RBI Unveils Draft Guidelines on Climate Risk Disclosures for Financial Institutions

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released draft guidelines outlining a disclosure framework for climate-related financial risks applicable to various regulated entities (REs). These guidelines aim to ensure transparency and better management of climate risks within the financial sector.

Entities Covered

The draft guidelines are set to apply to a wide range of REs, including:

Scheduled commercial banks
Tier IV primary urban co-operative banks (UCBs)
Foreign banks operating in India
All Indian financial institutions (AIFIs)
Top and upper layer non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)

REs have been requested to provide their comments and feedback on the guidelines by the end of April.

Alignment with Global Frameworks

The RBI’s move aligns with its commitment to addressing climate risks, as demonstrated by its membership in the Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) since April 2021.

The guidelines are based on the four thematic pillars of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework:

Governance
Strategy
Risk Management
Metrics and Targets

Disclosure Requirements

Under the draft guidelines, REs are required to disclose information related to their ability to identify and manage climate-related financial risks and opportunities within their credit portfolios.

Key disclosure areas include:

Board oversight and senior management’s role in assessing climate risks
Identification of climate risks and opportunities across short, medium, and long terms
Impact of climate risks on REs’ business, strategy, and financial planning
Portfolio performance on climate-related targets and metrics

Scope of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Aligning with the NGFS guidelines and those of other jurisdictions like Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia, the RBI’s requirements encompass measurement and disclosures for Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 GHG risks.

Glide Path for Disclosures

The RBI has specified a gradual implementation timeline for the disclosures:

Governance, Strategy, and Risk Management pillars: Disclosure from FY 2025-26 onwards
Metrics and Targets: Disclosure from FY 2027-28 onwards for commercial banks, AIFIs, and NBFCs, and a year later for UCBs

Implications and Challenges

The disclosures will necessitate significant changes to REs’ current portfolio evaluation and maintenance processes, including:

Measuring portfolio risks and opportunities
Using estimations or proxies where data is lacking
Integrating climate risk into credit risk assessment processes
Establishing governance frameworks for managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks
Conducting scenario analysis to evaluate financial risks from climate change

While some banks may begin disclosing ESG-related information in the upcoming fiscal year, establishing the necessary institutional framework should commence promptly. Training staff, operationalizing strategies, and transitioning from planning to execution phases will require comprehensive solutions that can seamlessly integrate into existing banking operations.

The RBI’s draft guidelines mark a significant step towards promoting transparency and better management of climate-related financial risks within the Indian financial sector, aligning with global efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change.