Library | ESG issues

Circular Economy

A circular economy is an economic model focused on minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency by reusing, recycling, and regenerating materials. It emphasises designing out waste, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems, offering opportunities for sustainable growth and resilience. Companies that demonstrate circularity can enhance long-term business resilience, resource efficiency and cost-savings.

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Rethinking impact to finance the SDGs

United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
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.
Research
8 November 2018

Central banking and supervision in the biosphere: An agenda for action on biodiversity loss, financial risk and system stability

Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System
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.
Research
23 February 2022

Prosperity without growth: The transition to a sustainable economy

The authors of this report argue that society's pursuit of economic growth has been detrimental to the environment and economic sustainability. The report challenges traditional thinking around the benefits of growth and argues for a new macro-economics for sustainability.
Research
27 March 2009

Catalysing bank climate action: Lessons from the inside

Climate Safe Lending Network
This report shares insights from the Climate Safe Lending Fellowship, a programme for banking professionals committed to accelerating the decarbonisation of their institutions. The report offers practical approaches and tools used by climate intrapreneurs to help their banks transition toward climate-safe banking.
Research
28 June 2022

Intentionally designed endowment primer

Intentional Endowments Network
This primer provides insight into aligning endowment investments with institutional missions while considering sustainability. The report includes strategic questions, background, examples, and relevant research. Intended for fiduciaries, this primer encourages institutional acceptance and deployment of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria to facilitate profitable sustainability while advancing social purpose.
Research
29 August 2019

Future of sustainability in investment management: From ideas to reality

CFA Institute
This report examines sustainable investing, considering the increasing investor demand for ESG factors and how to adapt to the sustainability paradigm. It identifies business model and investment model drivers, as well as operating and people model enablers and the challenges and skills required for integrating ESG.
Research
25 November 2020

Making change: What works?

Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
This paper investigates to understand what makes social movements successful in creating change. The report concludes that having more and better evidence is crucial to encourage change, but evidence alone will not secure change. Instead, social movements must change the hearts and minds of the public and increase the power of those who stand to benefit from change.
Research
16 November 2021

Climate emergency – tipping the odds in our favour: A climate-change policy briefing for COP27

Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)
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.
Research
4 November 2022

Facilitating a circular economy for textiles workshop report

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
This report provides insights on the current status of circularity in the textile industry including waste generation, social and environmental impact, raw material use, and data challenges. The report highlights research needs, boundary-spanning tools, and standards to facilitate a circular economy.
Research
9 May 2022

Guide to banking and sustainability - edition 2

United Nations Environment Programme
This guide provides advice, best practices, and case studies for banks to integrate sustainability principles into their operations and services, ultimately enhancing the long-term value of their businesses
Benchmark/series
30 May 2017

Welcome to the great unravelling: Navigating the polycrisis of environmental and social breakdown

Post Carbon Institute
This report examines the ongoing crises of environmental and social breakdown, exploring their interconnected drivers and feedbacks. It offers pragmatic and personal solutions, challenging the myth of progress, and suggesting thoughtful change as the only hope for navigating this uncertain future.
Research
7 August 2023

On purpose: Towards a unified theory of responsible investment

This paper presents a framework for evaluating responsible investment (RI) approaches that re-align investment practice with purpose. It unifies the field, generates a coherent framework for designing quality RI offerings, and supports meaningful comparison of diverse RI offerings. It is essential reading for investors interested in RI.
Research
1 October 2020

Making Xinjiang sanctions work: Addressing forced labour through coercive trade and finance measures

University of Nottingham
This is a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the measures adopted and implemented to address the issue of forced labour in Xinjiang, China. Based on open-source data and expert analysis, the report highlights key themes and outlines a set of recommendations designed to improve the effectiveness of current trade and financial measures.
Research
28 July 2022

COMPASS: The methodology for comparing and assessing impact

Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
The COMPASS is a methodology for investors to assess and compare impact data to maximise social or environmental returns. Upon collecting standardised data, this paper provides a step-by-step process to normalise impact information, using three key analytic figures, and to create benchmarks within peer groups to aid investment decision-making.
Research
19 May 2021

Private capital, public good: Leveraging impact investing to support a just and equitable recovery

US Impact Investing Alliance
This report focuses on leveraging impact investing to support a just and equitable economic recovery in the United States. It provides a set of recommendations for policymakers based on the experience of impact investors, with an emphasis on promoting investor impact transparency and incentivising private capital into investments with positive impact.
Research
15 December 2020

Future-fit business benchmark: Methodology guide

Future-Fit Business
The Future-Fit Business Benchmark Methodology Guide provides a free tool to help companies pursue a vision of a flourishing future. With 23 break-even Goals, 24 positive pursuits, and complementary indicators, it offers science-based guidance on how to transform business operations, procurement practices, and products in pursuit of future-fitness.
Research
7 August 2020
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