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| Overall Assessment |
Comment |
Score |
| Limited |
Fifth Third Bancorp provides only limited insight into its climate-related lobbying. The company acknowledges that it is "registered to have general discussions related to climate risk policies," but it does not identify any particular bill, regulation or jurisdiction it has tried to influence, nor does it even group its activity under recognizable policy categories beyond this broad reference. Its description of engagement mechanisms is similarly sparse: aside from noting undefined "general discussions" and collaboration with networks such as the Ceres Company Network and PCAF, the bank offers no detail on whether it writes letters, meets with elected officials, files testimony, or otherwise targets specific governmental bodies. Finally, the disclosures stop at high-level aspirations—such as "supporting the transition to renewables and a low carbon economy"—and do not articulate concrete policy changes, amendments, or regulatory outcomes it is pursuing. As a result, while the bank signals that it engages on climate-risk topics, it does not transparently explain which policies it addresses, how it lobbies, or what it seeks to achieve through those efforts.
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1
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| Overall Assessment |
Comment |
Score |
| Moderate |
Fifth Third’s governance of climate-related lobbying shows some formal oversight for indirect advocacy but lacks clear alignment mechanisms for direct lobbying or climate objectives. It has established a Climate Risk Council “chaired by the climate risk officer” that “was established in 2021 to coordinate the effective identification, management and reporting of climate-related risks impacting the Bank, and to support appropriate awareness and training efforts,” with members who “participate in the trade association discussions and provide the council with periodic updates as necessary,” indicating a mechanism to monitor indirect lobbying through industry associations. The bank also notes that “advocacy efforts are executed at the local, state and federal level by registered lobbyists” and that “Fifth Third’s political contributions are governed by the Government Affairs Policy. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board reviews political contributions semiannually and approves the policy annually,” demonstrating formal oversight of political spending. However, the company does not disclose any specific policy or process for ensuring that its direct lobbying aligns with its climate objectives, provides no published audit or report on climate-lobbying alignment, and we found no evidence of a targeted review of both direct and indirect lobbying activities against its climate strategy or a public commitment to conduct engagement in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
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