Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2020
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:11,188 tCO2e (Scope 1 & Location-Based Scope 2) / 9,745 tCO2e (Scope 1 & Market-Based Scope 2) in 2019
Scope 1 Emissions:3,078 tCO2e (2019)
Scope 2 Emissions:8,110 tCO2e (Location-Based) / 6,667 tCO2e (Market-Based) in 2019
Renewable Energy Share:100% carbon neutrality achieved through carbon offsets (2020)
Total Energy Consumption:21,108 MWh in 2019
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Energy Management
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Employee Wellbeing
- Community Investment
- Governance
- Risk Management
- Data Security and Customer Privacy
- Human Rights
- Supplier Responsibility
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved net-zero energy by offsetting 100% of operational footprint (2020)
- Conducted first complete carbon assessment of operations and set baseline for carbon disclosure
Social Achievements
- Donated $21.1M in 2020 and 2021 to over 200 charities
- Supported Jefferies’ COVID-19 heroes
- Founded Empowerment and Inclusion Capital
- Added two new employee resource groups
- Launched Jefferies Diversity Council
Governance Achievements
- Developed new ESG corporate policies (Human Rights Statement, Health and Safety Policy)
- Expanded operational risk oversight and training
- LAM published Sustainable Investment Policy
- ESG/DEI Committee of the Board elevated
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Net-zero status for operations
Environmental Challenges
- Data limitations in energy consumption calculations (fewer than 10 employees in some offices, missing electricity usage data, data from Merchant Banking portfolio excluded)
- COVID-19 pandemic impact on office occupancy and energy use
Mitigation Strategies
- Used greenhouse gas estimates based on 2018 and 2019 data for carbon offset and REC purchases
- Implemented work-from-home policies and plans for business continuity and technology
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Periodic supplier risk assessment program based on internal and external questionnaires
Responsible Procurement
- Risk-based approach to assess modern slavery and human trafficking
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Opportunities
- Deploying capital for green energy and a more circular economy
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI
Certifications: Sustainable Forestry Initiative (Idaho Timber)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- Goal 10: Reduce inequalities within and among countries
- Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
- Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
The report details how various initiatives contribute to these goals.
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:0 mtCO2e (net, after offsets)
Scope 1 Emissions:1,186 tCO2e (2020)
Scope 2 Emissions:5,656 tCO2e (2020, location-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:88,500 tCO2e (2020, estimated)
Renewable Energy Share:98% (2020)
Total Energy Consumption:19,508 MWh (2020)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Stewardship
- Giving Back
- Human Capital
- Responsible Business Practices
- Sustainable Finance
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved 100% carbon neutrality for operations by purchasing carbon offsets and RECs equivalent to calculated Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
- Completed Scope 3 emissions calculations for two categories for 2018-2020, with plans to expand to 2021 in 2022.
Social Achievements
- Donated over $16 million in 2021 to nearly 400 charities.
- Launched firmwide ESG training.
- 308 employee-partners participated in the ERG Mentoring Program.
- 100% of employee-partners completed Unconscious Bias Training.
- Adopted Supplier Code of Conduct, strengthening supplier risk governance.
- Launched two targeted recruitment programs (Career Relaunch and Job Switch) to diversify lateral hires.
- Increased Board diversity to 42% (56% of independent directors).
Governance Achievements
- Established a global ESG Working Group.
- Expanded ESG Committee to include DEI.
- Implemented a Sustainable Investment Statement.
- Implemented a Whistle Blower Policy.
- Implemented a Political Contribution Compliance Policy.
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Data limitations in calculating Scope 3 emissions and historical energy consumption data due to COVID-19.
- Supply chain disruptions (implied, not explicitly stated).
Mitigation Strategies
- Engaged a third-party expert for in-depth analysis of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, with plans to expand to Scope 3.
- Used greenhouse gas estimates based on 2018 and 2019 data for carbon offset and REC purchases in 2020 due to lower energy use and occupancy rates.
- Strengthened supplier risk governance through the adoption of a Supplier Code of Conduct and periodic supplier risk assessments.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Jefferies Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3
- Goal 4
- Goal 5
- Goal 8
- Goal 9
- Goal 10
- Goal 11
- Goal 13
The report maps various initiatives to these SDGs.
