ESG (Environment, Social & Governance) assessment is establishing itself in the financial sector as a major tool for seizing new opportunities and mitigating extra-financial risks. Admittedly imperfect, it has the merit of improving transparency and comparability in the analysis of corporate sustainability criteria. Widely used by financial institutions, banks, insurers, private equity firms and asset managers, ESG assessments applied to different asset classes provide invaluable information for identifying the risks and opportunities associated with the ecological and social transition.

ESG data and models are now just as essential as financial criteria for assessing the sustainability or resilience of assets, and are becoming a key element in the ESG strategy of financial players.

The ESG technology landscape is currently being turned upside down by 3 fundamental technological trends. Firstly, the consolidation of historical ESG data providers, such as the strategic partnership between Moody's and MSCI. Secondly, the availability of new, high-performance open-source generative AI solutions for ESG data collection, research and analysis is prompting IT Departments to build their own models. Finally, the FinTech ecosystem dedicated to sustainable finance has never been so rich and dynamic, with a number of players making their mark on specific issues.

• Mastery of ESG regulatory and normative frameworks: SFRD, Article 8.9, CSRC, ORSA, etc.

• Successful experience using the latest LLM and SLM models dedicated to the sustainable finance and ESG sector

• Expertise in ESG platform architecture

• Partnerships with several FinTech and Climate Tech leaders in their segment: Sweep on financed emissions, Jupiter on physical risks, etc.

We help Private Equity players, Asset Managers, Family Offices, P&C insurers and Bancassurers to choose, build or integrate the solutions best suited to their market, strategy and constraints.

Artificial (generative) intelligence is a source of performance and numerous opportunities for economic performance or responses to societal challenges. At the same time, its rapid deployment presents a number of risks for citizens and society.

To address these risks, AI regulation is gathering pace, with the European AI Act coming into force. The notion of trustworthy AI meets these challenges. It takes shape around a market consensus on key requirements (technical robustness and security, privacy, model transparency, explicability, etc.), which was countered 3 years ago by the launch of certification standards to help companies adopt best practices and achieve compliance.

• Valuable feedback and practical lessons learned from more than 15 companies that have already been guided towards trusted AI.

• Guaranteed compliance of your AI projects and models with the AI Act

• Transparency for your stakeholders, and risk management throughout the lifecycle of your AI projects

We also audit our customers' AI practices on the basis of the best reference frameworks and market standards, and (retro)document their projects for an effective, de-risked and enforceable approach to AI.

With the increasing demands of ESG regulations such as the CSRD, the EU Taxonomy, the CSDDD, and others, along with heightened pressure from civil society, it is imperative to align strategic plans with decarbonization objectives. A well-defined strategy, translated into concrete actions, not only ensures regulatory compliance but also prepares for sustainable transformation, offering competitive advantages and access to financing linked to decarbonization.

• In-depth expertise in international and sector-specific standards: Mastery of frameworks such as GHG Protocol®, Bilan Carbone®, PCAF, NZI, SBTi, ACT®, etc.

• Compliance with ESRS E1 requirements of the CSRD: Coverage of Mitigation and Energy aspects, and alignment by design with other ESG regulations.

• Pragmatic and operational approach: Development and deployment of ambitious decarbonization strategies tailored to specific business challenges, focusing on CAPEX/OPEX, ROI, productivity gains, and resilience.

• Mastery of technological solutions: Expertise in accelerating GHG emissions calculations and action plan tracking, including selection and integration of market tools, custom solution development, and progressive automation of data collection.

• Use of artificial intelligence (incl. generative) to enhance productivity: Quality data verification, identification of reduction actions, and concrete application examples.

Often seen solely as a cost, we propose the financialization of decarbonization plans, analyzing mobilized CAPEX/OPEX and the costs of inaction to determine long-term benefits for our clients.

Our technological DNA allows us to combine three key areas of expertise: strategic decarbonization consulting, integration of cutting-edge technological solutions, and extensive experience in change management. This includes training and change management necessary to deploy transformative and effective decarbonization strategies, as well as the implementation or development of customized solutions integrated into the Information System.

Strong regulatory obligations in the ESG sector, particularly related to the CSRD, as well as the handling of data specific to climate risk, require companies to equip themselves to better manage their risks and take adaptative actions.

• A pragmatic approach to maximize project ROI and gains in resilience and productivity, even in the short term, supported notably by Generative AI, for example, to populate our library of adaptive actions and sector vulnerabilities and strategies or to facilitate access to climate information

• Responsible and de-risked climate AI models through the use of our certified ADM AI methodology, labeled and aligned with the future European AI Act

• Deliverables and analyses that are auditable and aligned with ESG regulations (CSRD, EU green taxonomy, ORSA…), through an approach conforming by design to the CSRD (ESRS E1 requirements – Adaptation to climate change) and allowing for continuous reporting of Data Points

Axionable's technological DNA enables us to quickly measure physical and transition risks, for example by mapping the physical risks or transition risks and opportunities of our clients in a few days, or by going further and quantifying, thanks to AI, the impact of climate change on a site or set of sites, and integrating these works within our clients' IT systems.

Biodiversity loss, affecting about 1 million threatened species according to IPBES (2019), undermines crucial ecosystem services such as pollination, resource provision, and water purification. This has a direct impact on sectors like agriculture, fisheries, pharmaceuticals, construction, and many others.

Water management and, more broadly, resource utilization are also critical. The UN World Water Report (2021) predicts that up to 5.7 billion people could live in areas facing water scarcity by 2050. Water crises are among the top global risks according to the World Economic Forum. Companies must manage the risks of water scarcity and pollution to ensure the continuity of their operations.

• Integrated and Holistic Approach: Development of strategies covering biodiversity, water management, and circular economy, tailored to sector-specific needs and business challenges.

• Advanced Use of Artificial Intelligence: Image analysis for detecting animal and plant species, enabling the identification of the impact of company activities on ecosystems and facilitating appropriate corrective actions.

• Customized Technological Solutions: Integration of environmental management tools, development of bespoke solutions for monitoring key environmental performance indicators, and automation of reporting processes.

• Focus on Circularity: Support in implementing circular economy practices, promoting waste reduction, recycling, and resource reuse.

• Assessment and Analysis: Measuring the impact of activities on biodiversity, water, and circularity using advanced technologies like AI for precise and effective analysis.
• Strategy and Design: Developing environmental strategies aligned with Environmental ESRS and other ESG regulations, including concrete and actionable plans.
• Implementation and Monitoring: Deploying action plans, integrating technological solutions, and tracking progress through environmental performance indicators.

Our technological expertise and change management experience enable us to deliver innovative and effective solutions, helping our clients transform their environmental practices and achieve their sustainability goals.