Library | ESG issues
Biodiversity
Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life on Earth, forming the ecosystems that support human well-being and economic activity. All industries rely on healthy ecosystems for resources and services, making biodiversity preservation critical for economic stability. Biodiversity loss introduces material risks including supply chain disruptions, regulatory challenges, and reputational damage, while also creating investment opportunities in biodiversity restoration and natural resource management.
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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.
Definitions for responsible investment approaches
This report provides definitions for different responsible investment approaches - Screening, ESG Integration, Thematic Investing, Stewardship, and Impact Investing. It aims to standardise terminology, enabling investors to communicate their responsible investment practices with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
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.
Assessment of the six largest pesticide companies’ approaches to addressing biodiversity loss
This assessment evaluates the approaches of six leading pesticide companies toward addressing biodiversity loss. None of the companies has committed to phasing out highly hazardous pesticides, and progress in reporting and disclosure is limited. Investors are urged to heed recommendations and use the report to guide engagements.
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.
Innovation and resilience: A global snapshot of social enterprise responses to Covid-19
This report offers a global overview of social enterprise responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. It identifies innovation and agility as critical factors for survival. However, it notes that women-led and youth-led social enterprises face higher closure rates, greater reductions in activity, and more limited access to government support.
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.
Raising the bar: A baseline review of finance sector action on deforestation
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.
The importance of resource security for poverty eradication
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.
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.
Nature risk rising: Why the crisis engulfing nature matters for business and the economy
This report is for policymakers, companies, investors and civil societies seeking to address the growing nature crisis, as it provides the economic and social impact of biodiversity on businesses. The report also calls for a change in policies and practices that drive current growth models.
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.
Mapping ocean governance and regulation
This report provides an overview of ocean governance and regulations through the lenses of ocean-based industries, addressing international governance, key industries, emerging issues and regulatory developments, cross-cutting challenges and the role of the private sector through the UN Global Compact Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business.
The TNFD nature-related risk and opportunity management and disclosure framework: Beta v0.1 release
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has released a beta version of its Nature-related Risk and Opportunity Management and Disclosure Framework. The framework aims to deliver a risk management and disclosure framework for organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks and opportunities.
Point of no return 2023: Part IV: Climate and biodiversity
This report assesses the climate and biodiversity policies and practices of 77 of the world’s largest asset managers, who collectively hold over $77 trillion in assets. The report finds that asset managers need stronger and more comprehensive net-zero targets, consistent with limiting biodiversity loss, and a greater focus on climate scenario analysis.
