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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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Investing in the green economy: Sizing the opportunity
This paper emphasises the capacity of the green economy in meeting environmental objectives in decision-making processes. FTSE Russell advocate data as crucial to investors to monitor industry and company-specific contributions to the economy and to assess opportunities in new green products and services.
Safeguarding human rights defenders: Practical guidance for investors
Provides targeted guidance for minority shareholders with investments in public equities and limited partners in private equities on how to identify, prevent, and mitigate risks to human rights defenders throughout their investments. Human rights defenders are individuals who, individually or with others, act peacefully to promote or protect human rights.
Inclusive business: What it is and why it matters
This report examines the concept of inclusive business as a means of enabling disadvantaged populations to participate in economic activity and share economic value. The report provides a comprehensive discussion of what an inclusive business initiative comprises and contains examples showing how they address social challenges.
Final report: Independent assessment of social and economic conditions in the Murray–Darling Basin
Commonly known as the 'Sefton report', it provides recommendations to the Australian government on the social and economic conditions of the Murray Darling Basin. The report provides an independent assessment in regional and rural communities while highlighting the positive and negative effects of water reform.
Can government policies that drive strong economic outcomes for the private sector alleviate poverty?
The report examines how the adoption of policies that drive strong economic outcomes for the private sector often reduce poverty in the developing world, primarily through opportunities for job creation. In particular, the report calls for policies that promote greater access to credit and the protection of minority investors.
Appetite for disruption: A second serving
This report explores the growth of the alternative protein market, particularly in the face of supply chain disruptions, food safety concerns from COVID-19, and global emissions. This is published alongside FAIRR's Sustainable Proteins Hub, an interactive tool which allows investors to assess how companies are diversifying toward alternative, climate-positive portfolios.
Healthy competition: Why the safest bet for investors is healthier retail markets and how to get there
This second briefing report explores ShareAction’s Healthy Markets campaign, featuring the UK food retailers most exposed to the childhood obesity agenda. The brief is designed to inform and support investor stewardship and company engagement through an analysis of their disclosure policies and practices for healthy eating.
How ESG issues become financially material to corporations and their investors
This working paper advances a framework that illustrates how environment, social and governance (‘ESG’) issues become financially material and impact on company and industry valuation. The framework comprises five stages of the pathways to materiality.
Point of no returns: A ranking of 75 of the world’s largest asset managers’ approaches to responsible investment
In this first of a series of reports released by ShareAction, 75 of the worlds largest and most influential asset management companies from across Europe, the United States, Africa and the Asia Pacific are ranked according to an analysis of their performance on stewardship, transparency and governance.
A banker's guide to transforming finance
This report focuses on the perceived purpose-gap in the banking sector wherein banks are not fulfilling their role to create positive economic, social and environmental outcomes. Filling this gap requires leveraging ‘systemic intrapreneurs’ within organisations to holistically shift banking strategy.
Strengthening financial resilience among rural and refugee communities in Rwanda
United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has improved financial inclusion, through implementing its Expanding Financial Access and Digital and Financial Literacy (REFAD) program in Rwanda, and by working with local partners to help cater digital financial solutions and improve financial literacy for rural and refugee communities.
Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action
Elinor Ostrom examines the management of common-pool resources such as rivers, bridges and grazing areas. Ostrom discusses the ‘tragedy of the commons’ and environmental, economic and social threats to common-pool resources. Ostrom applies political and economic theory and policy literature to discuss potential solutions and challenge conventional approaches.
Transition risks and market failure: a theoretical discourse on why financial models and economic agents may misprice risk related to the transition to a low-carbon economy
The paper has a theoretical focus and looks at the risks associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy. It looks to highlight externalities that may not be factored into risk models. It concludes in favour of a case of policy intervention and more sophisticated modelling to counter potential market failures.
Women on boards and the human capital connection
Companies with a gender diverse board and stronger talent management practices enjoyed higher growth in employee productivity compared to companies with a diverse board only or with strong talent management practices only. Companies with mostly male boards and lagging talent management practices had the lowest rates of employee productivity growth.
The emergence of foreseeable biodiversity-related liability risks for financial institutions: A gathering storm?
This report proposes a framework for financial institutions to consider biodiversity-related liability risks in their broader assessment of financial risks associated with biodiversity. Understanding the potential of liability risks will help financial institutions identify, price and mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of biodiversity-related risks.
Investing in low-carbon transitions: Energy finance as an adaptive market
This article explores the role of financial markets in capitalising low-carbon energy systems and long-term change. Ultimately, the authors contend that current assumptions on efficient market behaviour do not fit the energy industry, and to reliably capitalise on low-carbon transitions, an adaptive market assumption should be held.