This week’s Highwood Bulletin features draft mandatory disclosure rules from the SEC and Canada, IPCC Sixth Assessment, responsible climate lobbying, Xpansiv digital crude oil, Blackrock net-zero forecasts, Canada’s emissions reduction plan, ISSB draft rules, investments in carbon removal, financing flaring reduction, funding for net-zero projects, courses, conferences, hiring, and more!
SEC and Canada Propose Mandatory Climate Disclosures
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released draft rules that would require publicly traded companies to disclose climate risks and Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Companies that set targets would be required to reveal their plans for achieving them. Canada is also moving towards mandatory disclosures. Read more on the SEC rules here and Canada’s rules here.
Report: IPCC Finalizes Sixth Assessment Report
The IPCC has published its Working Group III report, Mitigation of climate change. The report urges immediate actions to reduce carbon emissions and emphasizes that technologies exist today to achieve 50% reductions from all sectors by 2030. Read the report here.
Investors Push for Responsible Climate Lobbying
The new Global Standard on Responsible Climate Lobbying requires companies to commit to responsible climate lobbying and is being backed by investors who manage $130 trillion. The effort is intended to reduce lobbying that delays climate action. Read more here.
Xpansiv Launches Digital Crude Oil (DCO)
The Xpansiv Digital Fuels Program now includes crude oil. Similar to digital natural gas (DNG), tracking DCO from production to end use enables certification of environmental attributes. Xpansiv announced its first transaction of DNG in September and is now trading methane performance certificates. Read more here.
Blackrock Anticipates Majority Net-Zero Alignment by 2030
The world’s biggest asset manager expects that 75% of its assets in 2030 will be invested in companies and governments that target net-zero emissions by 2050. Read more here.
Canada Releases Emissions Reduction Plan
A new plan by the Government of Canada provides a detailed roadmap to achieving a 40-45% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. As part of the plan, the government will invest over $9 billion into electric vehicles, CCUS, and the grid. Carbon pricing will remain a key focus, rising to $170 by 2030. Catch some press here and download the full plan here.
ISSB Publishes Draft Rules
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), a new global accounting body, has published draft rules designed to promote standardized sustainability disclosures. The draft rules, which follow many elements of SASB and TCFD, are open for a 120-day commenting period. Learn more here.
Google, Meta, and Others Invest in Carbon Removal
Stripe, Alphabet, Meta, Shopify, and McKinsey have launched a new initiative called Frontier, which will direct almost $1 billion towards carbon removal by 2030. The advance market commitment is intended to guarantee future demand. Learn more here.
Funding: Net Zero Accelerator Initiative
A new funding program by the Government of Canada will invest $8 billion to help guide the country to its decarbonization goals. The program will focus on decarbonization of large emitters, clean technology and industrial transformation, and development of a Canadian battery ecosystem. Learn more here.
Report: Financing Flaring and Methane Reduction Projects
Education: Highwood’s Popular Technology Course is Back!
If you missed it the first time, Highwood and Evaluate Energy are brining back by popular demand “One Hundred Options: Making Sense of Methane Measurement Technologies”. The course is taught by Highwood’s President Dr. Thomas Fox and will take place virtually on May 17th, 2022. Learn more and register here.
Conference: Highwood to Participate in Pipeline Methane Symposium
This April 19 and 20, Highwood will be presenting at the Pipeline Methane Emissions Symposium: Detection, Quantification and Mitigation Conference held by EUCI. Thomas Fox, Highwood’s President, will be giving a 45-minute talk entitled Assessing the Effectiveness of Emerging Detection and Quantification Technologies. Jessica Shumlich, Highwood’s CEO, will be moderating a panel entitled Quantifiable Methane Emissions Reporting. Learn more and register here.
Join our Team! Highwood is Hiring!
Highwood is always looking for bright folks who want to help us change the world for the better. If you have experience in greenhouse gas emissions management and you’re looking for a career change, please reach out!
