The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) annual State of Net Zero report series is Australia’s most comprehensive analysis of institutional investors’ net zero investment practices. This benchmark series is based on survey responses from firms managing trillions of dollars on behalf of Australian and New Zealand beneficiaries.

This report identifies barriers to effective investor stewardship and engagement, highlighting challenges such as unclear definitions, resource constraints, and ineffective reporting. It outlines practical solutions from WHEB, recommending clearer alignment of engagement objectives with client mandates and prioritising measurable outcomes over activity metrics to deliver long-term client value.

​WHEB is a specialist boutique asset manager focused entirely on sustainable and positive impact investing. In 2025, WHEB was acquired by Foresight Group, a leading investment manager providing diverse investment solutions aimed at reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable growth.

This paper critically examines investor stewardship, shifting from traditional shareholder-focused governance towards "enlightened stewardship." It advocates balancing fiduciary duties with broader societal and environmental considerations. Analysing the evolution of the UK Stewardship Code, it highlights a systemic shift to integrate sustainability and stakeholder concerns alongside financial returns for long-term value creation.

The report analyses the investment required to address the natural capital gap for achieving Sustainable Development Goals in 40 countries, finding that investing US$7.4 trillion could generate returns exceeding US$152 trillion, greatly benefiting air quality, human health, ecosystems, and reducing premature deaths and resource depletion globally.

The report explores how ocean pollution poses financial, legal and reputational risks to businesses, particularly land-based sectors. It identifies data gaps as a barrier to effective decision-making and highlights opportunities in green chemistry, data innovation and sustainable finance. It recommends integrating ocean health into corporate and financial strategies.

This series explores the evolving role of biodiversity in sustainable finance, investment strategies, and regulatory developments. It examines biodiversity risk, natural capital investment, reporting frameworks, and financial instruments supporting conservation efforts. The series provides insights into emerging market mechanisms, data challenges, and the integration of biodiversity considerations into financial decision-making.

This case study outlines the use of hybrid bonds to finance organic dairy farms. It provides investors with insights into sustainable agriculture investments that promote environmental stewardship and offer attractive financial returns.

The report examines the UK government's role in corporate governance, identifying four key functions: enhancing competitive advantage, compensating for self-regulation failures, preventing corporate scandals, and reassuring the public of its oversight. It evaluates regulatory frameworks, corporate failures, and policy developments, highlighting implications for governance, politics, and economic stability.

This case study offers investors a blueprint for developing smallholder forestry projects. It highlights successful investment strategies that support sustainable forestry practices among smallholder farmers, promoting economic development and environmental conservation.

The report explores the impact of geopolitical uncertainty on long-term investing, highlighting risks and opportunities for institutional investors. It emphasises the need for integrating geopolitical considerations into investment strategies, governance, and decision-making frameworks. The report provides practical tools for investors to assess geopolitical resilience, manage risks, and engage with stakeholders while balancing short-term pressures with long-term value creation.

This report aims to support readers in understanding Bankable Nature Solutions (BNS) and start identifying and developing their own BNS project by providing Blueprints for Bankable Nature Solutions from across the globe to adapt to and mitigate climate change and to help our living planet thrive.

The report analyses the environmental, equity, and just transition challenges of emerging aviation fuels. It highlights the sector’s carbon footprint, workforce impacts, and policy needs, advocating for transparent regulations, equitable resource distribution, and community engagement to ensure a sustainable and fair transition to low-emission aviation.

ShareAction’s report introduces a standardised escalation framework for investors to engage with companies on environmental and social issues. It outlines an escalation toolkit and pathway to ensure structured, transparent, and time-bound engagement. The framework aims to enhance investor accountability, drive systemic change, and improve corporate sustainability practices through clear expectations, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms.

The report underscores the need for inclusivity in the digital revolution, highlighting gender disparities in STEM fields. Women are underrepresented in digital and engineering roles, limiting their access to future job opportunities. Policy interventions, improved workplace conditions, and equitable funding are essential to fostering diversity in technological innovation and ensuring sustainable, inclusive development.

The report outlines the challenges of ESG fund classification and proposes a structured framework based on three observable features: ESG information use for risk-adjusted returns, policies controlling ESG exposure, and explicit impact objectives. It critiques existing regulatory approaches and suggests improvements for investor clarity, regulatory effectiveness, and research utility.