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Scope 1 Emissions:2,462 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:8,117 tCO2e/year (location-based), 447 tCO2e/year (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:4,423 tCO2e/year (Business Travel), 2,486 tCO2e/year (Fuel and Energy-Related Activities)
Renewable Energy Share:100% (through EAC purchases)
Total Energy Consumption:24,031 MWh/year
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Governance
- Sustainable Finance
- Human Capital
- Responsible Business Practices
- Environmental Stewardship
- Social Impact
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved carbon neutrality in operations with available energy use data through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon offsetting.
- 100% renewable energy goal met through purchase of environmental attribute certificates.
Social Achievements
- Donated over $18 million to over 240 charities.
- 80% employee participation in inclusion-focused engagement survey.
- 546 employee-partners participated in the 2022 ERG Mentoring Program.
- Launched Global Fertility, Surrogacy and Adoption Program.
Governance Achievements
- Increased Board and Executive Team involvement in ESG/DEI initiatives.
- Adopted a Sustainable Investment Statement.
- 100% of employee-partners completed Unconscious Bias Training.
- Began publishing EEO-1 data externally.
Climate Goals & Targets
Short-term Goals:
- Set emissions reduction targets aligned with limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Environmental Challenges
- Need for greater diversity among senior leaders.
- Scope 3 emissions reporting needs expansion.
Mitigation Strategies
- Commitment to building a more diverse firm.
- Plan to expand Scope 3 reporting to include all relevant categories in 2023.
- Conducting a racial equity audit in 2023.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Jefferies Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3
- Goal 4
- Goal 5
- Goal 8
- Goal 9
- Goal 10
- Goal 11
- Goal 13
- Goal 15
Alignment with SDGs is described in the Appendix.
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Scope 1 Emissions:4,223 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:10,052 tCO2e/year (location-based), 1,813 tCO2e/year (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:196,275 tCO2e/year (location-based)
Renewable Energy Share:100% of total energy use (through EAC purchases)
Total Energy Consumption:24,766 MWh/year
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Governance
- Social Responsibility
- Environmental Stewardship
- Sustainable Finance
Environmental Achievements
- Expanded GHG inventory to include several Scope 3 categories.
- Improved the quality of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) assessment using new software and third-party consultants.
- Purchased Green-e Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to address emissions associated with grid electricity.
- Purchased carbon offsets from renewable solar installations in India certified by Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
Social Achievements
- Raised over $22 million in charitable donations.
- Engaged 224 unique clients from 84 firms through 12 client-targeted employee resource group events.
- 831 employee-partners participated in the fourth annual Jefferies Cross-Divisional Mentoring Program.
- Inclusion-focused employee engagement survey resulted in an engagement score of 82%.
- Conducted a racial equity and gender equity diagnostic with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT).
Governance Achievements
- Jefferies began the process of aligning with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework.
- Board’s ESG/DEI Committee has oversight of Jefferies’ sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
- Expanded measurement of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Climate Goals & Targets
Short-term Goals:
- Set emissions reduction targets and pursue 100% renewable electricity goal.
Environmental Challenges
- Navigating evolving ESG and DEI landscapes and addressing criticisms of these initiatives.
- Expanding Scope 3 emissions accounting.
- Increasing ethnic and racial diversity at Jefferies.
Mitigation Strategies
- Focusing on long-term value creation and responsible business practices.
- Expanding Scope 3 accounting for fiscal year 2022 inventory.
- Purchasing RECs and carbon offsets to address emissions.
- Engaging Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) for a racial equity diagnostic and certification program.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Periodic supplier risk assessment program
Responsible Procurement
- Jefferies Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events
- Business disruption
Transition Risks
- Policy/regulatory change
- Market sentiment
- Technology advancements
- Supply/demand/price
- Financial costs
Opportunities
- Reduced operating costs through resource efficiency
- Reduced exposure to fossil fuel prices
- Enhanced reputational benefits
- Increased revenues and new opportunities from new products and services
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, TCFD
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3
- Goal 4
- Goal 5
- Goal 7
- Goal 8
- Goal 9
- Goal 10
- Goal 11
- Goal 12
- Goal 16
See page 56 for details.