Library | ESG issues

Environmental

The environmental pillar in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) assesses an organisation’s impact on the planet. It includes issues such as climate change, biodiversity, waste management and water management. Strong environmental practices help businesses reduce risks, comply with regulations, and drive long-term sustainability.

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Market Forces

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Market Forces works to hold financial institutions accountable for funding environmentally harmful projects. Based in Australia, it campaigns for banks, superannuation funds and governments to align investments with climate goals. Market Forces provides research, advocacy tools and transparency on fossil fuel financing to support climate-conscious financial decision-making.
Organisation

Plastics bank tracker

The Plastic Banks Tracker evaluates banks' roles in financing the plastics lifecycle, focusing on single-use plastics. It assesses banks across three phases—acknowledgement, policy development, and implementation—using 21 criteria aligned with international standards. The tool aims to encourage banks to reduce financing for harmful plastic production and support sustainable alternatives.
Online tool/database

The visibility of climate-related disclosures by large Australian companies

This study examines the visibility of climate-related disclosures in reports from 28 large Australian ASX50 firms during 2022. It finds that disclosures on physical climate risks are generally limited and superficial, whereas opportunities from the transition to a low-carbon economy are more prominently highlighted, indicating selective disclosure practices across sectors.
Research
20 October 2024

The triple gap in finance for agrifood systems

Climate Policy Initiative
This report identifies significant planning, finance, and data gaps in climate investment needed to transition global agrifood systems. Annual climate finance must increase by at least 40 times to USD 1.1 trillion by 2030. Current national commitments underestimate actual requirements, highlighting the need for clearer targets and improved data collection.
Research
19 November 2024

IEEFA's Australian gas and LNG tracker

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
The IEEFA Australian Gas and LNG Tracker is an interactive tool offering bi‑annual updates on Australia’s LNG infrastructure, demand forecasts, export capacity and trade flows. It integrates data from sources such as Kpler, AEMO and IEEFA’s own analysis to enhance transparency in gas and LNG market dynamics.
Online tool/database

Exploring pathways for world development within planetary boundaries

The report assesses global development scenarios to 2050 using planetary boundaries. Current trends worsen conditions across key Earth system indicators, except ozone depletion. Implementing strong sustainability measures, including climate agreements, diet shifts, and resource efficiency, significantly reduces boundary breaches but still leaves climate, biodiversity, and nutrient flows at risk.
Research
14 May 2025

RIAA Policy Platform 2025: Harnessing sustainable finance for a thriving Australia

Responsible Investment Association Australasia
The RIAA Policy Platform 2025 outlines nine policy priorities and two principles to align Australia’s finance system with sustainability goals. It recommends regulatory reforms, improved data, Indigenous inclusion, and stronger accountability to mobilise capital for a net zero, nature-positive economy that supports long-term economic resilience and societal wellbeing.
Research
3 April 2025

Circle Economy's circularity gap report series

Circle Economy
The Circularity Gap Report series, launched annually since 2018 by Circle Economy, offers key insights into the global circular economy. Each report focuses on vital topics driving action, from the first global metric in 2018 to industry and country perspectives in subsequent years.
Benchmark/series

Nature-related financial disclosures: Frequently asked questions

Governance Institute of Australia
This FAQ guide explains key concepts in nature-related financial disclosures, including biodiversity, dependencies, impacts, and the TNFD framework. It outlines disclosure requirements, materiality, governance responsibilities, and greenwashing risks, offering practical insights for businesses preparing for future regulatory expectations and aligning with international sustainability standards.
Research
1 July 2024

Carbon accounting FAQs - August 2023

Chartered Accountants Australia + New Zealand
This FAQ guide by CA ANZ outlines key carbon accounting concepts, including emissions measurement, net zero versus carbon neutral, carbon markets, and related financial and ethical considerations. It supports finance professionals with evolving standards, regulatory requirements, and practical guidance for managing climate-related data and assurance services using science-based methodologies.
Research
17 May 2023

Navigating the Australian climate-related financial disclosure landscape

Chartered Accountants Australia + New Zealand
This guide outlines Australia’s new climate-related financial disclosure requirements commencing in 2025. It defines reporting thresholds, timelines, and compliance pathways for entities based on size and emissions reporting status, and details implementation steps aligned with AASB and IFRS standards for climate and sustainability reporting.
Research
18 July 2024

Critical mineral series: Sustainability considerations for investors in copper mining

ISS
This report examines copper’s role in the energy transition, highlighting growing demand, environmental and human rights risks, and evolving global regulations. It evaluates mining companies’ sustainability performance using biodiversity, governance, and modern slavery metrics, offering insights for responsible investment aligned with international standards and long-term ESG considerations.
Research
20 May 2025

The root cause of nature loss: Forests, why they matter, and how to assess deforestation risk in investment portfolios through nature-related data

ISS
This report outlines how deforestation, particularly in tropical forests, is a key driver of biodiversity loss and climate change. It presents the risks to institutional investors—physical, transition, and systemic—and offers a framework to assess deforestation exposure in portfolios using nature-related data and metrics across sectors and geographies..
Research
9 January 2025

Putting TNFD to work: Insights from early adopters

ISS
This report analyses how early adopters are implementing the TNFD framework, highlighting integration with climate disclosures, flexible use of the LEAP approach, and application of data tools. Insights show how businesses align nature-related risks with strategy and reporting, with regional uptake led by Asia Pacific and Europe.
Research
13 May 2025

Global responsible investment trends: Inside PRI reporting data 2025

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
The 2025 PRI report analyses data from 3,048 signatories, highlighting trends in climate risk management, stewardship, and human rights. Asset owners show increased engagement, with climate and social issues gaining priority. Investors continue integrating responsible investment into decision-making and oversight, with varied progress across policy, governance, and disclosure practices.
Research
26 March 2025

How just transition can help deliver the Paris Agreement

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
This report outlines how embedding just transition principles in climate strategies supports equitable decarbonisation. It presents trends, case studies, and a UNDP framework guiding countries to integrate socio-economic considerations into their Nationally Determined Contributions and Long-Term Strategies, promoting inclusive, sustainable development in line with the Paris Agreement.
Research
20 January 2023
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