)承諾“努力將全球平均氣溫上升幅度,限制在工業(yè)化前平均溫度的1.5攝氏度”。
但未來(lái)仍然有漫長(zhǎng)的路要走,而且荷蘭法院的積極立場(chǎng)是否會(huì)成為主流仍然有待觀察。瑞銀集團(tuán)的分析師在一篇研究報(bào)告中指出:“到目前為止,美國(guó)各州地方法院的判決是這個(gè)問(wèn)題不屬于其管轄范圍?!眻?bào)告中還表示,在美國(guó)這個(gè)全球最大經(jīng)濟(jì)體,氣候問(wèn)題可能被認(rèn)為是聯(lián)邦法院或者政府政策需要解決的問(wèn)題。
在此之前,國(guó)際能源署發(fā)布過(guò)一份激進(jìn)的報(bào)告,報(bào)告中提出,為了加快減少二氧化碳排放,以保證在2050年之前實(shí)現(xiàn)凈零排放,今年必須停止新石油天然氣開(kāi)采項(xiàng)目。
世界氣象組織最新發(fā)布的氣候情況通報(bào)稱(chēng):“未來(lái)五年,至少有一年全球平均氣溫臨時(shí)比工業(yè)化前的水平高出1.5攝氏度的概率約為40%,而且隨著時(shí)間推移,這個(gè)概率會(huì)提高?!?/p>
清算的時(shí)刻終于來(lái)臨。隨著各國(guó)政府和人民開(kāi)始在應(yīng)對(duì)氣候變化方面發(fā)揮作用,大企業(yè)逃避責(zé)任的日子一去不返了。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
May 26 was a good day for the planet. Three of the largest oil and gas companies were forced to make radical changes to curb their carbon emissions as the climate emergency pushed shareholders and a Dutch court to turn their backs on Big Oil.
On May 26, both Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp suffered shareholder rebellions from environmentally-minded investors pushing for lower emissions, while a Dutch court ordered Royal Dutch Shell plc to slash its emissions at a faster pace.
Climate inaction no longer seems like an option and with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investors growing in strength and number, the pressure will likely grow.
At the current pace, global ESG assets are on track to exceed $53 trillion by 2025, over a third of the $140.5 trillion total assets under management, according analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence.
And that makes May 26 a harbinger for a cleaner future.
May 26's news
In two votes that chose sustainability over profit, Chevron shareholders voted 61% in favor of a proposal to cut emissions generated by the use of their company's products. Meanwhile, its closest rival ExxonMobil lost two director seats to Engine No. 1, a tiny activist hedge fund, which holds a $50 million stake in the $250 billion company. Engine No.1 says it's capable of pushing the company in a more sustainable direction.
The votes at ExxonMobil and Chevron cap a historic proxy season for investor activism within the oil and gas industry. Earlier in the season, three climate-related proposals received majority votes at ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66.
Tim Smith, Director of ESG Shareowner Engagement at Boston Trust Walden, called the ExxonMobil shareholder swing, an investor led "climate revolt."
"The votes at the Exxonmobil annual meeting are both historic and unprecedented. There has never been a previous occasion where investors voted to install new board members and unseat incumbents based on ESG criteria," he told Fortune.
Meanwhile across the ocean, a Dutch court ordered Shell to dramatically cut its greenhouse gas emissions in a landmark climate case that could make oil and gas majors responsible for their carbon pollution by law.
Whoa.
While the companies themselves are pushing back against these new measures, citing potential effects on their future operations, earnings and cashflows, popular opinion is moving in the other direction.
Anne Simpson, chair of the world’s largest investor engagement initiative Climate Action 100+, said in a statement: “Climate change is a financial risk and as fiduciaries, we need to ensure that boards are not just independent and diverse, but climate competent.”
Tomorrow's world
“This is an unprecedented action by investors, putting all companies on notice that climate inaction can cost a board member their job," Andrew Logan, Senior Director of Oil and Gas at Ceres, said in a statement.
“The center of power at ExxonMobil and Chevron has truly shifted, and oil and gas companies can no longer afford to ignore outside pressure to act on the climate crisis,” he added.
Markus Gehring, an expert in sustainable development law at the University of Cambridge, told Fortune the ruling shows that the Paris Agreement, set out to stop the global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celcius above pre-industrial levels, has directly influenced the legal interpretation of domestic law.
But there is long way to go yet and it remains to be seen if the activist stance of the Dutch court will catch on. "U.S. state courts have so far ruled that it is not in their jurisdiction," analysts at UBS said in a research note, adding that in the world's biggest economy, climate concerns may be seen as a matter for the Federal courts or government policy.
The recent upheaval comes after a radical report was published by the International Energy Agency saying that new oil and gas exploration projects must end this year in order to bring down CO2 emissions fast enough to reach net zero by 2050.
And today, a new climate update issued by the World Meterological Organization said “there is about a 40% chance of the annual average global temperature temporarily reaching 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level in at least one of the next five years – and these odds are increasing with time.”
It is a time of reckoning. As governments and people begin to play their part to curb climate change, it looks like big corporations are finally having to get on board too.