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
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.
Passing the baton: Creating value through CEO succession at family businesses
This McKinsey report analyses CEO succession at family-owned businesses, drawing on 200 publicly traded and 170 private FOBs globally. It finds that succession on average erodes shareholder value, but top-performing FOBs can achieve the opposite by applying 11 critical practices spanning five foundational and six distinctive areas.
Voice without influence? Global investor voting rationale disclosures in Korea
This study examines whether global institutional investors’ voting rationale disclosures influence Korean firms’ gender diversity and climate-related policies. It finds stronger investor focus on board gender diversity than climate risk, limited influence on large firms, greater impact on smaller firms’ emissions reductions, and evidence that voting rationales affect the credibility of sustainability reporting.
Trust, financial literacy, and financial behaviors: Shaping retirement security
This NBER working paper examines how trust in financial institutions and government programmes, and financial literacy, shape retirement security for Americans aged 50+. Using 2020 Health and Retirement Study data, it finds trust in financial institutions supports retirement saving, while trust in government programmes reduces private saving, with notable racial disparities.
Sustainability-related disclosure guidance
New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority guidance on sustainability-related disclosure for financial product issuers. Covers fair dealing obligations under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, addressing greenwashing and greenhushing risks, with practical guidance on clear claims, substantiation, consistent messaging and third-party management.
Beyond net zero: The rise of transition plans and what they tell investors
This Sustainable Fitch report examines the rise of corporate transition plans, driven by regulatory requirements and investor demand. It reviews six mainstream transition planning frameworks, finding alignment on core principles but variation in detail, and analyses around 40 entities, revealing strong Scope 1 and 2 targets but patchy Scope 3 commitments and limited transition revenue.
The criticality of gender equality in the race for critical minerals
This report explores how the rising demand for critical minerals risks exacerbating long-standing gender inequalities within the mining sector. It provides factual recommendations for governments and organisations to implement gender-responsive impact assessments, inclusive consultation, and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms to safeguard women's rights globally.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY ISHITA RAI
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.
Critical minerals traceability for energy and economic security
IEA finds traceability systems can strengthen critical mineral supply chain resilience by improving visibility, diversification and responsible sourcing. Adoption is increasing but remains uneven due to costs, interoperability issues and limited incentives. The report recommends harmonised standards, financial support and international co-operation to improve energy and economic security.