Supporting companies committed to the net zero journey

Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 is the principle environmental goal globally. As you can see from Figure 1, the world still has a way to go.

If you break the data down further, you will find that large corporates are estimated to account for around 20% of global emissions. This means that companies in all sectors and geographies will need to decarbonise if the world is to achieve its target.

The challenge ahead is a significant one. However, ongoing improvements in the availability and quality of corporate emissions data are making this objective increasingly achievable. This is particularly important to us, not only as corporate bond investors, but as managers of a net zero strategy.

Corporate bonds are a good place to start: introducing our approach

The Invesco Net Zero Global Investment Grade Corporate Bond Strategy (“the strategy”) launched in June of 2022 after nearly two years in development. During this time, we sought to design a strategy that would support an orderly transition to a carbon free economy.

At its core, our approach works with the Net Zero Investment Framework developed by the Paris Aligned Investor Initiative (PAII). This guides asset owners as they evaluate whether companies are aligning to or already aligned with net zero goals. It also helps them set portfolio alignment targets.

Implementing a net zero framework is no mean feat. The practical and operational challenges are large and require skilled active management.

As part of our investment process, we assess each issuer in our investment universe to see whether they are on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. This allows us to build a detailed picture of those companies that are suitable for purchase.
 

Assessing alignment: industries will decarbonise at different rates

Not all companies need to be fully aligned on day one. We recognise that different industries will decarbonise at different rates. Our aim is to identify those companies that demonstrate the strongest ability and desire to achieve net zero.

Given this, we do not exclude high-emitting sectors. Instead, we finance those companies that are publicly committed to net zero that we believe can make meaningful progress, while constantly assessing their development over time.

Ongoing oversight is essential to ensuring that companies stay on track with short, medium and long-term objectives. To help bring this process to life, we share a case study on an issuer currently held in the strategy.

Alignment case study: Enel

Headquartered in Italy, Enel SpA is a leading European utility company. It generated a revenue of €84.1bn in 2021, accounting for ~16% of domestic power generation and 86% of power distribution. Enel is a high emitter. It is also one of the top holdings in the strategy.

Just how good is Enel?

Enel is the only company in the Climate Action 100+ Net Zero Company Benchmark to have been assessed as fully meeting all criteria, including the particularly high standards set for Capital Allocation Alignment. A blanket exclusion to high emitters would rule out our participation in Enel’s impressive transition plans.

In our most recent meeting with Enel, they outlined their extensive engagement with industry bodies including Climate Action 100+, the Transition Pathway Initiative and Carbon Tracker teams. They also engage with investors to understand their expectations.

Enel is the only utilities company which satisfies all criteria set out in our own Net Zero Investment Framework. We share further details below.

Engagement is key: understanding companies and holding them to account

Engaging with companies is an essential part of our investment process. It helps us understand the reality they are facing as they attempt to deliver on their climate commitments. It also provides a forum for us to seek answers, where progress has fallen short of expectations.

Our net zero engagement goals encourage companies to take continuous and incremental steps forward in their decarbonisation strategy. A recent example occurred in February, when we met with the Chairman of a large European building materials company.

Engagement case study: CRH

Given the nature of the company’s business, we discussed a number of ESG topics. Our alignment assessment had previously labelled them as “aligning”, and we wanted to make sure we still had conviction in this.

During the discussion, we emphasised the importance of the absolute emissions reduction target they had set under the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). We acknowledged that it showed a strong ambition to decarbonise, as they had been required to use 2020 as their base year. This was a lower emissions year, as COVID disruptions suppressed activity levels.

Investing in progress, not just perfection

Cement forms part of the company’s core business – a hard activity to abate. However, when we explored their determination to meet the commitments, we were reassured. The adoption of these targets is being driven at the board level, and they are cognisant of the level of investment required. This is currently estimated at $150 million per year until 2030.

Furthermore, the company has struck new partnerships to develop carbon capture technologies. It is also looking at methods it can use to lower the use of clinker when producing cement. This is a major component in cement’s carbon footprint.

Finally, the company stated that it is in the process of getting its 1.5 degree climate targets signed off by SBTi for the cement business. Its climate reporting already conforms to TCFD and EU Taxonomy recommendations.

The company is, in our view, a little behind certain peers in terms of implementing measures like carbon capture. However, we are comfortable that it has a roadmap towards becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Looking ahead, our next engagement with the company will focus on any progress they have made against their decarbonisation roadmap. Sensibly, this has a substantial focus on what can be done using existing technology. This includes initiatives like changing the mix of clinker to reduce CO2, and continuing with recycling projects.
 

Ongoing developments in the net zero investment space

Net zero aligned investing is relatively new and therefore, evolving rapidly. As such, we regularly review our implementation of the Net Zero Investment Framework to identify areas for improvement.

Currently, one topic of particular focus is the application of the framework to banks. Given their importance in reducing the financing of high emitting industries, banks can be classified as high emitters. Their role in providing capital to climate solutions further elevates their importance in supporting an orderly transition.
 

Banks: an increasing area of focus

Due to the nature of their business, the majority of banks’ emissions are indirect (Scope 3). This makes assessing their alignment particularly complex and commitment based. Our initial approach was binary and focused only on whether a bank had publicly committed to net zero targets or not.

We have since worked to enhance our assessment framework by defining the criteria that a bank would need to meet to be evaluated as moving to implementation, before ultimately becoming fully aligned with a net zero pathway.

Our extended framework focus on ensuring that targets and disclosures from banks meet the highest standards set by the various carbon commitment bodies – think Science Based Targets, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Carbon Disclosure Project, and the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials. These common frameworks are helpful as they allow comparison. Furthermore, they provide us with the detail needed to monitor a company’s adherence to net zero principles.

We also set ambitious criteria around green financing levels relative to non-green, which link to the need for a step-change in climate mitigation and adaptation financing to meet the urgency of climate action this decade. Encouragingly, we find that some global banks are making meaningful progress on alignment against our criteria.
 

Before we wrap up

The strategy is now almost a year old and, as we have outlined above, there has been lots to keep us busy. That won’t change going forwards, as new challenges and opportunities unfold in the net zero investment space.

To wrap this piece up, we leave you with some of the key takeaways from the latest assessment report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This again sounded the alarm that the 1.5°C scenario could be slipping out of reach. It also stated that finance for climate mitigation would need to increase by a factor of six. If the world is to reach its net zero targets, investors will play a big role in financing the transition.