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TXU, Exxon: Global Warming
TXU, ExxonMobil Among 10 'Climate Watch'
Companies Targeted by Investors
US Companies Face Record Number of Global Warming Resolutions
NEW YORK, NY///February 13, 2007///A group of leading US investors today announced
the formation of a Climate Watch List, a list of 10 companies that have been
identified as lagging behind their industry peers in their responses to climate
change. As part of this effort, investors have filed shareholder resolutions
with the 10 companies - and 26 other US businesses - aimed at improving their
focus and attention to the business risks and opportunities from climate change.
The Climate Watch companies include influential electric power companies, oil
producers, coal companies and other businesses that investors believe are not
adequately dealing with potential climate-related business impacts, whether
from physical changes, emerging climate regulations, or growing global demand
for climate-friendly technologies and services.
The resolutions are among a record 42 global warming resolutions filed with
U.S. companies as part of the 2007 proxy season - nearly double the number of
climate-related resolutions filed just three years ago. The resolutions, seeking
greater disclosure from companies on their responses and strategies to climate-related
business trends, were filed by state and city pension funds and labor, foundation,
religious and other institutional shareholders. The filers collectively manage
more than $200 billion in assets.
The Climate Watch companies include:
Banking & Financial: Wells Fargo
Electric Power: TXU, Dominion Resources, Allegheny Energy
Coal: Massey Energy and Consol Energy
Insurance: ACE
Oil & Gas: ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips
Retail: Bed Bath & Beyond
"Many US companies are confronting the risks and opportunities from climate
change, but others are not responding adequately - and they may be compromising
their long-term competitiveness and shareholder value as a result," said
Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres, a leading coalition of investors and environmental
groups that helped coordinate the shareholder filings. "We want all companies
to understand the business impacts of climate change - and plan for it accordingly.
It's is what any corporate director would expect of their CEO."
"Those companies that are ignoring the serious risks posed by climate
change do so at their own peril," said North Carolina State Treasurer Richard
Moore, whose office manages more than $70 billion in pension funds. "Acknowledging
the business risks posed by climate change is just good business, and shareholders
demand it."
"Legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions looks increasingly likely,"
added Leslie Lowe, director of the Energy and Environment Program at the Interfaith
Center on Corporate Responsibility, an association of 275 faith-based institutional
investors. "Investors want to know whether companies are prepared to meet
the challenge of reducing CO2 in their operations and products. They want companies
to set voluntary reduction goals and tell the market how they plan to meet those
goals." Read Leslie
Lowe's statement to the press here.
"Scientific projections of the potential destructive impacts of climate
change on the global economy are now incontrovertible. Companies in every industry,
especially energy sectors, must act now to assess and mitigate climate change
risks," said New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., whose office
filed resolutions with electric power and coal companies. "To enable investors
to make informed investment decisions, companies must provide full and transparent
disclosure of the actions they are taking to address the risks and opportunities
of climate change."
The Climate Watch companies:
Dominion Resources Inc.: Dominion has balked at shareholder requests
the past three years to disclose its potential financial exposure from foreseeable
climate regulations. This year's resolution, filed by the New York City Comptroller's
Office, requests that Dominion prepare a climate risk report, just as a dozen
other US power companies already have done. The VA-based company emitted 62
million tons of CO2 from its power plants in 2004. (NYC Comptroller Contact:
Jeff Simmons, 212-669-2636)
TXU Corp: TXU, which is proposing to build 11 coal-fired plants in Texas,
has been targeted with three resolutions requesting reports on how the company
is responding to growing regulatory pressure to reduce CO2 emissions and how
enhanced energy efficiency programs in Texas could impact its ability to sell
new power. The resolutions were filed by the New York City Pension Funds, Connecticut
State Treasurer's Office and Benedictine Sisters of Texas. (CT State Treasurer
Contact: Robyn Belek, 860-702-3013)
ConocoPhillips: Unlike BP, Chevron and other major oil producers, ConocoPhillips
has made no significant investments in wind, solar and other renewable energy
technologies that will be in increasing demand in the years ahead. The resolution
filed by Trillium Asset Management and the North Carolina State Treasurer requests
that the board of directors prepare a report on how it is responding to rising
competitive and regulatory pressure to significantly develop renewable
energy sources. (Trillium Contact: Shelley Alpern 617-423-6655 and NC State
Treasurer Contact: Sara Lang, 919-807-3132)
Wells Fargo: Unlike Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase, which have
set specific goals to reduce GHG emissions from their lending activities, Wells
Fargo has been unresponsive to shareholder requests for comprehensive emission
reduction goals relating to its business. The resolution filed by the Service
Employees International Union and 10 other filers requests that the CA-based
company develop specific GHG reduction goals regarding its operations, lending
activities and project financing. (SEIU Contact: Tracey Rembert, 202-297-4162)
Bed, Bath & Beyond: Unlike Lowe's, the Home Depot and other major
retailers, Bed Bath & Beyond has been unresponsive to shareholder requests
that it disclose its strategies and performance on energy efficiency and other
climate related issues. Last year's resolution requesting a report on its energy
efficiency efforts received more than 27 percent support. This year's resolution
was filed by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Sierra Club Mutual Fund.
