Stifel
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021, 2022, October 23–30, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:12,000 metric tons of CO2e (estimated for office space) + 21,150 metric tons of CO2e (estimated Scope 3)
Scope 1 Emissions:12,000 metric tons of CO2e (estimated)
Scope 3 Emissions:21,150 metric tons of CO2e (estimated)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Offset 13,500 metric tons of carbon in 2021 through carbon offset donation funding projects such as improved cook stoves in Bangladesh and truck stop electrification in the US.
- Significant reduction in corporate air travel due to the pandemic, leading to a decreased carbon footprint.
Social Achievements
- Managed and held $5.2 billion in ESG assets as of December 31, 2021.
- Underwrote 282 CRA-eligible bonds for more than $4.2 billion, including low- and middle-income school districts and affordable housing.
- Opened a Health and Wellness Center at headquarters in St. Louis.
- Associates completed 33,000 hours of compliance and ethics-related training.
Governance Achievements
- Institutionalized ESG into business practices.
- Implemented robust risk management practices, including stress testing, resulting in capital ratios remaining above minimum requirements.
- Maintained a reporting hotline for anonymous submission of compliance concerns.
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Data collection for accurate GHG footprint calculation.
- Recruiting challenges during the pandemic.
Mitigation Strategies
- Developing data collection systems to calculate GHG footprint based on actual energy usage.
- Utilizing various recruitment methods, including college campus visits and internship programs.
Supply Chain Management
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:11,065 metric tons of CO2e (estimated)
ESG Focus Areas
- Data Security
- Financial Inclusion & Capacity Building
- Employee Diversity & Inclusion
- Incorporation of Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Credit Analysis
- Business Ethics
- Systemic Risk Management
- Incorporation of Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Investment Banking & Brokerage Activities
- Employee Incentives & Risk Taking
- Transparent Information & Fair Advice for Customers
- Incorporation of Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Investment Management & Advisory
- Proxy Voting
- Environmental Footprint
- Philanthropy
- Community Investment
Environmental Achievements
- Purchased carbon offsets avoiding 7,400 metric tons of emissions
- Reduced paper consumption from 69 million sheets in 2019 to 48 million in 2022
- Decreased energy usage across technological systems due to cloud transition
- Recycled electronics saving energy, GHG emissions, water, hazardous waste, and solid waste (quantified in the report)
Social Achievements
- Spent $33 million with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses
- 779 Stifel associates were promoted in 2022
- Expanded stock grant program to 4,200 additional associates
- Enhanced fertility and family-building benefits
- 26,000+ associate volunteer hours
- 1,400+ associates serving on nonprofit boards
- Increased access to 401(k) contribution matching
- Launched “Yes, We Can” initiative for best-in-class client service
- Established Diversity Ambassadors Council
- Partnerships with HBCUs for grants, mentorship, and financial literacy
- Financial literacy initiatives reaching 1,957 participants and distributing educational materials
Governance Achievements
- 82% of Stifel Financial Corp. Board of Directors are Independent
- ESG work overseen at the Board level by the Nominations & Corporate Governance Committee
- Implemented improved supply chain monitoring and database access monitoring
- Significant investments in technology-based data-loss prevention systems
- Improved secure web gateway technology
- Standardized secure code practices
- Upgraded managed security information and event management (SIEM) capabilities
- Revamped identity access management (IAM) tooling and processes
- Formal risk assessment performed annually
Climate Goals & Targets
Short-term Goals:
- Complete a full GHG assessment based on actual energy usage across operations in 2023
Environmental Challenges
- Greenhouse gas emissions from office space
- Maintaining data security in a highly regulated industry
Mitigation Strategies
- Investing in efficiency and retrofitting improvements to reduce energy usage
- Migrating technology services to the cloud for increased security and efficiency
- Implementing a layered security architecture with improved monitoring, data-loss prevention, secure web gateways, standardized code practices, upgraded SIEM capabilities, revamped IAM, and network segmentation
- Annual risk assessments and identification of critical assets, safeguards, threats, and vulnerabilities
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Intentionally seeking out minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses as suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB
Reporting Period: October 23–30, 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Sustainability
- Ethical Business Practices
- Social Sustainability
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Increased consumer concern about the state of the economy and personal finances.
- Negative brand backlash on social media for statements or actions on social issues.