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Understanding Carbon Intensity Metrics for Your Fund: A Guide for Fund Managers
Understanding Carbon Intensity Metrics for Your Fund: A Guide for Fund Managers

Guide for fund managers on understanding carbon intensity metrics and calculated values in the KEY ESG platform for portfolio analysis.

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Written by Jessica Webb
Updated over 4 months ago

Introduction

Carbon intensity metrics provide valuable insights into the environmental impact of your portfolio or fund. For fund managers, understanding these metrics is key to aligning your investments with sustainability goals, such as reducing carbon emissions and meeting regulatory requirements. These metrics help you compare emissions relative to financial indicators, such as revenue or full-time equivalents (FTEs). This guide will walk you through the concept of carbon intensity, why it matters, and how you can access this information within the KEY ESG platform.

What is Carbon Intensity?

Carbon intensity is a measure of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions produced per unit of economic output. For your portfolio or fund, the carbon intensity metric typically shows how much CO₂ is emitted relative to key financial performance metrics, such as:

  • Revenue: CO₂ emissions per unit of revenue (e.g., Kg CO₂ per GBP)

  • Full-time equivalent (FTE): CO₂ emissions per employee (e.g., Kg CO₂ per FTE)

In the example provided for the Californium I, II and III funds, you can see the carbon intensity split across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, measured both against revenue and FTE.

Why is Carbon Intensity Important?

Carbon intensity allows you to:

  • Evaluate the carbon efficiency of your portfolio or fund.

  • Compare emissions across different funds or assets, even if they vary in size.

  • Track progress towards sustainability goals.

  • Meet growing regulatory demands from frameworks such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation).

How to Access Carbon Intensity Metrics in the KEY ESG Platform

To access your carbon intensity metrics, follow these steps:

  1. Log into the KEY ESG Platform: Navigate to the fund manager portal.

  2. Select Your Data Request: Under the ‘Portfolio’ tab, select the relevant data request from the dropdown (e.g., Greenstone Capital ESG Data Request 2023).

  3. Choose the Right Filters:

    • Filter by Metrics: Use the filter to select GHG emissions summary or the specific Scope metrics you wish to view.

    • Filter by Fund: You can filter by the individual funds you manage, such as 'Greenstone Capital Fund I' and 'Greenstone Capital Fund II'.

  4. View Your Carbon Intensity: The system will display the carbon intensity metrics for each scope (Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3) alongside your chosen financial indicators (e.g., revenue or FTE). You can view totals for each scope, as well as intensity metrics for Scope 1 and 2 combined or across all three scopes.

Next Steps

By regularly reviewing and analysing these metrics, fund managers can identify opportunities to reduce emissions, improve portfolio performance, and better communicate sustainability efforts to investors. Should you have any questions about carbon intensity metrics or require further support, please contact KEY ESG support through the in-platform chat or via email at support@keyesg.com.

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