This 2019 report analyses the sustainability strategies of 35 ASEAN banks based on environmental, social and governance indicators. This year's update highlights the increasing recognition of ESG integration into mainstream finance, although progress must be made, particularly in climate-related risk management.

The Impact Potential Assessment Framework for financial products (IPAF) is a multi-purpose tool developed to assess products based only on their actions to generate real-life impact. Using public information, it evaluates the product's maximum impact potential through four widely documented mechanisms.

This report discusses the challenges and opportunities of trans-disciplinary research in environmental sciences. It explores three alternative environmental concepts: "environmental sciences", "sustainable development", and the increasingly popular "circular economy". The article clarifies their meaning and inter-relationship, helping trans-disciplinary researchers to understand the opportunities and challenges of each.

The Circulate Initiative's GHG calculator indicates that improved waste management and recycling could reduce GHG emissions by 229 million tonnes by 2030. Mismanaged plastic waste rates in six Southeast Asian countries range from 50% to 75%. This sector is crucial for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, attracting climate-focused investors.

This paper presents a strategy to manage economic and environmental stability in response to physical climate risks. This aims to bring awareness and understanding of physical climate risks and highlights the importance of innovative solutions toward a sustainable low-carbon economy.

This report argues that insurance regulation has a critical role to play in protecting human rights against climate risk and natural hazards. Among its recommendations, the report calls for the proper pricing of climate risks, broader coverage from insurance, and the alignment of investments with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This report examines how financial institutions tackle environmental risk, with an emphasis on credit and market risks. The study highlights examples of successful risk mitigation and draws attention to gaps in practice, particularly around modelling approaches and short-term decision-making.

The paper highlights how the choice of an appropriate discount rate is a critical issue in economics, and arguably more so for projects involving long time horizons. In particular, environmental projects and activities whose effects will be felt in the future pose significant challenges. The paper models such challenges as an evolving hidden-state stochastic process.

India's thermal power sector holds $40-60bn of non-performing or stranded assets, taking away capital from critical sustainable investment. Low-cost renewable energy and a reliance on coal-fired generation is creating difficulties for the banking sector. The economics of low-cost renewables will bring significant financial implications for the country's thermal power reliance.

This report shows how investment in renewable energy can reduce exposure to volatile electricity prices and future price hikes. Over 46,000 businesses have already invested in large solar installations, and 40% of businesses are considering similar initiatives. Local and State Governments are also supporting business investment in clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy.

This report explores the potential for worldwide societal collapse and human extinction due to anthropogenic climate change. It argues that this topic has not been given enough consideration despite existing evidence of catastrophic outcomes. The proposed research agenda seeks to understand the likelihood and mechanisms of such events and their implications for policy.

This report analyses the impact of resource scarcity on national economies and poverty. It found that 72% of the world’s population live in countries with biocapacity deficits and below-average income, creating an ecological poverty trap. Biological resource security is crucial for development success.

This paper provides guidance to company directors in India regarding their obligations to consider climate change-related risks in the discharge of their duties under Indian law. It argues that directors' duties extend beyond shareholders to the community on matters concerning the environment, and that litigation risks to companies are increasing as a result of climate change.

Six of nine planetary boundaries are exceeding safe thresholds, with ocean acidification and aerosol loading at tipping points. Maintaining functional biosphere integrity requires controlling human appropriation of net primary production. Earth system modelling illustrates the need to consider anthropogenic impacts on Earth in a systemic way.

The report provides a baseline review of 557 financial institutions' actions on deforestation, revealing that only a few are addressing commodity-driven deforestation and associated human rights abuses. Despite COP26 commitments, most lack comprehensive policies. Financial institutions must take urgent, concrete steps to eliminate deforestation and meet global climate targets.

This is a practical guide for finance teams to collaborate with their value chains and promote sustainability. The guide delves into mapping the value chain, prioritising areas of action, incentivising action, and provides useful tips, resources, and a checklist.