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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The global risks report 2020
This report explores the most pressing economic, environmental, technological, and public health challenges facing stakeholders amid an unstable global landscape. It proposes stakeholders should act quickly to address these challenges, in partnership with others, to mitigate risks and shape a more sustainable future.
Sustainable investing capabilities of private banks
This report presents the findings of research into the sustainable investing capabilities of private banks, including governance, sustainability risk, and client interactions. The report notes progress among leading banks but highlights the need for continuing education for client advisors and improved ESG and impact reporting and monitoring capabilities.
The hidden risk in state pensions: Analysing state pensions’ responses to the climate crisis in proxy voting
This report analyses the proxy voting strategies of 19 state pensions, as well as the five New York City Comptroller systems, managing over US$2 trillion in assets. Results reveal that most pensions failed to address climate-related financial risk, especially in areas such as lobbying, environmental justice, and Indigenous rights.
Child-lens investing framework: Private equity and debt investor toolkit
The toolkit provides guidelines on investing with a child-lens impact strategy, including a child-lens taxonomy, reflection, contribution, and assessment. Six investors tested and refined the framework with case studies.
The Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the financial industry
The Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the Financial Industry by Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) provides a framework for measuring and disclosing greenhouse gas emissions. It helps financial institutions enhance transparency, assess climate risks, and support sustainable investment decisions, promoting accountability and impactful environmental actions.
Climate governance study 2024: Moving from vision to action
This study reveals that Australian directors increasingly prioritise climate change as a material governance issue. However, stakeholders are pulling in a variety of directions, making it challenging for organisations to execute their climate strategies. Policy uncertainty poses the most significant obstacle for climate governance, although the implementation of mandatory climate reporting from July 2025 presents an opportunity for greater accountability.
Towards financing large-scale holistic landscape restoration in Europe: Recommendations for EU policy actors to attain inspirational, social, natural and financial returns
The report provides financing recommendations for large-scale holistic landscape restoration in Europe, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and food and water insecurity. It emphasises the effectiveness of landscape finance in promoting healthy ecosystems, offering practical frameworks for policymakers to accelerate impactful activities and align natural and community needs for comprehensive restoration.
Global tipping points
The 2023 report explores ways to prevent potentially irreversible changes to the Earth's natural systems and recommends coordinated global action and governance. It also highlights positive tipping points in technology, economics, and society that can aid a sustainable future.
UN Environment Programme's adaptation gap report series
The Adaptation Gap Report series provides yearly updates on global progress in climate change adaptation. It assesses the status of adaptation planning, implementation, and finance, highlighting the increasing gap between the need for adaptation and the actions taken.
Adaptation, loss and damage: A global climate impact fund for climate justice
This report delves into climate justice amid anthropogenic climate change, advocating for a pilot Global Climate Impact Fund (GCIF). The fund aims to distribute the financial responsibility for the climate change transition based on attribution and contribution studies, employing standardised criteria. The report emphasises prioritising long-term resilience and sustainable development pathways.
Financing the corporate climate transition with bonds: A step-by-step guide to issuing a corporate bond to finance the climate transition
This report is a step-by-step guide to help corporations issue bonds to finance the transition to a climate-friendly economy. It covers key financing terms, the issuance process, and reporting requirements.
Reimagining country investing: A guide to capturing opportunities, managing risks and integrating sustainable-investment objectives
The paper offers insights for global investors on the benefits of constructing a diversified portfolio with country and regional-market allocation. The paper analyses variables such as GDP growth, innovation, thematic and geographic-revenue exposure and macroeconomic risks, while highlighting the role of sustainable finance in the process.
Deconstructing ESG ratings performance: Risk and return for E, S and G by time horizon, sector, and weighting
This article evaluates the relevance of key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and the importance of their pillars regarding risk and return using a comprehensive analysis of market performance. It additionally compares the weighting and performance of each pillar and key ESG issues.
Climate contract playbook: Edition 2
This report presents a playbook of precedent clauses designed to address climate change risks and opportunities across different sectors and financing scenarios. The clauses, drafted by Hogan Lovells lawyers from over 60 jurisdictions, can be used in corporate and finance agreements to help achieve the Net Zero targets of the UK Government and others.
Overcoming the myths of mainstream economics to enable a new wellbeing economy
This report discusses the flawed theoretical pillars of mainstream economics that support unsustainable environmental, social, and economic outcomes. The paper identifies paradoxes and delusions in theories related to efficiency, wealth, well-being, and economic growth. It argues that adopting a new approach that prioritises well-being can help overcome these challenges.
Building capacity for the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework: What can we learn from countries' experiences and UNFCCC processes?
This report outlines the necessity of capacity building to enhance transparency in the Paris Agreement. The report uses 13 case studies to highlight challenges in implementing transparency requirements and six lessons for effective capacity building. International initiatives and support programs are discussed to inform the construction of transparent and sustainable climate governance.