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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A systematic review of the voluntary governance landscape for an urgent, high-integrity, and equitable transition to net zero
This systematic review analyses 36 voluntary governance documents to assess how well they guide non-state entities towards an urgent, high-integrity, and equitable net-zero transition. It identifies consensus areas, like science-based targets, alongside critical gaps in operational detail, equity, and accountability, highlighting the need for robust standards and regulation.
Planetary solvency: Tipping into the wild unknown: Global nature risk management
This report outlines how the degradation of global ecosystems threatens societal and economic resilience. It highlights immediate risks to food systems and health, long-term ecosystem tipping points, and the necessity of integrating biodiversity into financial models. Actuaries and policymakers are urged to adopt systemic, narrative-based risk management strategies.
Underwriting the future of resilience: Developing insurable and bankable infrastructure
This report explores how the insurance industry assesses physical climate risks for new social infrastructure projects. It identifies five key enablers to integrate climate resilience across project lifecycles, advocating for early stakeholder engagement and forward-looking risk assessments to ensure long-term asset insurability, bankability, and value in a changing climate.
Value of nature: The investment case for nature-based solutions
This report examines how Ecosystem Service Valuation (ESV) can scale finance for Nature-based Solutions (NbS). By revealing the distribution of socio-economic benefits and costs across stakeholders, ESV provides a standardised framework to inform financial mechanisms and structure effective public-private partnerships.
Catalysing partnerships to mobilise infrastructure financing and investment in low- and middle-income countries
This learning note explores how an ecosystem approach to infrastructure financing can mobilise capital in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights the importance of early finance engagement, de-risking mechanisms, and integrated partnerships to transform technically sound projects into commercially viable investments.
Integrating climate considerations into environmental impact assessments: Lessons from Latin America and Asia
This report analyses the integration of climate change considerations into environmental impact assessment (EIA) regimes across 20 economies in Latin America and Asia. It evaluates legislative frameworks and climate litigation trends, recommending stronger statutory requirements, detailed technical guidance, and comprehensive assessments of both emissions and adaptation risks.
What can investors do about climate change?
This report explores the evolving role of investors in addressing climate change. Drawing on insights from major asset managers, it advocates shifting from market-led targets to a policy-led approach. Investors are advised to focus on realistic stewardship, pragmatic objective-setting, and policy advocacy to effectively manage climate-related financial risks.
Climate litigation as a financial risk: Evidence from a global survey of equity investors
This report surveys 811 global equity investors to assess perceptions of climate litigation as a financial risk. It finds that investors view climate lawsuits as financially material, with effects often manifesting early, such as upon media coverage or filing, and affecting both carbon majors and other sectors.
24/7 renewables: The economics of firm solar and wind
This report analyses the transition to reliable, round-the-clock renewable energy through solar, wind, and battery storage. Introducing the firm levelised cost of electricity (F-LCOE), it evaluates the cost-competitiveness of hybrid systems against fossil fuels and outlines the necessary policy reforms to support widespread deployment.
Assessing the resilience of global grain supplies to compound climatic and non-climatic shocks
This research evaluates the resilience of global grain supplies to compounding climatic and non-climatic shocks. Using a bilateral trade model for 177 countries, it demonstrates that energy price spikes and extreme weather severely disrupt food systems, highlighting the need for strategic stockpiling and diversified trade agreements to ensure food security.
Energy security through freight electrification: A rapid response briefing note on policy options for responding to the global fuel crisis
This briefing note outlines policy options to enhance Australia's fuel security through freight electrification. It recommends a phased, five-year, $3 billion programme to deploy up to 50,000 battery electric trucks, displacing one billion litres of diesel annually while leveraging private capital and implementing structural reforms.
Energy and AI in East Asia
This report examines the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy in East Asia. It highlights how AI optimises renewable energy integration and grid management, whilst addressing rising data centre electricity demand. It recommends accelerating digitalisation, updating regulatory frameworks, and promoting clean energy procurement to ensure sustainable development.
Critical minerals traceability for energy and economic security
IEA finds traceability systems can strengthen critical mineral supply chain resilience by improving visibility, diversification and responsible sourcing. Adoption is increasing but remains uneven due to costs, interoperability issues and limited incentives. The report recommends harmonised standards, financial support and international co-operation to improve energy and economic security.
RIAA Conference Australia 2026 - Companion Resources
Responsible investment has moved well beyond principles and pledges. Today’s challenges require practical capability and informed judgement. The RIAA Conference is a must-attend event for finance, sustainability and industry practitioners who want to focus on the key themes for responsible investment in 2026 and what implementation really looks like. Designed as an immersive, hands-on experience, the program focuses on the systems that underpin strong financial performance, and will help you understand how climate, nature, technology, governance and regulation intersect.
These specially curated companion resources have been recommended by the conference speakers and Altiorem team.
These specially curated companion resources have been recommended by the conference speakers and Altiorem team.
Mapping heat inequality across neighbourhoods in Delhi: Integrating geospatial and citizen data for climate resilience
Delhi heat vulnerability is shaped by neighbourhood density, limited green cover and unequal access to cooling. Using geospatial and household survey data, the report finds higher heat exposure increases illness, sleep disruption and productivity loss, while targeted greening, micro-level heat planning and energy-efficient cooling could improve urban climate resilience.
Driving jobs, economic growth, and climate action: The role of clean mobility in India
India’s transition to full electric vehicle adoption by 2047 could increase manufacturing output, create new jobs, reduce oil import dependence, and lower transport emissions. The report highlights substantial investment, infrastructure, and workforce reskilling requirements, with policy coordination and domestic manufacturing identified as critical to capturing long-term economic and climate benefits.