CIBC
Date: 2021-02-26
Following up on our 16 Dec, 2020 coverage, in Toronto, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) reports it has joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), an initiative led by the financial industry to develop a harmonized global standard to measure and disclose the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of loans and investments. Using jointly developed GHG accounting methodologies will help the bank align its targets with the Paris Climate Agreement, according to the bank release.

In 2019, CIBC committed $150 billion in support of environmental and sustainable finance activities by 2027 and has to date achieved 28 pct of this goal. The bank also issued the climate-related disclosure report Building a Sustainable Future aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

In 2020, CIBC issued a $500 million(US), five-year green bond to help finance new and existing green projects, assets, and businesses that mitigate the risks and effects of climate change. These include renewable energy, green buildings, clean transportation, natural resource conservation, biodiversity conservation, energy efficiency, and pollution prevention and control. Also in 2020, CIBC ranked among the top-tier of global banks for climate change action by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

CIBC, which recently became the first Canadian bank to join RMI's Center for Climate-Aligned Finance, has more than 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients and $768.545 billion (Cdn) in total assets. (Source: CIBC, Website News, Feb., 2021) Contact: CIBC, Nima Ranawana, 647-456-4556, nima.ranawana@cibc.com, www.cibc.com; Partnership for Carbon Accounting, www.carbonaccountingfinancials.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CIBC,  Carbon Emissions ,  Partnership for Carbon Accounting,  

Enviva Biomass, Finite Carbon
Date: 2021-02-17
Bethesda, Maryland-headquartered ENVIVA, a leading global renewable energy company specializing in sustainable wood bioenergy, has announced its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its operations by 2030.

This commitment to climate action reinforces ENVIVA's core purpose to displace coal, grow more trees, and fight climate change. It sets forth an ambitious plan for eliminating GHG emissions from its operations in keeping with international climate goals, including the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degree C. To that end, ENVIVA will:

Reduce, eliminate or offset all of its direct emissions. Enviva will immediately work to minimize the emissions from fossil fuels used directly in its operations -- its Scope 1 emissions.

Source 100 pct renewable energy by 2030with an interim target of at least 50 pct by 2025.

Drive innovative improvements in its supply chain and proactively engage with partners and other key stakeholders to adopt clean-energy solutions.

Transparently report progress. Enviva will track and publish its progress in reducing its emissions annually and intends to disclose climate-relevant data and risks through CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) by the end of 2022.

ENVIVA's sustainably sourced wood is used to manufacture wood pellets as a drop-in alternative to fossil fuels. ENVIVA exports its sustainable wood pellets primarily to the U.K., Europe, the Caribbean and Japan, enabling its customers to reduce their carbon emissions by more than 85 pct on a lifecycle basis, helping them reach their greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets with renewable energy, according to the ENVIVA release. (Source: ENVIVA, PR, 17 Feb., 2021) Contact: ENVIVA Partners, LP, (301) 657-5560, www.envivabiomass.com; Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP, Lance Pierce, Pres. North America, (212) 378 2086, info.northamerica@cdp.net, www.cdp.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Disclosure Project,  ENVIVA,  Enviva,  Net-Zero Emissions,  Wood Pellet,  Woody Biomass,  

SSE,Scottish and Southern Electricity
Date: 2021-02-03
In the UK, London-headquartered utility Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution reports it is the first UK Distribution Network Operator to set science-based carbon emissions reduction targets.

Responsible for developing the electricity distribution networks vital to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, SSEN Distribution has signed a commitment letter to set science-based reduction targets for its own operations, which will see the network operator strive to cut emissions further and faster.

