Mirova, AXA IM and Robeco are among 13 financial institutions coming together to launch a global database of avoided emissions.
Avoided emissions, sometimes called ‘Scope 4’, are emission reductions that occur outside a product’s life cycle or value chain, but as a result of the use of that product, for example, fuel-saving tires.
Unlike induced emissions, which have fairly standardised methodologies, avoided emissions are calculated in a variety of ways by different companies, which jeopardises their credibility and prevents their use at scale.
The group of firms have therefore put a call out to academics, consultants and data providers to express their interest in creating a database by 16 July 2023.
The database would be a full life cycle analysis as well as an attribution of avoided emissions across the entire value chain, and be transparent and accessible in its methodology. It should also contain a precautionary principle with the least advantageous baseline scenario being selected to calculate avoidance factors.
Manuel Coeslier, lead expert, climate and environment at Mirova, said: “The financial sector plays a key role in driving the economy towards net-zero emissions globally. To this end, clear and comprehensive information on companies’ true contribution to the global net-zero objective is essential. This includes a robust measurement of avoided emissions.”
Lucian Peppelenbos, climate and biodiversity strategist at Robeco, added: “Forward-looking metrics are key to increasing climate finance. This includes a credible measurement of avoided emissions. Transparency and a common methodology are essential, and we hope this initiative may contribute towards establishing this.”
The full list of signatories on the call for an expression of interest in this are:
- Mirova
- Robeco
- abrdn
- AXA IM
- Comgest
- Impax Asset Management
- Natixis Investment Managers
- OFI AM
- PGGM
- Railpen
- Sienna Investment Managers
- Smart Pension
- Sycomore AM