(Nathan Cummings Foundation Contact: Laura Shaffer, 212-787-7300 x233)
Massey Energy: Given that coal combustion accounts for about 35 percent
of all GHG emissions in the US and given the growing regulatory momentum to
reduce emissions from power plants, the New York City Pension Funds have filed
a resolution with the VA-based company requesting a report on how the company
is responding to growing regulatory and competitive pressure to significantly
reduce GHG emissions. Massey is the nation's 4th largest coal producer. (NYC
Comptroller Contact: Jeff Simmons 212-669-2636)
Consol Energy: Given that coal combustion accounts for about 35 percent
of all GHG emissions in the US and given the growing regulatory momentum to
reduce emissions from power plants, the New York City Pension Funds have filed
a resolution with the PA-based company requesting a report on how the company
is responding to growing regulatory and competitive pressure to significantly
reduce GHG emissions. Consol is the nation's largest bituminous coal producer.
(NYC Comptroller Contact: Jeff Simmons, 212-669-2636)
ExxonMobil: Investors are dissatisfied with the company's climate risk
disclosure and general lack of response to climate issues. Unlike other major
oil firms, which are making tangible investments in low-carbon technologies,
ExxonMobil has been unresponsive to investor requests for a decade regarding
strategies intended to meet growing demand for diversified energy sources. The
five resolutions request that the board develop comprehensive GHG emission reduction
goals and disclose its plans for responding to climate legislation. The resolutions
were filed by the CT State Treasurer, the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible
Investment and the Midwest Capuchin Order. (Tri-State Coalition Contact: Sister
Pat Daly, 973-670-9674)
ACE Limited: Unlike AIG and other industry peers, insurer ACE Limited
has refused various investor requests to disclose its strategies, policies and
potential exposure from climate change. The resolution filed by the Calvert
Group requests that ACE's board of directors provide a report describing the
company's strategy and actions relative to climate change, including the effects
that climate change may have on the company. (Calvert Group Contact: Stu Dalheim,
301-961-4762)
Allegheny Energy: Based in Greensburg, PA, Allegheny is one of the 20
largest CO2 emitters in the country's electric power industry, with 45 million
tons emitted in 2004. Allegheny has not responded to repeated requests for disclosure
regarding its potential exposure to foreseeable climate regulations. The New
York City Comptroller's office has filed a resolution requesting a report on
how it is responding to growing regulatory and competitive pressure to significantly
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (NYC Comptroller: Jeff Simmons, 212-669-2636)
In addition to the Climate Watch companies, investors filed resolutions with
the following other businesses. The list of investors filing resolutions with
each of the companies can be found at http://www.ceres.org.
Auto: General Motors, Ford
Building Companies: Boston Properties, Centex, *D.R. Horton, Kroger,
Pulte Homes, *Toll Brothers
Retailers: *Costco, CVS, Whole Foods
Coal: Arch, *Ameren
Electric Power: Sempra, Southern
Insurance: Hartford, Prudential, Chubb
Oil & Gas: *Anadarko, Chevron, EOG, Ultra Petroleum
S&P 500: *Bemis, *Teradyne, Starwood Hotels
*Resolution withdrawn after company agrees to comply with shareholder resolution
request.
CONTACT: Peyton Fleming, Ceres (617-247-0700 x 20 or 617-733-6660 cell)
Leslie Lowe, ICCR (212-870-2623)
Sara Lang, North Carolina State Treasurer's office (919-807-3132)
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