A science-based target is a target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions that is set based on the level of reduction that science says is required to prevent the worst impacts of climate change in line with the Paris Agreement -- to limit global warming to well-below 2 degree C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degree C. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wild Fund for Nature. (Source: SSE plc, Website, Jan., 2021) Contact: SSE, Shirley Robertson, ED2 Sustainability Strategy Lead, www.sse.com; Science Based Targets, www.sciencebasedtargets.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Science Based Targets,  Scottish and Southern Electricity ,  SSE,  Net-Zero,  Carbon Emissions,  

CIBC, CDP
Date: 2020-12-16
In Toronto, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) reports receipt of a score of A- from the CDP (fka the Carbon Disclosure Project). Improving from a B rating in 2019, this score demonstrates CIBC's progress in environmental performance and reporting. The score also places CIBC among the highest ranking Canadian financial institutions and the top-tier of global banks. As part of CIBC's commitment to support environmental sustainability initiatives, the bank's actions include:

In 2020, increased its GHG emissions intensity target for operations to 20 pct over eight years (using 2018 as a baseline).

In 2020, issued a USD $500 million, five-year green bond to help finance new and existing green projects, assets, and businesses that mitigate the risks and effects of climate change. These include renewable energy, green buildings, clean transportation, natural resource conservation, biodiversity conservation, energy efficiency, and pollution prevention and control.

In 2019, announced a target of mobilizing $150 billion in environmental and sustainable finance activities by 2027.

In 2019, issued the climate-related disclosure report Building a Sustainable Future aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

In 2019, set new targets to source 100 pct of its electricity from renewable sources and become carbon neutral by 2024.

Toronto-headquartered CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients and $768.545 billion (Cdn) in total assets. (Source: CIBC, PR, 14 Dec., 2020) Contact: CIBC, www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/corporate-responsibility/environment.html; CDP, Lance Pierce, Pres. North America, (212) 378 2086, info.northamerica@cdp.net, www.cdp.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Disclosure Project,  CIBC,  CDP,  Climate Change,  

Boralex
Date: 2020-11-20
Montreal-headquartered Boralex Inc. is reporting an agreement to acquire the full 49 pct equity stake held by the Province of Quebec Pension Fund -- Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) -- in 3 wind farms totaling 296 MW in Quebec, already 51 pct owned by Boralex.

The 3 wind farms, located in the Avignon RCM in Gaspesie and the Appalaches RCM in eastern Quebec, are equipped with Enercon turbines and have long-term PPAs with Hydro-Quebec Distribution, expiring between 2032 and 2033 with a weighted average remaining contract duration of nearly 12.5 years.

As part of the acquisition, Boralex will pay $121.5 million cash to CDPQ on closing, which may be supplemented by a conditional consideration of up to $4 million subject to the settlement of certain future conditions that need to be met. The closing is expected to take place at the end of November 2020, subject to standard closing conditions. With this transaction, Boralex's installed capacity will be 2,212 MW. (Source: Boralex Inc., Website, PR, 19 Nov., 2020) Contact: Boralex, Patrick Lemaire, Pres., CEO, (514) 985-1353, www.boralex.com; CDPQ, 514 847-5493, www.cdpq.com

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O2 Power, Ayana Renewable Power
Date: 2020-09-28
India's O2 Power and Ayana Renewable Power have reportedly emerged as the front-runners to acquire Azure Power Global's 305 MW rooftop solar assets valued at in a potential deal valued at roughly $200 million. The deal is reportedly backed by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ).

O2 Power is a $500-million renewable energy platform with an 800 MW solar portfolio in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, according to the company website. (Source: O2 Power, Mint, 27 Sept., 2020) Contact: Azure Power, Ranjit Gupta, CEO, +91-11-4940-9854, pr@azurepower.com, www.azurepower.com; O2 Power, info@O2power.in, www.O2power.in; Ayana Renewable Power, +9180-48511001, www.ayanapower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News O2 Power,  Ayana,  Azure Power,  Solar,  

Hannon Armstrong,Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials
Date: 2020-09-25
Annapolis, Maryland-headquartered climate change solutions investor Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. reports it has joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), a global industry-led network of more than 70 financial institutions working to establish a common carbon accounting framework. facilitate a consistent and transparent approach to assess and disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with loans and investments in the financial services industry.

Launched in 2019, PCAF will offer a consistent approach to portfolio carbon accounting that provides financial institutions the information required to inform actions and strategy, set climate targets, assess climate transition risks, and disclose progress. This approach feeds into the work of other climate disclosure guidelines and reporting initiatives, such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and CDP, according to the release.

