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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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Theorising unconventional climate advocates and their relationship to the environmental movement
This study theorises “unconventional climate advocates” and analyses their position within Australia’s environmental movement using social network analysis. It finds these advocates are peripheral yet potentially effective in engaging climate-hesitant constituencies by operating independently from conventional environmentalists.
Community estimate of global glacier mass changes from 2000 to 2023
This report analyses global glacier mass changes from 2000 to 2023. It identifies an annual loss of 273 gigatonnes, which accelerated by 36% in the period's latter half. Globally, glaciers shed approximately 5% of their volume, significantly exceeding losses from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
Combined climate stress testing of supply-chain networks and the financial system with nation-wide firm-level emission estimates
This study utilises comprehensive Hungarian firm-level data to stress-test the economy and banking system against carbon pricing shocks. While direct impacts at €45/t appear minimal, supply chain contagion significantly amplifies losses, potentially by 4000% if essential inputs cannot be substituted. This highlights critical risks in systemic supply network dependencies.
Tackling the transformation: The challenges of operationalizing corporate sustainability goals and how to overcome them
ERM’s Transformation Survey analyses global corporate progress in operationalising sustainability goals. It finds stronger performance on social issues than climate or nature, identifies weak sustainability-linked incentives as the main barrier, and highlights underinvestment in training, incentives, and ESG data systems.
Guidance handbook: Sustainability-linked bonds
The ICMA Guidance Handbook (November 2024) consolidates interpretative guidance on Green, Social, Sustainability and Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles, covering use of proceeds, reporting, verification, secured bonds and market issues. It supports consistent application and market integrity across sustainable debt markets.
Corporate sustainability reporting
This conceptual paper examines corporate sustainability reporting, distinguishing investor-focused sustainability-related financial disclosure from broader impact reporting. It argues investor interests are imperfectly aligned with societal goals and concludes that complementary financial and impact reporting standards are needed to support accountability, capital allocation and sustainability transition.
Corporate sustainability and scandals
The report analyses global listed firms from 2010–2022 and finds that stronger alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals is associated with fewer, less severe corporate scandals, especially in highly scrutinised sectors such as energy and utilities, offering investors predictive insight beyond conventional ESG ratings.
Corporate manual: For setting science-based targets for nature
This manual provides practical guidance for companies to set science-based targets for nature, outlining a structured, science-led process to assess impacts, prioritise actions, and set targets across land, freshwater, climate, and biodiversity, supporting credible, transparent corporate sustainability action.
A theory of fair CEO pay
This research models executive pay where CEOs suffer disutility from 'unfair' wages. Firms motivate effort by threatening zero pay for poor performance, offering a fair output share only above a threshold. This rationalises performance-vesting equity and pay-for-performance structures even without traditional moral hazard incentives.
Globally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate action
Using a survey of 130,000 people across 125 countries, the study finds strong global support for climate action, but widespread underestimation of others’ willingness to act. This perception gap may hinder cooperation; correcting it could materially strengthen climate action.
Navigating the corporate ego: Understanding the association between ESG performance and organizational narcissistic rhetoric
This study analyses 1,659 FTSE 350 observations to explore the link between ESG performance and organisational narcissistic rhetoric. Findings indicate that high ESG performance correlates with increased self-promoting language, though greater board gender diversity mitigates this effect. Additionally, strong financial results are positively associated with narcissistic corporate narratives.
Leveraging physical climate risk data
The report outlines data requirements for assessing physical climate risks, highlighting gaps in hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and adaptation information. It reviews emerging tools, stresses limitations in insurance and asset-level data, and recommends capacity building, collaboration, and improved data systems to enhance financial sector climate-risk analysis.
A just transition for the Amazon: A mission-oriented framework
A mission-oriented framework is proposed to drive a just transition in the Amazon by ending deforestation, restoring degraded land, and aligning green industrial strategies with local and Indigenous knowledge. It emphasises co-creation, redesigned public institutions, and partnerships that distribute benefits fairly while supporting sustainable, biodiversity-based development.
A bibliometric analysis of four decades of shareholder activism research
This bibliometric review of 1,055 works (1983–2021) charts the evolution of shareholder activism research. It highlights a shift from financial drivers to sustainability-oriented goals. While interdisciplinarity is increasing, disciplinary silos remain. The authors advocate for holistic approaches evaluating non-financial impacts alongside traditional metrics.
Private capital, public good: Building shared prosperity to create a resilient and inclusive economy
The report outlines bipartisan US federal policy recommendations to mobilise private capital for shared prosperity. It focuses on strengthening economic competitiveness, scaling community investing, and improving impact transparency to support inclusive growth, underinvested communities, and long-term economic resilience.
Artificial intelligence and human capital: Challenges for central banks
The report outlines how AI copilots and agents could reshape central bank roles, requiring extensive upskilling, revised workforce strategies and stronger governance. Talent shortages, regulatory constraints and cultural adaptation present key challenges as institutions transition to more AI-intensive operations.