On May 11, 2020, the Government of Canada announced the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) program as part of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. While the government is still in the final stages of establishing the LEEFF program, it has specified the eligibility to be large for-profit-businesses and certain not-for-profit businesses with annual revenues greater than $300 million.
To have access to the LEEFF, large companies will not only be required to meet the usual criteria (respect union agreements, protect workers’ pensions, adhere to rules around share buy-backs and the salaries and bonuses of top executives), but also be required to commit to publish annual climate-related financial disclosure reports consistent with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This announcement is noteworthy since emergency funds rarely come with such requirements. Moreover, it is meaningful because it shows Canada’s strong commitment to meet its emissions targets and sends a clear signal to the Canadian companies to set their foot in the right path.
Globally, the TCFD has been gaining traction throughout all sectors from collaborative efforts of WBCSD organizing sector-specific Preparer Forums and the Corporate Reporting Dialogue aligning standards and reporting with the TCFD’s recommendations. In the beginning of this year, the world’s largest asset management firm, BlackRock, announced that sustainability will be the firm’s new standard for investing and released a public letter addressed to companies it invests in to disclose climate-related risks.
More Background of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) can be found here.