Library | ESG issues
Climate Change
Climate change, driven by human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is increasing global temperatures and extreme weather events. Major GHGs like carbon dioxide and methane primarily come from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture. Key sectors contributing to emissions include energy, industry, transport, buildings, and land use, making mitigation and adaptation essential for environmental and economic stability.
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Directors' liability and climate risk: White paper on India
This paper explores the legal obligations of directors in addressing climate risk and mitigating their environmental impact. This report studies the duties of directors in relation to trust and loyalty, competence, disclosure, and their application in the context of climate risk, according to existing company and securities laws in India.
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.
An enhanced assessment of risks impacting the energy system
This report assesses the risks impacting the energy system. It explores the challenges, uncertainties, and opportunities organizations face in the near-term and long-term. The Dynamic Risk Assessment methodology is designed to incorporate future trends and their potential downstream exposures into risk management processes.
New legal opinion cautions Indian company directors to take climate change seriously or risk personal liability
This paper provides guidance to company directors in India regarding their obligations to consider climate change-related risks in the discharge of their duties under Indian law. It argues that directors' duties extend beyond shareholders to the community on matters concerning the environment, and that litigation risks to companies are increasing as a result of climate change.
Climate endgame: Exploring catastrophic climate change scenarios
This report explores the potential for worldwide societal collapse and human extinction due to anthropogenic climate change. It argues that this topic has not been given enough consideration despite existing evidence of catastrophic outcomes. The proposed research agenda seeks to understand the likelihood and mechanisms of such events and their implications for policy.
Acute climate risks in the financial system: Examining the utility of climate model projections
This research examines the effectiveness of global mean temperature projections as a tool for identifying acute climate risks to the financial sector. The study highlights the limitations of current 'top-down' approaches and recommends the use of more granular 'bottom-up' methods to more accurately estimate regional-level financial risks.
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.
Navigating the reporting landscape
This guide provides an introduction to sustainability-related reporting for finance professionals. It covers mandatory reporting requirements and reporting frameworks, as well as key reporting components for sustainability. The guide also explores recent developments in reporting standards and the accounting profession, highlighting the future of corporate reporting.
Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries
Six of nine planetary boundaries are exceeding safe thresholds, with ocean acidification and aerosol loading at tipping points. Maintaining functional biosphere integrity requires controlling human appropriation of net primary production. Earth system modelling illustrates the need to consider anthropogenic impacts on Earth in a systemic way.
Shareholder primacy: The main barrier to sustainable companies
This report analyses the role of company law in achieving sustainable development, focusing on the dominance of shareholder primacy and its impact on corporate decision-making. It evaluates barriers to integrating sustainability, and provides possible ways forward. An essential comparative analysis for academics and professionals interested in promoting sustainable business practices.
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.
Social tipping dynamics for stabilizing Earth’s climate by 2050
This report identifies the key actors capable of rapidly decarbonising industry, society, and economy, suggesting six social tipping elements to stabilise Earth's climate by 2050. The research provides social tipping elements candidates with their associated social tipping interventions and estimated time for triggering tipping.
Guidance and case studies for ESG integration: Equities and fixed income
The CFA Institute and Principles for Responsible Investment commissioned a survey on ESG integration, revealing that 56% of investors integrate governance into their equity analysis. Analysts may engage in ESG in fixed-income analysis to evaluate the risks and value of assets. ESG issues help investors arrive at estimates of fair stock value.
A4S essential guide to incentivizing action along the value chain
This is a practical guide for finance teams to collaborate with their value chains and promote sustainability. The guide delves into mapping the value chain, prioritising areas of action, incentivising action, and provides useful tips, resources, and a checklist.
Right direction, wrong equipment: Why transition risks do not fit into regulatory stress tests
The authors of this report explore the challenges of integrating climate-related risks into regulatory stress tests. They demonstrate that supervisory risk assessment frameworks struggle to capture long-term systemic risks, and offer recommendations for developing a 'long-term risk;' supervision 'infrastructure.'
The role of local narratives in emerging climate governance
This report examines how local climate narratives are shaped by the history, power dynamics, needs, and priorities of a region. The report analyses the case of Miami-Dade County, Florida, an early adopter of climate policies that faces inequity and worsening climate impacts, to understand how local narratives influence climate governance.