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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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SHOW: 16

Inclusive business financing: Where commercial opportunity and sustainability converge

Credit Suisse
This report explores how best to finance inclusive businesses, which have gained prominence for reducing poverty and inequality in developing countries. Drawing on case studies from across Asia, it examines bank debt and private equity as conduits for financing, and offers recommendations for improving the financing of inclusive businesses.
Research
12 June 2018

G-20: Data enhancement and coordination in SME finance

The World Bank
This report examines small and medium enterprise finance indicators collected by development finance institutions. The analysis reveals the limits of SME finance data and underscores the need for better coordination and more gender-disaggregated data. Recommendations include a common collection approach and joint data-sharing of core indicators.
Research
23 April 2020

Financing a greener planet: Catalysing private capital for a net zero emissions world

Citi
This report provides an overview of the private capital markets and their potential to fund a greener planet. It explores the increasing interest in ESG investing and the significant role that investors can play in delivering a net-zero emissions world, specifically focusing on sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and transportation.
Research
22 February 2021

Biodiversity loss and land degradation: An overview of the financial materiality

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
This report provides key insights into the materiality of biodiversity loss and land degradation with a focus on financial risks while reviewing the literature available. The report highlights biodiversity's prominent role in the economy, the major threats to biodiversity, the tools available to measure biodiversity's impact and outlines a typology for nature-related financial risks.
Research
18 August 2020

Shopping for a bargain: How the purchasing practices of clothing brands in Australia impact the women who make our clothes

Oxfam
This report examines the purchasing practices of clothing brands operating in Australia and highlights the impact on women workers in the countries where clothing is made. It calls on brands to publish a plan and commitment to ensuring a living wage for workers throughout their supply chains.
Research
25 November 2020

Toward ESG alpha: Analyzing ESG exposures through a factor lens

This paper investigates the relationship between environmental, social and governance (ESG) exposures and factor returns for 1,312 US equity mutual funds. The study suggests that factor tilts, rather than pure ESG considerations, drive factor returns. ESG components unrelated to factors carry insignificant excess return premiums that are economically small.
Research
26 October 2020

Do androids dream of responsible investment? Exploring responsible investment in the age of information

ShareAction
This report provides insight into the emerging responsible investment risks surrounding technology. The report covers four key areas of concern; bias and discrimination, manipulation and influencing behaviour, big tech and market dominance, and automation and the future of work, alongside case studies and recommended questions for asset owners.
Research
16 April 2020

Sustainable investing in pensions: Top tips for sponsors of pension schemes

Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)
This report provides insight into embedding social and environmental risk into pension schemes to meet the growing economical demand. This guidance provides actionable top-tips for any sponsor to take the necessary steps to align their organisation's values with their pension scheme.
Research
30 June 2020

Aligning to a net zero pathway: Top tips for pension scheme trustees

Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)
This report provides practical insights for pension scheme trustees in aligning their investments with a net zero pathway. The guide's tips are broadly applicable to pension funds across the globe. It defines "net zero," the challenges and opportunities facing trustees, and the importance of stakeholder engagement in crafting a successful transition.
Research
15 October 2021

Enabling FPIC through voluntary standards: An ISEAL innovations fund project

Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)
This report explores ways to enable Free, Prior, and Informed Consent through voluntary standards. It reviews existing literature and provides a framework for companies and assurance providers to verify and monitor successful implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent from the perspective of affected communities.
Research
4 October 2018

Managing nature risks and investing in the opportunities: Top tips for pension fund chairs and trustees

Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)
This report provides top tips to pension fund chairs and trustees on managing nature risks and investing in opportunities. With insights from industry professionals, it highlights the importance of nature for long-term market returns and discusses emerging regulation to guide action, while offering practical advice on how to identify risks and integrate nature into stewardship plans.
Research
18 October 2023

A toolbox of sustainable crisis response measures for central banks and supervisors – second edition: Lessons from practice

Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
This report is a toolbox of options for central banks and supervisors to align crisis response measures with climate and sustainability objectives. The second edition includes an extended analysis of sustainability-linked measures. It also highlights the importance of moving from voluntary to mandatory environmental reporting and recommends efficient disclosure to regulated financial institutions.
Research
1 November 2020

Authentic sustainability assessment: A user manual for the sustainable development performance indicators

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
This report provides guidelines for organisations to measure their sustainability performance and report effectively. The document presents indicators for three areas: economy, society, and environment; these are divided into tiers. It also developed a two-tier framework that uses 61 indicators to assess sustainability performance and progress at an organisational level.
Research
12 November 2022

Intentionally designed endowment primer

Intentional Endowments Network
This primer provides insight into aligning endowment investments with institutional missions while considering sustainability. The report includes strategic questions, background, examples, and relevant research. Intended for fiduciaries, this primer encourages institutional acceptance and deployment of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria to facilitate profitable sustainability while advancing social purpose.
Research
29 August 2019

Future of sustainability in investment management: From ideas to reality

CFA Institute
This report examines sustainable investing, considering the increasing investor demand for ESG factors and how to adapt to the sustainability paradigm. It identifies business model and investment model drivers, as well as operating and people model enablers and the challenges and skills required for integrating ESG.
Research
25 November 2020

Education - learning for Life: Why enterprise L&D is the next frontier In global education

Citi
This report examines the growing importance of Learning & Development (L&D) programmes for businesses. It highlights the increasing recognition of L&D as a strategic investment, particularly for upskilling and reskilling employees to address the skills gap. The report also explores the challenges in L&D implementation, such as low employee engagement and vendor satisfaction, and offers insights into the future of corporate L&D, including trends in digitalisation and budget growth.
Research
10 November 2021
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