Library | ESG issues
Carbon Intensive Industries
Carbon-intensive industries, such as fossil fuels, agriculture, and transport, are major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. Investing in these industries can pose risks due to regulatory changes, reputational concerns, and shifting consumer preferences. Opportunities exist in technologies and practices that reduce carbon emissions.
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IGF country profiles collection
The Country Profile Factsheets series, published by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), provides country-level analysis of mining sectors, mineral resources, critical minerals policies, investment conditions, governance and sustainability considerations. It supports comparative research into responsible mining, mineral supply chains and sector-related risks.
Russia’s coal industry after 2022: The hidden costs of Putinism’s extractive model
Following 2022 sanctions, Russia’s coal industry lost its sustainable model, incurring over USD 32 billion in cumulative losses. Redirecting exports to Asia proved unprofitable due to high logistics costs and hidden subsidies. Environmental degradation persists, while official methane reporting remains unreliable, requiring independent verification through satellite monitoring.
Progress report of China’s National Carbon Market (2026)
China’s 2026 carbon market report details the expansion of the National ETS into steel, cement, and aluminium sectors. It highlights record trading volumes, the entry into force of the Ecological and Environmental Code, and the use of AI-driven digital infrastructure to support carbon neutrality goals.
AI Tailwinds, Energy Headwinds
This benchmark series examines economic growth and development across the East Asia and Pacific region. It explores the impact of artificial intelligence on industrial sectors and supply chains, alongside the challenges posed by energy costs and environmental factors for small states and emerging market economies.
Can investor coalitions drive corporate climate action?
This research evaluates Climate Action 100+’s impact on corporate climate action using a Difference-in-Differences analysis. It finds no evidence of improved disclosure or historical emission reductions. While the coalition influenced long-term targets for specific companies, the absence of short-term milestones suggests potential decarbonisation backloading and greenwashing risks.
Still Banking on Coal
Still Banking on Coal is a dataset by Urgewald that tracks global bank financing for the thermal coal industry. It provides transparency on loans and underwriting from over 740 banks, highlighting the gap between climate commitments and actual financial flows.
Digging mining out of diesel dependence: Short-term options to enhance fuel and future-proof industry
This report examines Australia's mining industry's heavy reliance on diesel and identifies short-term efficiency improvements to reduce consumption by 10–20%. It highlights critical roles for coal and iron ore sectors, explores barriers like the Fuel Tax Credit system, and proposes policy reforms to enhance national fuel security.
Who bears the transition risk? Uneven climate risk assessment of SMEs across German banking groups
This report examines how German banks assess climate transition risks, specifically for SMEs. It finds that private banks significantly increased risk weights for carbon-intensive firms after 2018, while cooperative and savings banks did not. The reliance on sector-level metrics suggests potential loan mispricing and systemic risks within regional banking groups.
A price on carbon: Building towards an Asian CBAM
This report advocates for an Asian Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to harmonise carbon pricing across Asia-Pacific. Focusing on steel, aluminium, and cement, it proposes international collaboration between Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea to accelerate industrial decarbonisation, address carbon leakage, and unlock green commodity trade.
The Box: syndication fee league tables
This benchmark series provides transparency on bank syndication fees, comparing income from sustainable and unsustainable activities. It tracks league tables for global and regional financial institutions, including the ASEAN and Japanese markets. The analysis enables investors to incentivise behavioural change by identifying banks that continue to prioritise fossil fuel financing.
Futureproofing industry: Investor priorities for a reformed Safeguard Mechanism
This report outlines investor priorities for reforming Australia's Safeguard Mechanism during the 2026-27 review. It recommends a seven per cent annual decline rate to align with 2035 climate targets, expanding scheme coverage, and implementing financial supports to incentivise on-site abatement over carbon offsets to ensure long-term industrial competitiveness.
Putting climate coalitions into practice: A common framework for balancing competitiveness and equity
This technical report proposes a framework for international climate coalitions, focusing on emissions-intensive industries such as steel and aluminium. Modelling indicates that coordinated carbon price floors could reduce annual emissions by up to 584 million metric tons. It introduces an 'effective carbon cost' metric to balance global competitiveness and equity.
Government announced increases in carbon pricing and their implications for corporate valuations
This report explores global corporate environmental costs, finding that unpriced carbon emissions represent a material risk to valuations. Analysing approximately 20,000 companies, it illustrates how projected carbon price increases in jurisdictions like Norway and Canada could significantly erode enterprise values, especially within the aviation and maritime sectors.
Beyond commitments: Assessing real capital deployment for net zero across 26 high-emitting companies, against the IGCC Capital Allocation Alignment Framework
This research assesses capital allocation alignment with net-zero commitments across 26 high-emitting companies using the IGCC Framework. It finds that while climate strategies are strong, capital sourcing and fossil fuel phase-down plans lag. European companies lead in performance, while the Americas and oil and gas sectors trail significantly.
Global MDB Investments in Petrochemicals Tracker
An interactive database and map developed by IEEFA and IAP that tracks over USD 10 billion in petrochemical investments from 16 multilateral development banks, highlighting institutional exposure to fossil-fuel-intensive projects.
Oil market report series
This monthly series provides a comprehensive analysis of global oil market fundamentals, including supply, demand, refinery throughputs, and price developments. Produced by the International Energy Agency, it offers detailed data and forecasts to support evidence-based decision-making. This document is part of a benchmark series.