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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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Investor ESG guide on private security and human rights
This investor guide highlights that private security-related adverse human rights impacts are common and typically include excessive use of force, unfair working conditions and sexual exploitation. As fiduciaries, institutional investors are obligated to identify and mitigate these potential adverse impacts.
Sustainable investing: Establishing long-term value and performance
The study finds that corporations with a commitment to sustainable investing have superior risk-adjusted returns. While fund managers face challenges in capturing the outperformance with some exceptions, they have not generally underperformed. Integrated reporting can be used to improve the transparency and accuracy of ESG information.
At the crossroads: 10 years of implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Australia
The report examines the implementation and impact of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Australia over the past decade.
Net zero integrity: Assessment of the net zero pledges of Australian companies
This report assesses the net zero pledges of ten Australian companies, highlighting a gap between current voluntary commitments and the requirements of global standards. None of the firms have a comprehensive, quantified, and independently verified plan for reducing emissions in line with a science-based pathway.
Intangible cultural heritage, diverse knowledge systems, and climate change
This paper explores the relationship between climate change, different knowledge systems, culture, and heritage. It discusses the importance of a historical perspective, defines and describes different knowledge systems, and addresses the limitations of the predominant scientific approach. It also presents a framework for collaboration among plural knowledge systems.
Putting pandemics behind us: Investing in one health to reduce risks of emerging infectious diseases
This report discusses One Health, an approach that recognises the interdependent nature of human, animal, and environmental health. It presents an investment framework designed to mobilise finance for pandemic prevention and reduce the risks of emerging infectious diseases.
Navigating energy transitions: Mapping the road to 1.5°C
This report maps the road to 1.5°C in energy transitions, discussing pathways and policies to achieve this goal. It highlights the role of investors in driving the energy transition, and the need for mandatory disclosure requirements and robust reporting frameworks to achieve material impact.
Are corporate biodiversity commitments consistent with delivering ‘nature-positive’ outcomes? A review of ‘nature-positive’ definitions, company progress and challenges
This article examine the emerging trend of "nature-positive" in business and large corporations. The authors propose key criteria to distinguish 'nature-positive' approaches from previous iterations, analyse company sustainability reports, and examine progress from 2016 to 2021.
Guidance and questionnaire for assessing client sustainability preferences and motivations
This report presents guidelines for investment firms to assess client sustainability preferences and motivations, and select financial products accordingly. The guidance outlines a three-step process toward a product recommendation and identifies keyword categories of sustainability preferences and motivational characteristics.
A practitioner guide for asset managers and asset owners to assess clients’ and beneficiaries’ sustainability preferences
This report is a practical guide for asset managers and owners to assess clients' sustainability preferences. It introduces research questions based on contextual settings and presents general guidelines for conducting surveys and experiments. The report also includes key findings and insights for financial institutions and regulators to adapt to energy transitions.
Climate poverty connections: Opportunities for synergistic solutions at the intersection of planetary and human well-being
The report highlights co-benefits of climate solutions that also improve human well-being. The report focuses on sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and shows the potential of environmental solutions to help relieve poverty. It also recommends further evaluation on existing solutions and assessing unintended consequences.
CIMS vs. NZBA climate target setting: Cross-fertilizing best practices
This report compares the NZBA and CIMS methodologies for climate target setting and identifies best practices for optimizing the mitigation of GHG emissions. By examining their differences and commonalities, the authors provide recommendations and suggest that combining the two frameworks could create a robust joint disclosure framework.
Diversity in action: How to sustain the financial planning profession
This paper contains case studies from select firms, outlining their actions towards diversifying their workforce and delivering scalable insights for replicating their successes. A key resource for increasing diversity and inclusion in the financial planning profession.
Market review of environmental impact claims of retail investment funds in Europe
This report explores the environmental impact claims made by European retail investment funds and assesses their accuracy and possible ramifications. Findings reveal a high prevalence of misleading claims and a need for better guidance and regulation to address the issue. Short and long-term recommendations are proposed.
Investor climate action plans (ICAPs): Guidance on using the expectations ladder
This report provides guidance to investors on using the ICAPs Expectations Ladder to disclose their climate action plans. It covers investment, corporate engagement, policy advocacy, investor disclosure, and governance with specific recommendations. The report includes a glossary of terms and maps existing disclosures to the Ladder's expectations.
A conceptualisation of sub-living wages: Liabilities, leverage, and risk
This report proposes an alternative approach for organisations to account for wages paid below the local living wage level through a firm's balance sheet, creating leverage effect as the organisation borrows from society, reflecting higher stakeholder risk. This can help investors, policymakers, customers, corporate managers and other stakeholders to assess an organisation's exposure to human capital erosion.