As of December 31, 2019, Hannon Armstrong's investments have avoided 3.2 million metric tpy of CO2e. . The company is the first U.S. public company solely dedicated to investments in climate change solutions, providing capital to leading companies in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable infrastructure markets. With more than $6 billion in managed assets as of June 30, 2020. Hannon Armstrong's core purpose is to make climate-positive investments with superior risk-adjusted returns (Source: Hannon Armstrong, Website, PR, Sept., 2020) Contact: Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials, www.carbonaccountingfinancials.com; Hannon Armstrong, Jeffrey W. Eckel, CEO, . (410) 571-6189, investors@hannonarmstrong.com, www.hannonarmstrong.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hannon Armstrong,  Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials,  Carbon Market,  Carbon Emission,  

KKR,Actis,Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec,Azure Power
Date: 2020-07-07
Private equity investors KKR and London-based Actis are reportedly in talks to acquire a solar portfolio of 435 MW from Canadian province of Quebec's pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) -- backed Azure Power Global Ltd., at an expected cost of roughly $200-250 million.

CDPQ holds a 50.9 pct stake in Azure Power which has a pan-India portfolio of more than 7 GW.

Actis is a global emerging markets investment firm focused on the private equity, energy, infrastructure, and real estate asset classes. It has a growing portfolio of investments across Asia, Africa, and Latin America and US$12 billion in assets under management. (Source: CDPQ, livemint, July, 2020) Contact: KKR, www.kkr.com; Actis. www.actis.is; Azure Power, www.azurepower.com; CDPQ, 514 847-5493, www.cdpq.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec ,  Solar,  Azure Power ,  

Eni SpA ,CDP Equity
Date: 2020-05-19
The European Commission (EC) reports it has given to nod to Rome-headquartered oil and gas company Eni SpA and domestic investment fund CDP Equity SpA for the formation of CircularIT, a waste-to-energy joint venture that would construct municipal waste-water reuse and biofuel plants.

Under the terms, CDP Equity will own 51 pct of the new entity, and Eni Rewind, a subsidiary of the energy company, will hold the remaining 49 pct. (Source: EC, CDP Equity, May, 20200 Contact: CDP Equity, www.en.cdpequity.it; Eni SpA, www.eni.com

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Azure Power
Date: 2019-12-20
New Delhi-based independent Indian solar power producer Azure Power Global Limited is reporting closure of its previously announced $75 million (US) private placement.

The total was raised from Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) through sale of 6,493,506 equity shares at $11.55 per share. CDPQ's equity interest in Azure Power now stands at 49.4 pct. Azure Power has a pan-India portfolio of more than 3 GW. (Source: Azure Power, PV Mag., 17 Dec., 2019) Contact: Azure Power, Ranjit Gupta, CEO, +91-11-4940-9854, pr@azurepower.com, www.azurepower.com

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Cargill
Date: 2019-12-04
Minneapolis-headquartered agriculture industry giant Cargill reports it has adopted a Scope 3 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chains by 30 pct per ton of product by 2030.

To that end, Cargill is focused on targeted supply chain interventions, programming and policy solutions benefiting farmers, customers and the broader food system including: accelerating sustainable progress in beef, advancing soil health, reducing carbon for sustainable shipping and Protecting forests in partnership with farmers . Cargill has also reinforced its intent to prioritize climate change concerns through pledging to the CEO Climate Statement, signing on to the We Are Still In coalition to continue supporting the Paris Climate Accord and convening at this week's UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid.

The commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from its global supply chain by 30 pct per ton of product by 2030, in combination with the previously announced operational goal to reduce absolute emissions by 10 pct , has been approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). (Source: Cargill, PR, 3 Dec., 2019) Contact: Cargill, David MacLennan, CEO, Frank van Lierde, Exec. VP, www.cargill.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News COP25,  Cargill,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

JinkoSolar
Date: 2019-09-27
Shanghai-headquartered Solar module manufacturer JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. reports it has committed to the RE100 and EP100 initiatives which are led by the international not-for-profit Climate Group.

