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We summarise credible research and reports on sustainable finance and ESG issues. Our summaries, along with our AI ChatBot saves members time reading large reports, to focus on knowledge building and action.

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Biodiversity loss will decrease the future creditworthiness of nations

This study examines how biodiversity and ecosystem service loss affect sovereign creditworthiness across 23 countries. Using ecological-economic modelling, it finds that a partial ecosystem collapse could generate US$162 billion in additional annual debt servicing costs globally, highlighting that sovereign credit ratings are systematically underpricing nature-related financial risks.
Research
27 May 2026

Red lines in the Abyss: Growing financier concern over deep-sea mining

Seas At Risk
This report maps 82 financial institutions — representing approximately EUR 24 trillion in combined assets — that have excluded or expressed concern over deep-sea mining. Published by Seas At Risk and the Deep Sea Mining Campaign, it charts growing financier momentum against deep-sea mining and calls for explicit exclusion policies from both financial institutions and governments.
Research
7 May 2026

Metals-as-a-Service: A strategic and investable circular business model for the wind energy industry and beyond

Carbon Trust
Metals-as-a-Service (MaaS) proposes a circular business model for the wind energy sector and beyond, in which metal ownership is retained by a Special Purpose Vehicle throughout the asset lifecycle. The model converts metal procurement from capital expenditure into a service-based structure, enabling securitisation, improved supply security, and circular value creation.
Research
11 May 2026

Excessive executive compensation: Investor guidance

Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
Published by ICCR in April 2026, this report provides investor guidance on addressing excessive executive compensation. It outlines proxy voting guidelines, pay thresholds, and stewardship frameworks to help investors challenge the growing gap between CEO and worker pay, and promote greater accountability and long-term value creation.
Research
28 April 2026

Nature-based solutions for a sustainable critical minerals value chain

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
This report examines how nature-based solutions (NbS) can be integrated into critical minerals mining. Drawing on case study research and expert events at Climate Week NYC and COP30, it identifies six resilience-building NbS categories and highlights the need for systems-based planning, community collaboration, and improved financing mechanisms.
Research
29 April 2026

Stablecoins in Africa: Translating global principles into local regulatory practice

Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR)
This paper is the African Chapter of GDF's Global Stablecoin Regulatory Playbook. It examines how global stablecoin regulatory principles can be applied across Africa's diverse markets, addressing reserve management, consumer protection, AML/CFT compliance, and cross-border coordination, while accounting for local financial infrastructure, dollarisation risks, and varying supervisory capacity.
Research
1 May 2026

The benefits of access: Evidence from private meetings with portfolio firms

This paper analyses over 4,700 private meetings between a large active asset manager and portfolio firms using proprietary data from Standard Life Investments (2007–2015). Meetings transmit soft information that influences analyst recommendations and fund manager trading, generating statistically significant abnormal returns and profitable trading decisions.
Research
30 March 2023

Airports and aviation emissions: The Airport Tracker as a tool for data-driven advocacy

ODI Global
This policy brief presents findings from the third update to the Airport Tracker, a global inventory covering the world's 1,300 busiest airports. Using 2023 data, it analyses CO₂ and local air pollution from passenger, freight and private jet flights, finding that aviation remains off track to meet net-zero goals.
Research
1 April 2026

The differential impacts of critical mineral prices and oil prices on the economy

MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR)
This paper uses a neoclassical open-economy growth model to compare the macroeconomic impacts of critical mineral and oil price shocks. Oil price increases are found to be more contractionary for output and welfare, while mineral price shocks primarily affect investment and external balance sheets, warranting macroprudential and fiscal policy responses.
Research
29 January 2026

How to use consensus state of nature metrics to understand business dependencies on ecosystem services

The Biodiversity Consultancy
This briefing note explains how businesses and financial institutions can configure the NPI consensus State of Nature metrics to understand their dependencies on ecosystem services. It outlines a four-step practical process, identifies where the metrics provide strong insight, and highlights where complementary indicators are needed.
Research
2 June 2026

Just transition in action: Complement to NZIF supplementary guidance for just transition

Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)
Produced by IIGCC with support from AIGCC, IGCC, and Ceres, this report complements the NZIF Supplementary Guidance on Just Transition. It provides practical case studies and frameworks to help investors integrate social equity considerations into climate-aligned investment strategies across internal direction, asset alignment, and external engagement.
Research
17 February 2026

Making water use in global trade more sustainable: The challenge to improve supply-chain resilience and water security in the context of geopolitical change

Chatham House
This Chatham House paper examines how global supply chains drive unsustainable water use and water insecurity, particularly in the Global South. It explores 'virtual water' trade dynamics, the impact of geopolitical fragmentation on cooperative water governance, and presents 10 recommendations for governments, corporations, financial institutions and civil society.
Research
14 May 2026

The role of national social dialogue institutions in shaping investment policies

International Labour Organisation (ILO)
This ILO Working Paper examines how national social dialogue institutions across eight countries and one regional bloc shape trade, investment and responsible business conduct policies. Drawing on eleven case studies, it identifies emerging practices, key challenges including unclear mandates and limited resources, and policy options for strengthening institutional effectiveness.
Research
13 May 2026

Climate change and cruelty: Revealing the true impact of factory farming

World Animal Protection
This World Animal Protection report examines the climate and environmental impacts of factory farming in Brazil, China, the USA and the Netherlands. It models scenarios for reduced meat consumption and higher welfare production, finding that eating less and better could halve the climate impacts of chicken and pork by 2040.
Research
29 August 2022

Leading the charge: Turning risk into reward with a circular economy for EV batteries and critical minerals

Ellen MacArthur Foundation
This report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation examines systemic risks in the EV battery value chain and sets out a circular economy framework, identifying five bright spots — battery design, rightsizing, circular business models, regional infrastructure, and data transparency — to build resilience and reduce critical mineral demand.
Research
4 March 2026

Investment treaties as catalysts for technology transfer in Africa

Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
This policy brief analyses how African investment treaties — more than 1,000 signed to date — support or constrain technology transfer. It examines express and implied treaty restrictions, associated investor-state dispute risks, and recommends that African states adopt precisely drafted provisions and strengthen institutional capacity to enable meaningful technological advancement.
Research
30 April 2026
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