E50.07 - Climate and Community

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Purpose—This guide provides an overview of frameworks used for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures applicable to a variety of organizations. This guide provides users with information on the history of ESG disclosure frameworks, the components that comprise ESG disclosures, the target audience of these disclosures, and the challenges associated with this topic.  
4.2 How to Use Information—This guide is intended to provide a brief overview of ESG disclosure frameworks and considerations. The users of this guide are encouraged to review the sections of this guide and the supplemental information provided in the Appendices to this guide which include example templates and further discussion on key topics relevant to ESG disclosures.  
4.3 Who Should Use Information—The intended users of this guide may include a diverse range of stakeholders such as industries and companies that use, make, or sell products; regulators at federal, state and local levels; consultants and vendors; consumers; investors; academic researchers and students; non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and community constituents. Over the past 35 years, this topic has been the subject of increasing corporate, regulatory, consumer, ratings agencies, and stakeholder interest.  
4.4 Regulatory Context—This guide reviews regulatory developments regarding ESG disclosures in the U.S. and internationally. This guide provides a brief overview of regulatory developments and trends regarding ESG disclosures. Users of this guide should stay current on the regulatory requirements applicable to their operations, products, services, and supply and value chains.  
4.5 Frameworks—This guide provides an overview of ESG disclosure frameworks in the U.S. and internationally. There are several voluntary frameworks that provide guidance for ESG disclosures, such as GRI, TCFD, the Value Reporting Foundation, and the Stakeholder Capital Metrics framework (developed by the World Economic Forum a...
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1.1 This guide provides an overview of frameworks used for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures applicable to a variety of organizations.  
1.2 This guide discusses the history and purpose of ESG disclosure frameworks, as well as the challenges associated with the greater interest in and broader requirements for transparency and accountability in the information used in disclosures.  
1.3 The focus of this guide is the array of ESG disclosure frameworks and the regulatory context for organizations making ESG disclosures including climate and community concerns.  
1.4 The goal of this guide is to improve the users’ understanding of ESG disclosure frameworks and to outline but not to supersede federal, state, tribal, and local regulatory requirements, and guidelines for disclosures. This guide can be used in situations where there may not be a regulatory requirement or framework for disclosure, or where the user wishes to conduct voluntary disclosure initiatives. In addition, it can also be used to standardize efforts when several different disclosure requirements apply to an organization.  
1.5 This guide is organized as follows:    
Section 1  
Scope  
Section 2  
Referenced Documents  
Section 3  
Terminology  
Section 4  
Significance and Use  
Section 5  
Overview of ESG Disclosure Requirements and Guidelines  
Section 6  
Overview of ESG Disclosure Frameworks  
Section 7  
Common Elements of ESG Disclosures  
Section 8  
Data Sources and Metrics  
Section 9  
Materiality Determinations  
Section 10  
Communications Methods and Best Practices  
Section 11  
Keywords  
Appendix X1  
Resources for this Guide: Weblinks  
Appendix X2  
Example State and Municipal Disclosure Requirements  
Appendix X3  
Example Industry-Specific Disclosure Templates  
Appendix X4  
Databases for Federal Environmental Criteria  
Appendix X5  
Resources for Social and Gove...

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The Use of this Standard Guide—This guide addresses issues related solely to adaptation strategies and development of a plan to address extreme weather and related physical changes. This guide does not include specific guidance on risk assessment, however references are provided in Appendix X3. The matrix approach does reflect general risks for certain regions of the country, based upon the frequency of extreme weather and/or conditions such as fires, floods, storms, drought, and extreme temperatures. Adaptation strategies and planning may consist of a wide variety of actions by an individual, community, or organization to prepare for, or respond to, the impacts of extreme weather.  
4.1.1 This guide does not address causes of extreme weather.  
4.1.2 This guide addresses adjustment strategies and planning that a group of people or ecosystems make to limit negative effects of extreme weather. It also addresses taking advantage of opportunities that long term extreme weather patterns may present.  