The RE100 initiative and its partner companies are committed to 100 pct renewable power and a low carbon economy. Accordingly, JinkoSolar will power all of its solar plants and global operations with 100 pct renewable power by 2025. By 2030, the Company will deploy an energy management system across its operations and improve its energy productivity by 30 pct when compared to 2016. JinkoSolar has also signed up for the EP100 Cooling Challenge to increase the energy efficiency of its cooling operations. (Source: JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., PR, 25 Sept., 2019) Contact: Climate Group's global EP100 initiative, www. theclimategroup.org/EP100; Jinko Solar Holding Co. Ltd., Ripple Zhang, +86 21-5183 3105 pr@jinkosolar.com, www.jinkosolar.com; CDP, RE100, www.RE100.org

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ArcelorMittal
Date: 2019-08-02
Belgium-based iron ore, metallurgical coal and steel maker ArcelorMittal reports Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has ranked ArcelorMittal first in low-carbon innovations, transition opportunities, data transparency, renewable energy use, and board and executive climate management. The steel and mining company, which ranked fifth in the CDP's 2016 report, was rated second overall in the latest report.

The new CDP report is based on detailed analysis across a range of carbon and transitional indicators that could have a significant impact on company performance.

ArcelorMittal recently announced its ambition to cut CO2 emissions globally and be carbon-neutral in Europe by 2050. The company is currently aiming for an 8 pct carbon footprint reduction by 2020. (Source: ArcelorMittal, Noria News, Reliable Plant, July, 2019) Contact: ArcelorMittal, Alan Knight, Corporate Responsibility GM, +32 9 347 31 11, www.corporate.arcelormittal.com; CDP, Lance Pierce, Pres. North America, (212) 378 2086, info.northamerica@cdp.net, www.cdp.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News ArcelorMittal,  Carbon Footprint,  CDP,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

UN Global Compact,Science Based Targets initiative
Date: 2019-07-24
In a joint press release from the United Nations Global Compact, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the We Mean Business have committed themselves to more ambitious climate targets aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degree C above pre-industrial levels and reaching net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. The joint commitment from the coalition 28 companies with a total market capitalization of $1.3 trillion heeds the most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which warned of catastrophic consequences should global warming exceed 1.5 degree C.

Participating companies include: Acciona, AstraZeneca, Banka BioLoo, BT, Dalmia Cement Ltd., Eco-Steel Africa Ltd., Enel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Iberdrola, KLP, Levi Strauss & Co., Mahindra Group, Natura &Co, Novozymes, Royal DSM, SAP, Signify, Singtel, Telefonica, Telia, Unilever, Vodafone Group PLC and Zurich Insurance, amongst others, collectively representing over one million employees from 17 sectors and more than 16 countries. (Source: UN Global Compact, PR, COMTEX, 23 July, 2019) Contact: UN Global Compact, (212) 907-1301, www.unglobalcompact.org; Science Based Targets Initiative, +44 (0) 20 3818 3916, Sarah.Savage@cdp.net, www.sciencebasedtargets.org; We Mean Business Coalition, Kristen King, (904) 608- 1745 kristen@wemeanbusinesscoalition.org www.wemeanbusinesscoaltion.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Science Based Targets initiative,  UN Global Compact,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

CDP
Date: 2019-06-26
A Sea Change, a new report from the London-headquartered environmental non-profit and investment research provider CDP notes the world's maritime shipping majors are not investing in key technologies to reduce their carbon footprint, and that the sector is at risk of missing the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) targets to reduce GHG emissions by 50 pct by 2050.

The report ranks 18 of the largest publicly listed shipping companies, representing $62 billion of market capitalization, on business readiness for a low-carbon transition. CDP's analysis finds maritime innovation trends currently focus on technologies and fuels that only deliver marginal improvements; the shipping sector has poor rates of disclosure with only 5 companies completing CDP's 2018 Climate Change questionnaire; and board level oversight of climate issues is very low with only 3 companies having board level climate committees.

