BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC. | Report on physical and transition risks and opportunities at Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Status
28.29% votes in favour
AGM date
Previous AGM date
Proposal number
2
Resolution details
Company ticker
BRK/A US
Resolution ask
Report on or disclose
ESG theme
  • Environment
ESG sub-theme
  • Climate adaptation
  • GHG targets / emissions
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Financials
Company HQ country
United States
Resolved clause
Resolved: In order to promote the long-term success of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (the "Company") and so investors can understand
and manage risk more effectively, shareowners request that the board of the Company publish an annual assessment addressing how
the Company manages physical and transitional climate-related risks and opportunities, commencing prior to its 2022 annual
shareholders' meeting. At the board's discretion, shareholders recommend that the report also includes:
1. Summaries of risks and opportunities for each of the Company's subsidiaries and investee organizations that the board believes
could be materially impacted by, or significantly contribution to, climate change;
2. An explanation of how the board oversees and manages climate-related risks and opportunities; and,
3. An examination of the feasibility of the Company establishing science-based, greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, consistent
with limiting climate change to well-below 2C.
The disclosure ought to include the details of any scenarios used, along with any material assumptions for determining physical and
transitional risks for the Company's subsidiaries and investee organizations which are deemed by the Company to be materially
impacted by climate change and the energy transition. The assessment may be a stand-alone report or incorporated into existing
reporting, and may cover topics such as governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics & targets. The assessment should be
prepared at reasonable cost and omit proprietary information.
Supporting statement
Climate change and the energy transition to a low-carbon economy pose a systemic risk to the economy. Many risks are already taking effect, impacting the value of companies across multiple sectors. All companies should recognize and appraise physical and transitional climate risks. These risks and the board's approach to their management, including any plans to achieve net-zero emissions, should be disclosed to enable these to be appraised by investors. We consider the Company's current level of disclosure to be insufficient for investors to fully appraise its material climate-related risks and opportunities. The Company's disclosures show that it is concerned about the long-term viability of the companies it owns and in which it invests. The disclosure of climate-related information complements this long-term approach. We recommend that the board consider aligning the disclosure of the Company's climate-related risks and opportunities with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climaterelated Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Over 1,440 companies, including United States based industrial companies, support the TCFD recommendations, with 59 of the Climate Action 100+ companies already reporting in line with this framework. Many corporations have joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) to set verifiable science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets consistent with limiting global emissions to well below 2C. For example, CSX, a competitor to the Company's BNSF railroad subsidiary, and National Grid, an electric utility company, are two of over 450 companies whose greenhouse gas targets have been verified and approved by the SBTi. Union Pacific, another competitor of BNSF, has committed to setting science-based targets, joining over 500 companies that have made such commitments to the SBTi.

How other organisations have declared their voting intentions

Organisation name Declared voting intentions Rationale
Aktia Bank p.l.c. For An assessment of the company’s climate-related risks and opportunities would allow shareholders to better understand how the company is managing systemic risks posed by climate change and the transition to a low carbon economy.
Boston Trust Walden For
S-Bank plc. For
Universities Superannuation Scheme - USS For We would welcome enhanced reporting of climate related risks.

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