4.2 Example Users:  
4.2.1 Small businesses or enterprises;  
4.2.2 Service industries;  
4.2.3 Federal, state or municipal facilities and regulators, including departments of health and fire departments;  
4.2.4 Financial and insurance institutions;  
4.2.5 Public works staff, including water system, stormwater system, wastewater system, solid waste, and other utilities (electrical, telephone, gas, et al) and other waste managers, including liquid and solid waste haulers, treatment, recycling, disposal and transfer;  
4.2.6 Consultants, auditors, state, municipal and private inspectors and compliance assistance personnel;  
4.2.7 Educational facilities;  
4.2.8 Property, buildings and grounds management, including landscaping;  
4.2.9 Non-regulatory government agencies, such as the military;  
4.2.10 Wildlife management entities including government, tribal and NGOs.  
4.3 This guide is a first step in crafting simplified goals for managing and communic...
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1.1 Overview—For the purposes of this guide, ‘resiliency’ refers to efforts by entities, organizations, or individuals to prepare for or adjust to future extreme weather and related physical conditions. The primary purpose is to reduce negative economic impacts associated with extreme weather.  
1.1.1 This guide presents a generalized, systematic approach to voluntary assessment and risk management of extreme climate related events and conditions. It helps the user structure their understanding of the climate related vulnerabilities and consequences they seek to manage. It helps the user identify adaptive actions of both an institutional (legal), as well as engineering (physical) nature. Options for analysis provide a priority ranking system to address the “worst first” risks of a municipality, local area or facility, addressing practicality and cost-benefit. Users may approach this analysis having initially undertaken a risk assessment to determine what they are seeking to manage, or use the guide to help determine the likely areas of greatest need.  
1.1.2 These climate adaptations or adjustments may be either protective (that is, guarding against negative impacts of extreme weather), or opportunistic (that is, taking advantage of any beneficial effects of extreme weather).  
1.1.3 This guide addresses adaptation strategies and planning in response to various impacts that may occur to individuals, organizations, human settlements or ecosystems in a broad variety of ways. For example, extreme weather might increase or decrease rainfall, influence agricultural crop yields, affect human health, cause changes to forests and other ecosystems, or impact energy supply or infrastructure.  
1.1.4 Climate-related impacts may occur locally within a region or across a country and may affect many sectors of the economy. In order to meet these challenges, this guide provides an organized, uniform approach to prepare for the impa...

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide outlines various techniques for evaluating and mitigating the impacts of climate change and weather extremes on remediation systems, activity and use limitations, stewardship and remediation activities.  
4.2 Users include: local, state, federal, tribal, and international agencies; the military; environmental consultants; developers; financial institutions; non-governmental organizations; environmental advocacy groups; commercial businesses, industries, and the interested public.  
4.3 A 2018 ITRC survey of 45 state environmental agencies found key Best Management Practices (BMPs) and adaptation strategies for resilient cleanup. These include remedy infrastructure and disaster planning for chemical releases as an important part of the state’s clean-up program. In some cases, such considerations are now required by state regulations and included in policy and guidance (ITRC, 2018 (3)).  
4.4 Adaptation is important because it is about considering and addressing the changing frequency and intensity of extreme events. Adaptation differs from resiliency by anticipating, planning and preparing for impacts under both current and future climate conditions.  
4.5 There are many models and different strategies on adapting to climate and weather extremes, including those in the European Union (European Union, 2013 (4), IPPC, 2001 (5)).  
4.6 The USGAO has reported benefits from evaluating climate risks for large projects. (USGAO, 2019 (6)) GAO found most Superfund sites have not factored the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and climate impacts into the design of remedies. This has resulted in unplanned releases of chemicals into the environment at some sites.  
4.7 Companies and organizations operating in accordance with ISO 14001-2015 may find this guide useful for meeting the long-term compliance obligation requirements of Clause 5.2 (ISO 14001-2015)  
4.8 This guide should be integrated into the fundamentals of an organizati...
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1.1 The potential for increasing climate and extreme weather impacts requires more attention be given to their effect on sites where chemicals have been released. All stages of remediation planning and implementation should consider and address potential climate and extreme weather impacts, such as flooding and wildfires, that may affect remedy sustainability, continued protection of human and ecological receptors, the surrounding community, and the environment. Both resiliency to current extreme weather impacts as well as adaptation to longer-term impacts due to the changing climate should be considered. Consideration of climate and extreme weather impacts during stabilization, remedial investigation, feasibility studies, remedial design, remedial action implementation, long-term operations and management, and site stewardship may lead to the use of innovative technologies and more robust remediation strategies.  
