Climate
change

In order to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, all companies will need to plan for carbon neutrality. The costs associated with this change are an obligation for future investors. As well as being the right thing to do, addressing them today will also make our businesses more valuable.

We are delighted to launch our first Climate Manifesto – a plan to reach carbon neutrality across our portfolio, prepare for net zero and ensure that all our portfolio companies lead the field in terms of sustainable investment.

The manifesto follows our announcement earlier this year of the ESG Universe 2023 strategy – a comprehensive program of environmental, social and governance initiatives that commits our firm to achieving a carbon neutral portfolio by 2025.

 

Our plan to get to portfolio neutrality and prepare for net zero

Abris climate manifesto

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges currently facing humanity.

Under the Paris Agreement, countries have agreed to aim to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is the higher aim of the Paris Agreement and is necessary in order to mitigate the most severe long-term economic and environmental consequences of climate change.

OUR COMMITMENT

Abris recognises that business has a vital role to play in addressing climate change, and that its actions can deliver economic, social and environmental benefits over the long term.

As the transition accelerates, companies with a well-articulated long-term strategy and a clear plan to address the shift to net zero will distinguish themselves among their stakeholders – customers, suppliers, employees, policymakers and others – by inspiring confidence that they can navigate this global transformation.

As a responsible investor, Abris is keenly aware of the impact it and its portfolio companies can have in terms of meeting climate objectives.
We address climate change risks through the investment decisions that we make and through interactions we have with our portfolio companies.

Therefore, Abris is committed to proactively managing climate change-related risks and opportunities as the world moves to a net zero economy.

How are we going to adapt our portfolio companies to the changing world?
Key actions include:

  1. Achieving carbon neutrality at Abris by 2023
    As a responsible investor, we are committed to becoming carbon neutral in our own operations by 2023
  2. Developing an effective balancing model by 2023
    We aim to develop a carbon-neutral balancing model for our entire investment portfolio to ensure each new company is able to reach its carbon-neutral goal by 2023
  3. Achieving a carbon-neutral portfolio by 2025
    We will create ambitious reduction action plans and a catalog of offset initiatives for our portfolio companies to achieve a carbon-neutral portfolio by 2025
  4. Developing an agile climate change strategy for our portfolio companies
    Together with our portfolio companies we will adopt strategies for climate change and build a resilience plan based on TCFD recommendations
  5. Building a net zero strategy pathway for our portfolio companies by 2030
    Following each successful exit, Abris will provide each portfolio company with a detailed action plan on how to address the transition to net zero

GENERATING STRONGER RETURNS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY

Abris will generate higher returns through placing the environment at the center of its investment strategy.

Companies that have a clear climate change strategy and can help lead the transition to net zero will deliver better long-term returns for investors. They will be fit for the future and more able to adapt in a changing world. They will be favored by increasingly climate-aware consumers, employees and other stakeholders. And they will easily comply with changing regulatory and societal demands, managing their investment cash-flows in a predictable way.

They will be the winners and game-changers.

KEY TERMS

Net zero – Reducing nearly all human-caused emissions and balancing out remaining emissions with carbon removal (e.g., restoring forests, carbon capture and storage). A global net zero commitment establishes an aggregate timeline for achieving the well below 2°C target called for in the Paris Agreement. Many country and corporate net zero commitments target 2050, consistent with global targets to avoid catastrophic outcomes from climate change.

Paris Agreement – International agreement to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels while endeavoring to limit warm ing to 1.5°C, the scientifically backed threshold to prevent the most destructive effects of climate change. Each country
must determine plan, and regularly report on the contribution that it undertakes to mitigate global warming.

Carbon neutrality – It refers to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be done by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the “post-carbon economy”). It is used in the context of carbon dioxide-releasing processes associated with transportation, energy production, agriculture and industry.

Source: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2021