About | Mentor | Ishita Rai
Ishita Rai
I summarise and categorise all resources that go into Altiorem’s library, support engagement with Altiorem members, and ad hoc projects that enhance Altiorem’s value proposition and offering to sustainable finance communities.
PROFILE
I summarise and categorise all resources that go into Altiorem’s library, support engagement with Altiorem members, and ad hoc projects that enhance Altiorem’s value proposition and offering to sustainable finance communities.
RECENTLY REVIEWED BY ISHITA RAI
Modeling ghost GDP: Macro-financial risk and diversified portfolios in the age of artificial intelligence, automation, and populism
This PDI working paper stress-tests four AI-driven labour displacement scenarios against US macro-financial data, modelling cascading losses across household debt, corporate credit, equities, pensions, insurance, and fiscal channels. Total economy-wide value at risk ranges from approximately $15–18 trillion (Light) to $62–72 trillion (Aggressive). Predistributive mechanisms are proposed as structural solutions.
What a waste 3.0: Global snapshot of solid waste management toward circularity until 2050
What a Waste 3.0 provides a global assessment of municipal solid waste management across 217 countries and economies. It analyses waste generation, collection, treatment, recycling, financing, employment, climate impacts and circularity pathways to 2050, highlighting rising waste volumes, infrastructure investment needs, resource recovery opportunities and policy frameworks for sustainable waste systems.
National climate change risk assessment for Aotearoa New Zealand series
This benchmark series provides a comprehensive evaluation of climate change risks across Aotearoa New Zealand. It assesses vulnerabilities within the natural environment, built infrastructure, economy, society, and governance frameworks. The series serves as a critical resource for guiding long-term adaptation planning, resilient investment, and strategic policy development.
The accountability framework operational guidance series
The Accountability Framework Operational Guidance series provides practical guidance for companies on implementing responsible agricultural and forestry supply chains. The series covers environmental protection, human rights, workers’ rights, Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ rights, supply chain management, reporting, remediation, and compliance with voluntary commitments and applicable law.
Accountability Framework initiative
The Accountability Framework initiative (AFi) is a coalition of NGOs promoting ethical supply chains by providing guidance and support to help companies eliminate deforestation, land conversion, and human rights abuses in the agriculture and forestry sectors.
The progress report: Climate risk reporting in the U.S. insurance sector series
This benchmark series assesses the quality and comprehensiveness of climate risk reporting by U.S. insurance companies against the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework. It tracks industry-wide reporting practices, disclosure maturity, governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics over time to evaluate progress in climate-related financial risk disclosure.
Annual snapshot series
This benchmark series provides annual snapshots of the Climate Leaders Coalition, tracking how New Zealand businesses are progressing on climate action. It outlines signatories’ commitments, emissions management, climate risk and resilience efforts, collaboration initiatives, and leadership activities supporting the transition to a low-emissions economy.
Climate Leaders Coalition
Climate Leaders Coalition is a CEO-led community of over 80 organisations in New Zealand driving collective and transparent climate action through advocacy, capability-building, and peer support to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient economy.
Navigating global risks in the Pacific 2026
A Pacific-focused commentary drawing on the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026, examining how geopolitical fragmentation, digital transformation, climate volatility and workforce pressures are reshaping operating environments across Australia, New Zealand and the broader Pacific region.
A guide to the New Zealand emissions trading scheme: 2026 update: Design, evolution, and current state
This guide outlines the design, evolution, and current state of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme as of March 2026. It covers sectoral coverage, unit supply, price controls, free allocation, forestry, and emissions trends, including recent legislative changes to agricultural obligations and the 2050 biogenic methane target.
State of the Industry: Cultivated meat, seafood, and ingredients series
This benchmark series is an annual State of the Industry series that provides a global overview of the cultivated meat, seafood and ingredients sector. It tracks commercial developments, investment activity, scientific and technological progress, consumer insights, and government and regulatory developments, assessing the sector’s progress towards large-scale commercialisation and adoption.
Boom and bust coal series
The Boom and Bust series is an annual research series that tracks the global coal plant pipeline using data from the Global Coal Plant Tracker. It examines trends in coal power development, construction, commissioning, retirements and policy developments across countries and regions, providing an overview of changes in the global coal sector.
The hidden benefit of ESG
This study examines 2,386 U.S.-listed firms from 2016 to 2021 and finds a causal link between higher ESG scores and fewer financial statement restatements in the post-2019 Business Roundtable Statement period. The findings position ESG as a rational risk management tool and challenge the premise underlying anti-ESG legislation.
TPI Global Climate Transition Centre
TPI Global Climate Transition Centre is an academic research centre at LSE providing independent research and open-source data on the climate transition progress of companies and sovereigns, supporting investor decision-making and alignment with the Paris Agreement.
State of the Sovereign Transition 2025
The State of the Sovereign Transition 2025 assesses 85 countries on climate targets, policies and finance using the ASCOR framework. Most have set net zero targets, but near-term ambition and transparency remain inadequate. Progress is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries, while the US has seen significant policy retreat.