1.2 The conceptual site model is designed to inform all aspects of site decision making, inclusive of the investigation, feasibility study, design and implementation. It may be the most important mechanism to integrate consideration of climate impacts. The conceptual site model should be continuously developed and refined, while considering new knowledge about climate factors and potential impacts to the site.  
1.3 This ASTM resiliency guide identifies the best management practices for incorporating resiliency and vulnerability assessment into all stages of the site cleanup process. Historically, resiliency was primarily considered or contemplated in the final stages of the cleanup process, such as in the operation and maintenance stage, after a remedy was completely in place at a site. Gradually, resiliency has extended to earlier stages of the cleanup process. This may include initial vulnerability assessment for site stabilization and extending into the remedial investigation and feasibility stage. This ...

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This Guide addresses issues related solely to resiliency strategies and the development of a plan to address extreme weather and related physical and chemical changes to water resources. This guide does not include specific advice on risk assessment, however, references are provided in Appendix X1. Adaptation and resiliency design strategies and planning may consist of a wide variety of actions by individuals, communities, or organizations to prepare for, or respond to, the impacts of chronic and extreme natural and manmade events.  
4.2 Example Users:  
4.2.1 Small business or enterprise owners;  
4.2.2 Service industry employees;  
4.2.3 Federal, tribal, state or municipal facility staff and regulators, including departments of health; water, sewer and fire departments;  
4.2.4 Financial and insurance institutions;  
4.2.5 Public works staff, including water systems, groundwater supplies, surface water supplies, stormwater systems, wastewater systems, publically owned treatment works, and agriculture water management agencies;  
4.2.6 Consultants, auditors, state, municipal and private inspectors and compliance assistance personnel;  
4.2.7 Educational facilities;  
4.2.8 Property, buildings and grounds management, including landscaping staff;  
4.2.9 Non-regulatory government agencies, such as the military;  
4.2.10 Wildlife management entities including government, tribal, and NGOs;  
4.2.11 Cities, towns and counties, especially in developing climate vulnerability strategies and plans;  
4.2.12 Commercial and residential real estate property developers, including redevelopers;  
4.2.13 Non-profits, community groups, and property owners.  
4.3 This Guide is a first step in crafting a simplified framework for managing and communicating risks. The framework describes a process by which the user may categorize current climate risks and a priority approach to manage those risks. The technique classifies common responses for both mitigation and re...
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1.1 Overview—Water resources in North America and other areas are subject to various impacts from chronic weather patterns, as well as more frequent extreme weather events. These include drought, flooding, changes in stream patterns, increased or decreased run-off, and changes in water quality. Water resources include both man-made and natural reservoirs, rivers, streams, groundwater, and storage ponds. The infrastructure for water supply, wastewater treatment, fire-fighting and agricultural uses are also subject to chronic weather patterns and more frequent extreme weather related events. This guide will provide an explanation of techniques users may employ to build resiliency and a planning outline for municipalities, states and private industry in order to ensure safe, future, effective availability of water resources.  
1.2 Purpose—The purpose of this guide is to provide a series of options that organizations may implement to prepare for the environmental impacts and risks from changing environmental conditions, chronic weather patterns, natural or man-made disasters, and extreme weather events. This guide also encourages consistent management of risks from natural disasters to water resources. The guide presents practices and recommendations based on regions and planning horizons that provide institutional and engineering actions to reduce the physical and financial vulnerabilities attributable to changing environmental conditions. It presents available technologies, institutional controls, and engineering controls that can be implemented by individuals and organizations seeking to increase their adaptive and resiliency capacity.  
1.2.1 The guide also provides some high-level options for the planning, selection, implementation, and review of strategies in order to ensure that the approach continues to be environmentally responsible, in the best interest of the public, reasonable, and cost effective. This guide ca...