Altiorem

Responsible investor beliefs and practices which demand that the great sustainability challenges of our time fit within existing investment theory is bankrupt. It is the theory that must evolve to support what economist Kate Raworth calls a safe and just operating space for humanity. If the industry is unable to broaden its approach so that investment theory and practice fit within environmental and social guardrails, it will fail to capture the real-world value which must be its goal (and the key to its survival).

The Task Force on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) provides a framework for organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks and opportunities, thus supporting a shift in global financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and toward nature-positive outcomes. This article provides an update on the development of the TNFD and explains why it matters to investors.

Altiorem welcomes you to the next post within a regular series where we profile the inspiring and generous people who are making Altiorem possible. We are excited to introduce our intern profile on the amazing Krisma Maskey.

The finance industry is a key enabler of climate action. Through clear and consistent company climate disclosures the finance industry is better equipped to assess climate risk and direct capital flows to limit emissions.

For investors in Australian livestock, significant headwinds have begun closing in; a changing climate, the spread of animal borne diseases, the rise of antibiotic resistance, animal welfare concerns, and the growth in alternative protein markets all point to a future fraught with uncertainty.

Impact investing seeks to add value to society whilst also achieving financial returns. It is different from sustainable or ethical investing as it explicitly seeks to make a measurable positive social or environmental impact from the investment. Impact investing in recent years has begun to gain traction, with young investors most notably taking part. This article will explore impact investing, recent trends, and what the future holds for impact investing.

Research by MarketMeter finds that climate risk management is close to the bottom of investment priorities in a sample of 115 institutional investors. This remains relatively unchanged over the past year, despite increased rhetoric by major firms that they are engaging with the opportunities and risks associated with the climate crisis. So is this just corporate greenwashing, or are there deeper issues at play?

In 2015, Indigenous Business Australia launched Indigenous Investment Principles (the Principles), aiming to provide a voluntary investment framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Preceding the launch was two years of consultations with 40 Traditional Owner groups and Indigenous organisations across Australia, along with investors, advisors, and the resource sector.

When considering the rush of net zero commitments we need to ask whether it marks a positive signalling exercise which will drive real change, or is it a delusion that makes us feel good for now but will collapse when greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise? Commitments can set the stage for action, but they can also provide escape hatches for guilt free failure. Humanity has a small window through which a stable climate can still be achieved. Only if we can distinguish the bullsh*t from the actions driving real and equitable change at the scale and speed required will we make it through.