This report advocates for the application of mainstream economics to evaluate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues for long-term financial and social returns. It identifies how conventional thinking around ten key ESG issues can be overturned when applying mainstream economics principles to provide better ESG insights.

The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) has written this paper to equip senior management within financial institutions to integrate nature-related risks into financial decisions. The paper details why action needs to be taken and the steps to accelerate the integration of nature into finance.

This study examines the positive relationship between ESG (environmental, social, and governance factors) and corporate financial performance, through examining over 2000 empirical studies; a strong business case is also seen across regions and asset classes. Findings show an expected alpha when embracing ESG in investment strategies.

This is the third report from the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), delving into environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks for fixed income investors and credit rating agencies. This report includes a list of best-in-class practice to advance thinking and practice to incorporate ESG into debt investing.

This report examines the gender gap in the private equity and venture capital industry, specifically in emerging markets. The correlation between gender balance and fund performance is explored. This report puts forward key actions to improve gender balance and examines the benefits of its improvement in leadership teams.

This report examines the use of artificial intelligence technologies to analyse environmental, social and governance ("ESG") data for investments in emerging markets. It gives a detailed account of an experiment conducted to determine the effectiveness of such technologies in analysing the ESG performance of emerging markets issuers.

This report describes how a market for mainstream investments that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), could be created with enough liquidity, scale, and diversification, to attract a range of investors. It inspires and guides companies, governments, and cities, to benefit from better funding while implementing the Paris Goals.

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) seeks to expand private sector contribution and collaboration in biodiversity conservation by developing this guide to assist their understanding of biodiversity and role of private capital in sustainability. This guide aims to assist the private sector in developing finance solutions for biodiversity conservation and finance.

This report presents a global review of nature-based solutions (NbS), identifying and analysing 88 existing NbS investments between 2002 to 2021. The report identifies common trends of existing investments, both opportunities and barriers to NbS investments and suggests recommendations to institutional investors and policymakers.

2020 brought record levels of interest and fund flows into sustainable funds in the US as investors became increasingly concerned about COVID-19, climate change and social issues. The record flows were followed with an immense increase in the sustainable fund universe and outperformance over conventional funds.

A two page read that reports the annual growth of the Responsible Investment Managed Funds market within Australia and New Zealand. It offers insight into the composition of this market and a short snapshot into the performance of overseas equity trusts.

An analysis of how transition risks could impact the financial performance of companies through examples from the utilities, autos and steel sectors. This report provides insight into how the financial performance of companies in these sectors, and others, could vary in the future due to low-carbon economy transitions.

Conventional or natural gas is an important short-term fuel for building a reliable renewable energy system in Australia. However, the need for more gas is overestimated by the gas industry. Stakeholders have been misled about the carbon footprint of gas production, transportation and its impact on climate change.

There has been a gap between understanding climate change and the implications it has for finance and the broader economy. This paper provides insight into scenario analysis - using data and climate science to provide more transparency on their financial risks in the medium and long term.

The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) has created this handbook and a framework for the identification of nature-related financial risks. It builds on the Dasgupta Review of the economics of biodiversity, enabling financial institutions to begin embedding nature into mainstream financial models, risk frameworks, and portfolio strategies.

This paper demonstrates that investment in corporate purpose can improve company performance. To study the impact of purpose on performance, the authors conducted analysis on how corporate purpose relates to company financial performance, market valuation and shareholder value creation.