Library | ESG issues
Access & Affordability
Ensuring access to essential products and services, particularly for underserved markets and populations. This includes addressing universal needs such as healthcare, financial services, utilities, education, and telecommunications. Companies involved in basic services, infrastructure, and affordable lending must manage related risks and opportunities, which can impact financial performance, regulatory exposure, and long-term resilience. Addressing access and affordability can also drive innovation, social impact, and inclusive economic growth, presenting investment opportunities.
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The building blocks supporting open finance
This working paper explores how open finance can drive financial inclusion by reducing costs, improving access, and providing better-suited products for underserved populations. Key building blocks—digital accounts, fast payments, and diverse financial providers—are essential for achieving open finance's potential, with case studies from Brazil and India highlighting successful implementation pathways.
Are high-interest loans predatory? Theory and evidence from payday lending
This report investigates whether high-interest payday loans are predatory by exploring borrower behaviour and the impact of regulatory measures. Using an experiment with payday loan borrowers, the study finds that while inexperienced borrowers are often overoptimistic about repayment, more experienced ones anticipate future borrowing accurately.
Food Systems Dashboard
The Food Systems Dashboard is a comprehensive tool providing insights into global food systems. It offers data on food production, consumption, and nutrition, enabling users to analyse and compare food systems across countries. This tool supports informed decision-making for improving food security and sustainability.
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is a coalition of faith-based investors advocating for sustainable and ethical business practices. ICCR engages companies on issues such as climate change, human rights, and corporate governance. They aim to promote long-term social and environmental sustainability in corporate conduct.
Rethinking impact to finance the SDGs
This paper examines the financing gap for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and proposes new innovative solutions for stakeholders, including the need for stronger integrated planning, strategic thinking and policy integration to meet the US$5-7tn annual financing requirement.
Business reporting on the SDGs: An analysis of the goals and targets 2022
This report offers a comprehensive overview of the Sustainable Development Goals and how businesses can align their practices with these goals through transparent disclosures and disclosures reporting. This 2022 edition provides actionable steps for businesses to contribute to sustainable development.
Are pharma companies addressing sexual and reproductive health access barriers for women and girls?
This report examines the role of pharmaceutical companies in addressing access barriers hindering women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally. It assesses their research on new SRHR medicines and products, pricing strategies, company capacity building efforts, and inclusive business models.
Finding affordable home options for invisible women
This report explores ownership models for modest-income earning 'middle-aged' women in Australia. Findings suggest that shared equity, build-to-rent and rent-to-own, and staircasing models provide possible affordable home options to this growing group if financial barriers are eliminated through a subsidy or philanthropic funding.
Exploring philanthropy's role in addressing the affordable housing crisis: A synthesis of the evidence
This report explores how philanthropic funds can be leveraged to tackle financial and non-financial barriers in affordable housing. Desk research, case studies, and financial modelling have been used to highlight the role philanthropy can play in bridging the gap for various affordable housing models.
Financial Stability Board (FSB)
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) is an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system. Explore FSB's reports, guidelines, and initiatives, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of the international financial system.
Achieving a nature- and people-positive future
This paper focuses on the discourse surrounding global conservation. It highlights the importance of recognising different responsibilities among actors and countries and calls for human-centred actions to ensure a safe and just future for all. It offers insights on introducing transformational elements to existing campaigns through the Earth System Justice Approach.
Earth system justice needed to identify and live within Earth system boundaries
This article considers how to integrate principles of justice within Earth’s system boundaries, specifically for climate, the biosphere, water and nutrient cycles, and aerosols. Using the Earth system justice approach, it discusses living within planetary limits whilst minimising significant harm to all people and ensuring equitable access to resources.
Climate impacts at work: Supporting a climate ready workforce
Demonstrates empirical evidence of varied climate change impacts and their effects on workers and organisations across a range of industries, working mostly in Victoria. Workers are being affected in many compounding ways. With climate change impacts continuing to worsen, workers and industry must be supported to adapt to climate change.
International Energy Agency (IEA)
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a global organisation focused on energy policy and analysis. With a mandate to promote energy security, affordability, and sustainability, the IEA provides research, data, and insights to guide governments and industries. Visit for authoritative information on global energy trends and policies.
The promise of fintech: financial inclusion in the post COVID-19 era
This report uses quantitative and qualitative research to further our understanding of developments in digital financial inclusion driven by fintech, and their macroeconomic effects. It also details the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and discusses the future of fintech’s impacts on financial inclusion.
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.
