RS GROUP PLC

Lobbying Transparency and Governance

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Direct Lobbying Transparency
Overall Assessment Comment Score
Strong RS Group PLC provides a detailed picture of its climate-policy advocacy. It names multiple identifiable policies it has tried to influence, including the UK Government’s “adoption of the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC’s) recommendations on legislating for a net-zero carbon economy by 2050,” the global “Paris Agreement,” the Companies Act 2006 Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, demonstrating a high level of transparency about what it has lobbied. The company also explains how it lobbies: it “engaged with advisors, trade associations and with government through national and local politicians,” and its CEO “supported and signed the letter sent by the CBI, the CLG, and the IIGCC on 31 May 2019 to the Prime Minister,” pinpointing both the mechanisms (letter, engagement via associations and advisors) and at least one specific target (the UK Prime Minister), even though most other policymaker targets are described in broader terms. Finally, RS Group is explicit about the outcomes it pursues, backing the CCC’s net-zero legislation and “the introduction of zero-emissions targets,” affirming that it offers “support with no exceptions.” Together these disclosures convey strong, though not exhaustive, transparency on the company’s climate lobbying intentions and practices. 3
Lobbying Governance
Overall Assessment Comment Score
Strong RS GROUP PLC outlines a clear governance process for ensuring its lobbying aligns with its climate strategy, noting that “Our VP Social Responsibility and Sustainability and our VP Global EHS work to ensure the Group’s direct and indirect engagement activities, which influence climate change policy are consistent with the Group’s overall climate change-related strategy,” and that “the process is supported through the Group’s ESG leadership committee which is chaired by a non-executive director,” complemented by investor relations and public relations teams to “identify the key contacts for engagement with regard to climate change.” This demonstrates oversight of both direct and indirect lobbying channels by named executives and a formal committee, establishing a common approach to policy engagement. However, the company does not disclose any dedicated audit or third-party review of its climate lobbying alignment, no public report or detailed monitoring schedule is provided, and we found no evidence of criteria for evaluating or exiting associations whose policy positions diverge from its climate commitments. 3