NXP Semiconductors* to Publish Climate Roadmap
Contact Information:
Andrea Ranger, Shareholder Advocate, aranger@greencentury.com, 781-349-2813
Pam Podger, Communications Director, ppodger@greencentury.com, 802-299-9495
Boston, February 14, 2024 – Green Century° filed a shareholder proposal with NXP Semiconductors in December, asking the company to develop and publish a climate roadmap or climate transition plan. After close collaboration with Green Century, NXP pledged to develop a plan detailing its approach to achieving its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, allowing Green Century to withdraw its proposal.
NXP is a Dutch company based in Eindhoven, Netherlands and has significant operations in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the broader Asia-Pacific region, including China. It both designs and manufactures analog and digital microchips and co-invented technology with Sony that allows consumers to use their mobile phones as electronic wallets. NXP’s chips also allow commuters to use their phones or smart cards to purchase trips on major public transit systems, and can be found in electronic passports where they protect sensitive personal information.
Despite substantive efforts to limit its impact on the climate, NXP had not published a climate transition plan, which is an emerging best practice. These plans describe how companies will evolve their business strategies, invest capital, measure progress, and assess anticipated obstacles in order to achieve their GHG emissions reduction targets. They can provide investors assurance that companies’ goals are not just aspirational but actually intended to be fulfilled.
NXP Values Sustainability
NXP has already established ambitious targets for reducing its carbon footprint. For example, it aims to reduce the emissions from its operations by 35% by 2027; in that same year, NXP plans to source 50% renewable energy to power its business.
“Asset managers need transparency to adequately assess risks and create value for their investors. NXP’s climate transition plan is a roadmap that will show how the company will navigate its way to shrinking its carbon footprint. It will help provide insights into its climate risks, which is a factor that any investors should measure and manage,” said Green Century Funds President Leslie Samuelrich.
As a founding member of the Semiconductor Climate Consortium, NXP demonstrates its commitment to lessening its impact on the climate. The Consortium urges its members to reduce their GHG emissions to help limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. NXP has taken an important first step toward that goal by committing to set aggressive GHG emissions reduction targets with the Science Based Targets initiative, a globally recognized climate non-profit.
“The semiconductor industry generates a lot of emissions due to its heavy energy consumption and the greenhouse gases used to create the tiny circuitry patterns in microchips,” commented Green Century Shareholder Advocate Andrea Ranger. “It’s impressive that NXP has set an aggressive path to cut those emissions. Green Century would like all our portfolio companies to do the same, which is why our recent engagements have focused on ensuring corporate climate goals are backed up by strategy and action. Climate transition plans are an important way to do this – almost the equivalent of saying ‘show us your homework.’”
An investment strategy that incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.
###
About Green Century Funds
°Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (Green Century) is the investment advisor to the Green Century Funds (The Funds). The Green Century Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. Green Century hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.
*As of December 31, 2023, NXP Semiconductors N.V. comprised 1.91%, 0.27%, and 0.00% and Intel Corporation comprised 0.00%, 0.78%, and 0.00% of Green Century Balanced Fund, the Green Century Equity Fund, and the Green Century International Index Fund, respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the Green Century Funds. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.
You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.greencentury.com, email info@greencentury.com, or call 1-800-934-7336. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.
Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.
This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.
The Green Century Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 235 W Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212. 2/2024
