Environmental Risk and Insurance Management- Performing Due Diligence in the Era of Climate Change - presented by RTM Communications.

Public and private pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is beginning to have a material effect on deals and developments. Building owners as well as buyers and sellers involved in M & A transactions are witnessing the effects of climate change and its associated risks. Shareholders and stakeholders are pressuring companies to calculate and disclose their GHG footprint. Shareholders believe that greener companies bring more value to the marketplace, to their employees and to the bottom-line. This thinking translates to the world of M & A transactions and divestitures and the due diligence undertaken to measure the costs/benefits and potential liabilities.

Join our panel of experts, Lawrence Schnapf, Special Counsel, Shulte, Roth & Zabel, Lindene Patton, Climate Product Officer, Zurich Financial Services Group, Aditya Sharma, Project Manager, ERM and Dean Jeffery Telego, President, Risk Management Technologies, Inc. (Moderator) as they examine the critical elements of the GHG debate. This webinar shall:

* Address the legal, risk and insurance management issues associated with climate change
* Understand the carbon risks and opportunities facing buyers, sellers, lenders and insurers in real estate and M & A deals.
* Demonstrate how environmental due diligence tools can play a key role in identifying the value drivers
* Address the implications of and the incentives created by key Federal, regional, state and city GHG initiatives
* Understand how GHG emission reduction regulations are driving new markets (carbon trading/ offset projects/ renewable energy)
* How to calculating the GHG footprints of commercial and industrial buildings

Climate risk, such as the potential for lawsuits, regulations and/or legislation are an emerging area of exposure for insurers, banks and asset managers for institutional lenders. The energy/power, transportation, and industrial sectors may be among the most directly affected by GHG initiatives and regulations. However, it is the commercial building developers, owners and operators who are the largest source of GHG emissions in most cities. As a result, the costs to comply with GHG emissions reductions strategies will soon become important elements of due diligence. Over 110 local and state governments have regulatory requirements affecting GHG emissions.
The financial services and the commercial development industries must protect and preserve assets and net income using due diligence metrics like energy audits, property condition assessments and other risk and insurance management techniques needed to quantify costs, especially in terms of carbon management and green buildings technologies. In addition, these companies are looking to turn the challenges posed by climate change risk into opportunities.

Climate change risk has found its way into the corporate boardrooms and has become the mantra of corporate risk managers because these issues are now financial drivers for investors/shareholders who are beginning to influence investment decisions. The proliferation of state and local GHG initiatives and regulations has forced investors, developers, lenders, and environmental professionals to consider GHG emissions requirements in their transactions and in the design, construction and operation of their commercial buildings. For corporations, it is about accountability and protecting reputation, image and brand from risk. Sustainable development goes to the heart of preserving brand recognition from risk.

Additional Details at RTM Communications web site.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 11:53 am and is filed under ●Brownfields - Miscellaneous, ●Environmental Insurance.

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