Episode 19: The four pillars of the TCFD: strategy

Continuing our series on the guidance produced by the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), this episode focuses on strategy, the second of the four TCFD pillars. Energetics’ Ghislaine Platell whose climate risk strategy work includes the landmark disclosure by the CBA as seen in their 2019 annual report, hosts the discussion. She is joined by Olivia Kember, Principal Consultant and lead author of Full Disclosure: Improving Corporate Reporting on Climate Risk, and Robyn Ashton, Senior Consultant, built environment expert and climate risk strategist. With experience advising some of Australia’s largest businesses, they explore what constitutes excellence in climate strategy.

Featuring: Olivia Kember, Principal Consultant and Aidan Ashton, Head of Decarbonisation

Our host: Dr Ghislaine Platell, Senior Consultant

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

Our guest for this podcast is Jarrod Leak, CEO of the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP). Jarrod joins Energetics’ Roger Horwood, arguably one of Australia’s most experienced energy strategists who has consulted across all sectors of the economy. At a time when energy markets are changing and business commitments to decarbonise are growing, Jarrod and Roger discuss developments in energy technologies that support electrification, demand management, bio energy sources and, increasingly, hydrogen and decentralised manufacturing.

Featuring: Jarrod Leak, CEO, A2EP and Roger Horwood, Associate, Energetics

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

For Energetics’ first podcast of the year, we begin with a focus on the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). In this episode we discuss governance, the first of the four TCFD pillars. Energetics’ Sally Cook who leads our TCFD advisory services is joined in conversation by Principal Consultant and lead on the IGCC report Full Disclosure: Improving Corporate Reporting on Climate Risk, Olivia Kember, and governance expert, Susan Staples. Together they consider the elements of governance – oversight, foresight and insight.

Featuring: Olivia Kember, Principal Consultant, Energetics and Susan Staples, governance and climate risk specialist

Our host: Sally Cook, Principal Consultant, Energetics

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

Australia has extraordinary renewable energy resources. Parts of Australia are already experiencing some of the highest levels of wind and solar generation in the world, including one of the highest levels of small (residential) distributed solar photovoltaic systems. In recognition of the opportunity they present and the need to carefully manage the penetration of renewable resources into the National Electricity Market (NEM), the Australian Electricity Market Operator (AEMO) conducted the Renewable Integration Study (RIS). Released in April 2020, the RIS is the first stage of a multi-year plan to support a secure NEM into the future. In this podcast, we speak with one of the study’s authors, AEMO’s Chris Davies, who discusses the features, the feedback received to date, the evolution of the market and the critical next steps. 

Featuring: Chris Davies, Manager of Future Energy Systems, AEMO and Gilles Walgenwitz, General Manager, Energy and Carbon Markets, Energetics

Out host: Anita Stadler, Associate, Energetics

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

In a year in which we’ve heard the word ‘unprecedented’ used many times, risk management is front and centre for organisations; particularly how they identify and prepare for large scale, high impact, business disruptions. The reality of our changing climate – and what we are doing about it – was highlighted with the devastating bushfires in Australia and the US. But while climate risk issues have been vigorously discussed in the past, they have not perhaps always been robustly addressed. There have been many initiatives aimed at increasing the awareness of climate risk, the assessment of the impacts of climate risk, and improving market disclosures in relation to exposure to climate risk, including the TCFD. So what, if anything, has changed - or is changing - in how we manage (and disclose) climate risk and build resilience?

Featuring: Nigel Brook, Partner, Clyde&Co and Dr Mary Stewart, CEO, Energetics

Out host: Susan Staples, Associate, Energetics

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

More and more businesses are pursuing emissions reductions. In this podcast we demystify the process of target setting. Energetics’ experts, Sonya Samson and Matthew Sprague discuss what they have seen when supporting clients to determine the type of target and the framework to be used, the need to align to business strategy, the importance of transparency and the use of offsets. The conversation is guided by Energetics' strategy and policy services lead, Sally Cook.

Featuring:  Matt Sprague, Senior Manager and Sonya Samson, Senior Consultant

Out host: Sally Cook, Principal Consultant

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

Australia has long been an innovator in the development of batteries. At a time when wind and solar offer significant cost reduction opportunities, and we see interest growing in distributed energy solutions, particularly behind-the-meter solar, Australia’s battery industry is set to boom. In this podcast, Energetics speaks with Jacques Eksteen of the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre about the benefits available to energy users, the maturity of the market and advice for corporates evaluating behind the meter battery solutions. 

Featuring: Dr Gordon Weiss, Associate, Energetics and Jacques Eksteen, Chief Operating Officer, Future Battery Industries CRC in conversation with Anita Stadler, Associate and Renewables Market Lead, Energetics

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

The CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology have vast sets of data and information, and deep knowledge, relating to Australia’s changing climate. As Australian businesses and communities seek to address the challenge of climate change, they need to access the science to obtain the insights they need. Energetics has collaborated with CSIRO previously to help the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) understand the climate risks posed to their agricultural loan book out to 2060. In this podcast we discuss the value that can be unlocked by accessing Australia’s extensive climate change scientific resources.

Featuring: Dr Peter Holt, General Manager - Strategy and Policy and Dr Nick Wood, Associate

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) has released a landmark report following workshops and engagement with over 50 investors from 22 organisations with more than $1.1 trillion in collective funds under management. Emma and Olivia discuss the report’s findings which show that significant improvements are needed to make climate disclosures more useful for decision-making, risk assessment, portfolio management and company engagement.

Featuring: Emma Herd, CEO, IGCC and Olivia Kember, lead author on the report, Energetics

Our host: Andrew Tipping, General Manager - Clients and Business Development

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.

 After considering the impact of COVID-19 on Ausrtalia's energy markets, we now turn to the economic downturn and the need to keep energy costs low. Mark and Gilles discuss the range of options available to businesses when looking to secure the most advantageous retail electricity deal.

Featuring: Gilles Walgenwitz, General Manager, Energy and Carbon Markets and Mark Asbjerg, Principal Consultant

Our host: Helen Wetherell, General Manager, Marketing and Communications

Note: The information and commentary in this podcast is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual or business. Listeners should not rely upon the content in this podcast without first seeking advice from a professional.