According to the report, shipping accounts for up to 3 pct of global emissions and 10 pct of transport emissions while transporting around 80 pct of the world's trade in physical goods. (Source: IMO, CDP, 25 June, 2019) Contact: CDP, Carole Ferguson, Head of Investor Research, www.cdp.net; IMO, Stefan Micallef, Director of Marine Environment Division, +44 (0) 20 7735 7611, www.imo.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News International Maritime Organization,  IMO,  Maritime Emissions,  CDP,  

ENERGY Star
Date: 2019-04-12
Bollingbrook, Illinois-based appliance manufacturer Beko U.S., Inc. reports receipt of its third consecutive ENERGY Star® Partner of the Year Award in the product brand owner category for its demonstrated energy efficiency best practices and proved organization-wide energy savings. The company was also recognized as ENERGY Star Partner of the Year -- Sustained Excellence Award, the highest honor bestowed to partners that have won consecutive ENERGY Star Partner of the Year awards.

Beko U.S. is a subsidiary of Istanbul, Turkey-based Arcelik A.S., which earned "Climate A List Company -- Global 2017 Climate & Water Leadership Award" from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). The company was rated AAA by MSCI Global Sustainability Index Series. Beko U.S., Inc. manufactures highly energy efficient home appliances. (Source: Beko U.S., Inc. PR, 9 April, 2019) Contact: Beko US Inc., , Hasan Ali Yardimci, Pres., Beko U.S., Inc. www.bekoappliances.com

PwC
Date: 2018-10-22
International accountancy and consulting giant PriceWatershouse Coopers (PwC) reports its commitment to cut carbon emissions, source 100 pct renewable energy for its electricity consumption, and to offset all business air travel has been reinforced with membership in the Climate Group and CDP lead RE100 initiative. The commitment applies to 21 of PwC's largest firms accounting for 88 pct of revenues in 2018.

In addition to joining RE100, PwC has also committed to offsetting unavoidable emissions linked to air travel by investing in a range of voluntary carbon offsets. PwC network firms will select from a portfolio of offsetting projects to reflect their local priorities. Amongst the project portfolio are a biodiversity reserve in Borneo, a wind farm in Turkey, a cook stove project in China and a landfill gas project in New York state generating electricity for 18,000 homes and creating 420 acres of new wetlands. (Source: PWC, The Financial, 17 Oct., 2018)Contact: PricewaterhouseCoopers, www.pwc.com; RE100, www.thre100.org; CDP, www.cdp.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News CDP,  RE100,  PwC,  Carbon Emissions,  Renewable Energy,  

Fujitsu,Science Based Targets
Date: 2018-07-27
In Tokyo, Japanese IT giant Fujitsu reports it has committed to sourcing 100 pct of its needed electricity for all locations and facilities from renewable energy sources by 2050, and that it is the 140th company worldwide to join the RE100 initiative.

The global RE100 initiative aims to support and bring together companies making 100 pct renewable energy commitments formed by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP -- fka Carbon Disclosure Project.

Fujitsu's renewable move is in keeping with the company's medium- to long-term environmental effort to lower its CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. The company's carbon emissions target was approved by the Science Based Targets initiative last August. (Source: Fujitsu, CleanTechnica, 24 July, 2018) Contact: Fujitsu Ltd., Public Relations, +81 3 3215 5259, www.fujitsu.com; Science Based Targets initiative, www.sciencebasedtargets.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Science Based Targets,  Fujitsu,  Renewable Energy,  

Science Based Target initiative
Date: 2018-06-08
In the Silver State, Las Vegas-based casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corporation reports it has set "science based" company-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets aligned with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).

The SBTi is a collaboration among CDP (f.k.a. Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Targets adopted by companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are considered "science-based" if they are in line with the level of decarbonization required to keep global temperature increase below two degrees C compared to pre-industrial temperatures.

Caesars Entertainment has committed to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions 30 pct by 2025, and 95 pct by 2050 from a 2011 base year. Since 2011, Caesars has reduced its total GHG emissions by 22.9 pct. (Source: Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Hotel Business, 7 June, 2018) Contact: Caesars Entertainment Corporation, www.caesarscorporate.com; Science Based Target initiative, www.sciencebasedtargets.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Science Based Target initiative,  Carbon Emissions ,