SMBC Group is a global financial services provider offering a wide range of banking, asset management, and advisory services. With a strong presence across markets, SMBC Group supports businesses and institutions with customised financial solutions, promoting sustainable finance and responsible investment practices. Explore more on their website for detailed insights.

This report surveys 509 equity portfolio managers on how they integrate environmental and social (ES) factors into investment decisions. Over 75% of respondents, including traditional investors, use ES factors, driven primarily by financial motivations. Constraints such as fund mandates influence these decisions, but most managers avoid sacrificing financial returns for ES performance.

This report explores the private investment landscape for plastics circularity, providing key insights from the Plastics Circularity Investment Tracker. It reveals that while $32 billion is invested annually, this is far below the $1 trillion needed to meet global 2040 targets. Emerging markets, which account for significant plastic pollution, receive only 6% of total investments.

This guide explores the role of investors in addressing modern slavery within their portfolios. It provides practical steps for identifying risks, engaging investee companies, and enabling remediation when harm occurs. It includes case studies, recommendations, and legal frameworks to help investors meet their obligations and protect human rights.

This report explores the global issue of aquatic food loss and waste (FLW), quantifying it across various species and product types. In 2021, approximately 14.8% of aquatic foods were lost or wasted globally. The report identifies hotspots, outlines key drivers, and suggests targeted interventions to enhance sustainability in the aquatic food industry.

This report presents a multi-asset class decarbonisation framework aimed at bridging the global climate investment gap and guiding financial institutions in capital allocation strategies to decarbonise the real economy. The framework includes steps to set emission reduction targets, allocate capital accordingly, and monitor progress using metrics like the Net Zero Deviation Index (NZDI), while emphasising collaboration with policymakers and stakeholders.

This report outlines circular economy practices within the industrial goods sector, assessing actions taken by approximately 50 companies. It categorises their efforts into five key areas, highlighting examples of innovation and collaboration to advance sustainability while minimising waste and resource consumption in production processes.

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) is a leading research centre focused on sustainable investment practices. CCSI provides resources, analysis, and tools to support responsible investment in natural resources and infrastructure. Its work promotes social, environmental, and economic sustainability while addressing issues like human rights and community engagement.

This report explores the growing role of commercial paper (CP) in sustainable finance, focusing on its use in financing green and sustainable projects. It categorises CP into Use of Proceeds and Sustainability-Linked CP, discussing market data, feasibility, and challenges.

This report compares major sustainability disclosure regulations, including the ESRS, IFRS S1/S2, SEC Climate Rule, and California’s SB 253/261. It provides an overview of their scope, implementation timelines, reporting requirements, and penalties, helping companies understand the complex landscape and align disclosures across multiple frameworks to reduce compliance burdens and enhance transparency.

The paper seeks feedback from the financial sector on a proposed model for aligning finance with nature-positive outcomes. It provides strategies and definitions aimed at guiding financial institutions in contributing to global biodiversity goals, helping to mitigate negative impacts while supporting nature-positive financial practices. The paper outlines key actions financial institutions can take to improve biodiversity outcomes.

This report analyses how the top 20 highest-emitting countries address pro-climate behaviour through their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It highlights that while progress has been made in promoting electric vehicles, public transport, and household energy efficiency, crucial areas like sustainable diets and air travel are often overlooked, limiting the potential for impactful change.

This report highlights the role of bioeconomy finance in addressing climate, nature, and equity goals. This report analyses challenges, instruments, and opportunities for financing the bioeconomy globally, advocating for integrated strategies and international collaboration. It emphasises equitable development, biodiversity conservation, and the potential for job creation and economic growth.

Examining the interplay between financial systems and ecological thresholds, this research identifies pivotal financial flows linked to land use changes in the Brazilian Amazon and Indonesian peatlands. It proposes targeted interventions to steer these investments towards sustainable practices, emphasising the need for global policy alignment to mitigate the systemic risks posed by ecosystem tipping points.

This report assesses the barriers and opportunities for scaling private sector investment in natural capital. It outlines key recommendations, including the establishment of a Nature Finance Accelerator, to drive financial flows towards nature. The study highlights the importance of overcoming low returns, small deal sizes, and high transaction costs to attract private investment.

NatureFinance focuses on advancing sustainable finance to address global environmental challenges, particularly biodiversity loss and climate change. It promotes innovative financial tools, policies, and partnerships that align financial systems with nature-positive outcomes.