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.
Team Altiorem recommends
Refine
778 results
REFINE
SHOW: 16
Environmental risk analysis by financial institutions: A review of global practice
This report examines how financial institutions tackle environmental risk, with an emphasis on credit and market risks. The study highlights examples of successful risk mitigation and draws attention to gaps in practice, particularly around modelling approaches and short-term decision-making.
Looking for something that isn’t there: A case study of an early attempt at ESG integration in investment decision making
This report explores the challenges of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and decision-making. Through a case study of an early attempt at ESG integration in an equity investment team, the authors highlight fundamental discontinuities between financial and ESG accounting inscriptions, and question the adequacy of current regulatory efforts.
FERC's failure to analyze energy market forces: Risks to ratepayers, landowners and the overall economy
This report shows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is failing to analyse vital energy market forces that should underpin assessment of new interstate gas pipelines. The research shows FERC’s decisions regarding these pipelines can impose unjustified costs on captive customers in the form of expensive and long-term contracts, and harm landowners and the wider economy.
The Ramsey discounting formula for a hidden-state stochastic growth process
The paper highlights how the choice of an appropriate discount rate is a critical issue in economics, and arguably more so for projects involving long time horizons. In particular, environmental projects and activities whose effects will be felt in the future pose significant challenges. The paper models such challenges as an evolving hidden-state stochastic process.
Climate horizons
This report explores how Australian companies and investors should manage and disclose climate-related risks and opportunities. It suggests scenario-based analysis is a key tool for this, which can be consistent with Australia's international climate commitments and the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Transition risks in the automotive sector
This report analyses the potential valuation of BMW, Daimler, and Volkswagen under two different climate change scenarios and pathways. The study reveals insights for equity analysis and company engagement with sensitivity to regional and technological factors. Authors present a warning not to see findings as investment recommendations or forecast.
Making global goals local business: A new era for responsible business
This report highlights the need for private sector involvement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. It showcases the progress made so far by various companies and organisations and the role they play in building a better world through responsible business practices.
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.