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The risk and return benefits of sustainable investing
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Do investors care about impact?
Investors care about sustainable investments, but not enough to pay substantially more for more impact. A framed field experiment revealed investors’ preference was an emotional rather than a calculative valuation of impact. This preference is driving the market, as managers provide little quantitative evidence of sustainability impact, according to the report.
Safe and just Earth system boundaries
This report sets safe and just Earth system boundaries (ESBs) for domains including climate, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and identifies sub-global ESBs for avoiding Earth system destabilization. Achieving these ESBs requires a systemic transformation across sectors and addressing drivers of Earth system change for a safe and just future.
Investor expectations of corporate transition plans: From a to zero
This report outlines key components for a credible corporate transition plan aligned with net-zero pledges under the Net Zero Investment Framework (NZIF). The guidance aims to help investors assess corporate emissions targets and progress towards decarbonisation. It is designed to be applicable across different sectors and geographies.
The impact potential assessment framework (IPAF) for financial products
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.
Investing in influence: Investors, portfolio firms, and political giving
Increased institutional ownership of US corporations has led to a discussion about the benefits and risks of asset management companies in control. This paper examines whether the political preferences of institutional investors affect the political contributions of portfolio firms. The results suggest that a large acquisition by an investor is associated with increased political giving by both the investor and acquired firm.
Guidance for pursuing impact in listed equities: The GIIN's listed equities working group
This paper provides guidance for impact investors to achieve positive outcomes in public markets through listed equities. This report offers key concepts, practical recommendations, and examples for managing listed equity portfolios. Investors will find insights for developing impact strategies that deliver measurable social and environmental impact and financial returns.
Environmental sciences, sustainable development and circular economy: Alternative concepts for trans-disciplinary research
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.
Mobilizing money and movements: Creative finance for food systems transformations
This report explores creative financing strategies for transforming food systems. Through six case studies, it showcases levers of change for transformational investing, including blended finance, shared ownership, and diverse investment types. The report emphasizes community engagement and local food production to build sustainable and resilient food systems.
The changing climate policy landscape: Considerations for policymakers and the needs of investors
This report outlines eight key features of effective global climate policies. It analyses how different approaches to policy design shape capital markets' responses. The report also calls on governments to create policies with clear short, medium, and long-term targets that provide the right incentives and ensure a just transition.
Queensland social enterprise strategy
The Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy is a government initiative designed to drive economic and social growth through job creation, improved market access, and making connections in the social enterprise sector. The strategy highlights key areas of focus and outlines a range of actions to help Queensland social enterprises flourish.
Looking for something that isn’t there: A case study of an early attempt at ESG integration in investment decision making
This report explores the challenges of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and decision-making. Through a case study of an early attempt at ESG integration in an equity investment team, the authors highlight fundamental discontinuities between financial and ESG accounting inscriptions, and question the adequacy of current regulatory efforts.
The Ramsey discounting formula for a hidden-state stochastic growth process
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.
The impact of climate change on the UK insurance sector: A climate change adaptation report by the Prudential Regulation Authority
The report warns insurance companies to prepare for the physical, transition and liability risks related to climate change. It provides a comprehensive review of how to manage future implications from climate change on financial stability and insurance.
Seriously stressed and stranded: The burden of non-performing assets in India's thermal power sector
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.
Renewables and business: Cutting prices and pollution
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.
Growth-positive zero-emission pathways to 2050
This paper presents pathways to achieving growth positive zero-emission targets by 2050. The report concludes that significant action is required globally to achieve the low-carbon transition required to limit temperature increases to 1.5 °C, including the refashioning of multiple fundamental socio-economic systems and the international co-operation of decision-makers.