Five differentiators of outperforming family-owned businesses in India
McKinsey analysed about 300 publicly listed Indian family-owned businesses to identify five differentiators of top performers: core operational excellence, effective generational transition, portfolio diversification, talent and culture, and robust governance. FOBs contribute more than 75 percent of India's GDP and outperform non-family-owned businesses on revenue growth and shareholder returns.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY ISHITA RAI
He Pou a Rangi - Climate Change Commission
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission is New Zealand’s independent climate advisory body. It provides evidence-based advice to government on emissions budgets, climate change mitigation and adaptation, while monitoring progress towards national emissions reduction targets. The Commission publishes climate risk assessments, policy advice and monitoring reports to support a low-emissions, climate-resilient economy.
Marsh
Marsh is a global insurance broker and risk advisory firm that helps organisations identify, assess and manage complex risks. Through insurance broking, risk management, cybersecurity, climate risk, analytics and consulting services, Marsh supports businesses across industries in making informed decisions, building resilience and navigating regulatory, operational and financial challenges worldwide.
Motu Economic and Public Policy Research
Motu Research is an independent New Zealand economics and public policy research institute that produces evidence-based research on climate change, emissions trading, wellbeing, housing, productivity, labour markets and human rights. Through publications, data analysis and policy engagement, Motu helps decision-makers, researchers and finance professionals understand key environmental, social and economic challenges.
Value Balancing Alliance
Value Balancing Alliance is a non-profit organisation that develops impact accounting and valuation methodologies to help businesses and investors measure environmental, social and economic impacts alongside financial performance. Through research, pilot studies, publications and collaboration with global companies, it supports sustainability reporting, ESG analysis, impact measurement and informed decision-making.
Council of Europe
Council of Europe is an international organisation that promotes human rights, democracy and the rule of law across Europe. Through the European Court of Human Rights, policy frameworks, monitoring bodies and intergovernmental cooperation, it supports member states on issues including justice, equality, digital rights, governance, social rights and democratic institutions.
Royal London Asset Management
Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) is a UK-based asset manager providing investment solutions across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, property and cash. It integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decision-making and stewardship activities, offering responsible investment expertise, sustainable investing strategies, market insights and portfolio management services for institutional and intermediary clients worldwide.
Biodiversity Council
Biodiversity Council is an independent Australian expert group founded by 11 universities to promote evidence-based solutions to biodiversity loss. Through research, policy engagement, public communication and First Nations knowledge, Biodiversity Council provides trusted expertise on nature conservation, environmental policy and biodiversity protection for governments, businesses and communities across Australia.
Power Shift Africa
Power Shift Africa is a Pan-African climate and energy think tank focused on climate action, renewable energy and sustainable development. Based in Kenya, it provides policy analysis, advocacy and media engagement to amplify African perspectives on climate justice, clean energy transitions and low-carbon development across Africa and international climate policy discussions.
Migrant Justice Institute (MJI)
Migrant Justice Institute (MJI) is an Australian research and advocacy organisation focused on migrant worker rights, labour exploitation and wage theft. It conducts legal and policy research on migration, workplace justice and supply-chain accountability, supporting evidence-based reform and helping organisations address human rights, modern slavery and ESG-related labour risks.
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is a UK public university delivering education and research across business, finance, sustainability, health and technology. Through its Global Sustainability Institute and ESG-related programmes, ARU supports research on climate, sustainable finance and responsible business, helping students and professionals develop practical skills for evolving environmental and economic challenges.
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), part of World Bank Group, provides political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantees to support foreign direct investment in developing countries. MIGA helps investors and lenders manage non-commercial risks, including political instability and contract breaches, while promoting sustainable economic development, infrastructure investment and private sector growth.
Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD)
Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) is a Netherlands-based non-profit research and consultancy organisation focused on biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainable development. FSD supports nature conservation, ecosystem valuation and environmental decision-making through research, global partnerships and knowledge platforms, including Nature Today and the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD).
Energy Futures Foundation
Energy Futures Foundation is an Australian non-profit organisation focused on accelerating the country’s clean energy transition. It produces evidence-based policy research and advocacy on freight electrification, distributed energy, carbon accountability and circular supply chains. Energy Futures Foundation supports affordable, low-emissions transport and energy systems through publications, collaboration and policy engagement.
Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI)
Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI) is a South Korean government-funded research organisation specialising in energy economics, climate policy and sustainable energy systems. KEEI publishes energy statistics, policy analysis and market research covering renewable energy, energy security, decarbonisation and resource management, supporting policymakers, researchers and finance professionals monitoring energy transition developments.
Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) is an independent Brussels-based think tank focused on European Union policy, sustainability, economics, finance, climate, digital regulation and governance. CEPS produces research, policy analysis, events and publications that support evidence-based decision-making for policymakers, businesses and finance professionals across Europe and international policy sectors.
How poverty fell
Global extreme poverty fell mainly within cohorts, with substantial household churn and varied exit pathways. Sector shifts, migration, occupation changes and women’s labour force participation contributed unevenly; most households exited poverty without these changes.