Library | ESG issues
Air Quality
Air quality reflects the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere, with major sources including fossil fuel combustion, industry, and agriculture. Poor air quality affects the majority of the global population and poses critical risks to human health, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability, making it a key issue for sustainable development.
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System of environmental-economic accounting 2012: Central framework
This is a statistical framework consisting of a comprehensive set of tables and accounts, which guides the compilation of consistent and comparable statistics and indicators for policymaking, analysis and research. It provides a general introduction to combined physical and monetary presentations and a structure for presenting comparative data across a range of variables.
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.
Central banking and supervision in the biosphere: An agenda for action on biodiversity loss, financial risk and system stability
This report explores the role central banks and financial regulators can play to mitigate biodiversity loss risks. The report establishes that biodiversity loss poses a financial risk to the economy and makes recommendations for action.
We know our lives are in danger: Environment of fear in South Africa's mining-affected communities
This report highlights how mining has affected South African communities and examines the legal framework and community engagement procedures relating to mining activity. It discusses the impacts of mining on communities in terms of health, environment, livelihoods and social cohesion, as well as the high levels of violence in these communities.
Asset-level data and the energy transition: Findings from ET risk work package 2
This report demonstrates the potential of asset-level data to manage risks and opportunities arising from the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. The authors develop a demonstrator database of assets across six carbon-intensive industries, calculating cumulative committed carbon emissions (CCCE) and potential reductions (RCCCE) through retrofits.
Climate emergency – tipping the odds in our favour: A climate-change policy briefing for COP27
This paper is a policy briefing for COP27 which presents potential solutions for stabilizing the climate, assessing the level of risk inherent in the current approach to climate change, and explores how society can accelerate climate action. It uses a risk-management approach to assess how climate change is being managed.
Creating city portraits: A methodological guide from The Thriving Cities Initiative
This report introduces a practical approach to visualizing sustainable urban development. Based on the 'doughnut' concept, the guide provides insight into the holistic nature of thriving cities and acts as a transformative tool for policymakers.
Clearing the air: A case for investor action on air quality and a practical guide for getting started
This report summarises the health implications, financial risks, and actions investors and companies can take to reduce air pollution emit. It also highlights existing regulations across the world as well as upcoming sustainability reporting standards.
Earthjustice
Earthjustice, a non-profit environmental law organisation, champions legal battles for environmental protection and justice. With a focus on litigation, they fight to safeguard wildlife, habitats, and communities. Explore their impactful work in environmental advocacy, legal victories, and commitment to a sustainable planet.
Sierra Club
By bringing similarly-minded people together, Sierra Club works to champion solutions to the climate crisis. They view the climate crisis as not only an environmental but a social justice issue and work to amplify diverse voices to defend everyone’s right to a healthy world.
Curbing methane emissions: how five industries can counter a major climate threat
This McKinsey Sustainability report discusses the climate impact of methane emissions in five key sectors: agriculture, oil and gas, coal mining, waste management, and wastewater. Existing barriers for abatement of methane emission and potential solutions and trade-offs for stakeholders to consider are presented.
Political leadership on climate change: The role of health in Obama era U.S. climate policies
To overcome climate action inertia that many governments are experiencing, the paper proposes that health can be used as a core motivator for climate action. This idea is explored through the case study of the Obama administration’s climate mitigation policies.
Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet
The planetary boundaries concept presents a set of nine planetary boundaries within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come; a 'safe operating space'. Crossing these boundaries increases the risk of generating large-scale abrupt or irreversible environmental changes.
Environmental Defense Fund
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is an international non-profit organisation who have more than 2.5 million members. EDF is aiming to solve society's environmental problems such as climate change, by linking science economics and law to ensure solutions are innovative, cost-effective and equitable.
Planetary boundaries: Exploring the safe operating space for humanity
The nine planetary boundaries offer an approach to global sustainability where humanity can safely operate and avoid major human-induced environmental change on a global scale. The article argues that three of the planetary boundaries are already transgressed, including: climate change, biodiversity loss and the global nitrogen cycle.
The toll from coal: An updated assessment of death and disease from America’s dirtiest energy source
Emissions from the coal-fired power plant industry in the form of fine particle pollution, global warming, ozone smog, acid rain and regional haze, cause significant negative effects on human beings. Research shows that death or disease from coal-based electricity production in the United States, can be reduced if the pollution from coal plants is addressed.