INSIGHT by The European Banking Authority
The European Banking Authority (EBA) shortly published an online survey to receive input from credit institutions on their practices and views in the area of disclosure of information on environmental social governance (ESG) risks. The survey, which is addressed to large credit institutions that will be required to disclose prudential information on ESG risks, aims to support the EBA’s policy work on Pillar 3 disclosure and its wider efforts to develop a robust policy framework in the area of sustainable finance. The deadline for the call for input is 16 October 2020.
The disclosure of information on ESG risks is one of the key components in the policy framework of sustainable finance. There are variations across institutions on the level, type and location of information disclosed. The EBA seeks credit institutions’ input to understand their current practices in the disclosure of information on ESG risks as well as their future plans regarding Pillar 3 disclosures on ESG risks, as well as on classifications and metrics used.
This online survey is part of the EBA’s work to develop draft implementing technical standards (ITS) on Pillar 3 disclosure of prudential information on ESG risks by institutions. It will also be used to monitor the short-term expectations specified in the EBA Action Plan on Sustainable Finance, including the request for institutions to identify metrics, covering a green assets ratio, that provide transparency on how they are embedding climate change related risks into the organisation.
| Process
The EBA has set up a dedicated webpage and an email address [email protected], to support this initiative. The responses to the online survey can be submitted via this online tool, available on the EBA’s dedicated webpage.
The survey, which is run on a voluntary basis, is addressed to large institutions that will be required to disclose prudential information on ESG risks in accordance with Article 449a of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR). Credit institutions may reply to the survey until 18:00 CEST on 16 October 2020.
| Background information
The EBA is mandated, as per Articles 434a and 449a of the CRR, to develop draft implementing technical standards (ITS) specifying uniform disclosure formats, and associated instructions for the disclosure by institutions of prudential information on ESG risks. Those uniform disclosure formats aim to provide sufficiently comprehensive and comparable information for users of that information to assess the risk profiles of institutions.
The final ITS on the disclosure of information on ESG risks is going to be part of and complete the comprehensive ITS on institutions’ public disclosures of the information referred to in Titles II and III of Part Eight of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013.
Furthermore, in its Action Plan on Sustainable Finance, published in December 2019, the EBA explains how it plans to implement the disclosure mandate. The EBA also specifies the short-term expectations on disclosure and asks institutions to identify metrics, including a green assets ratio that provide transparency on how they are embedding climate change-related risks into the organisation.
| Other related work
In parallel, the European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – ESAs) are preparing to launch a joint survey seeking public feedback on presentational aspects of financial products that promote environmental and/or social characteristics or have a sustainable objective.
