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.
Refine
1723 results
REFINE
SHOW: 16
Doughnut economics for regenerative business design
An edited volume applying Doughnut Economics to business design, using case studies and critical reflections to examine how purpose, networks, governance, ownership and finance can support regenerative and distributive business models. It focuses on redesigning firms to operate within ecological and social limits.
Climate-nature scenario development for financial risk assessment
This report develops integrated climate-nature scenarios for financial risk assessment, showing that combined climate and nature policies provide a fuller view of agricultural, biodiversity and ecosystem-service risks than separate approaches, with implications for central banks, supervisors and future stress-testing frameworks.
You Built This
This article argues that modern investment strategies fuel economic extraction while often underperforming simpler alternatives. It calls on investors to realign portfolios with productive, community-oriented investments that generate real economic and social value.
The circular economy: A 'triple play' solution for achieving China's climate objectives
The report argues that a circular economy can help China meet climate goals by cutting emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, securing critical materials for renewable energy, and improving climate resilience, while outlining policy actions on design, resource management, investment, measurement, and cross-sector collaboration.
Untapped potential: Asset owners and climate policy influence
Assesses major asset owners’ influence on climate policy, finding limited stewardship and advocacy despite significant potential. Most score poorly on climate lobbying oversight and transparency, with few aligning engagement to net zero goals. Highlights gaps in managing asset managers and industry associations, and calls for stronger, coordinated policy engagement.
How does climate risk affect global equity valuations? A novel approach
The report presents a probabilistic, state-dependent valuation framework for global equities under climate risk, finding that strong abatement could limit revaluation losses to 5–10%, while continued weak abatement could imply declines of around 40%, with tipping points worsening losses.
Market assessment on critical minerals innovation in developing countries
This report assesses critical minerals innovation in developing countries, focusing on midstream processing and downstream manufacturing, recycling and end-of-life treatment. It reviews 30 countries, highlights policy and financing gaps, and recommends stronger infrastructure, coordination, technology transfer and support for innovation ecosystems.
ANREV (Asian Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles)
ANREV (Asian Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles) is a not-for-profit industry body supporting institutional investors in Asia-Pacific real estate funds. It provides research, indices and market data, promotes transparency and best practice, and enables informed investment decisions across non-listed real estate markets.
Australian financial institutions’ views on climate and clean energy opportunities in South and Southeast Asia
Assesses Australian financial institutions’ views on climate and clean energy investment in South and Southeast Asia, highlighting growth potential, limited current exposure, key risks, and barriers. It emphasises blended finance, policy support, and government intervention to mobilise private capital and scale regional investment.
The 12th national risk assessment: Property prices in Peril
First Street argues climate risk is reshaping US housing via higher insurance costs and climate-driven migration, with projected net residential property value losses of about US$1.2 trillion by 2055 and 84% of census tracts facing some negative valuation effects.
Incentivising climate action with executive remuneration in Australia
Provides a framework for linking climate goals to executive remuneration in Australia, emphasising alignment with credible transition strategies, measurable and sector-specific metrics, appropriate weighting, and transparent disclosure. Highlights growing adoption, implementation challenges, and guiding principles to improve investor engagement and incentive effectiveness.
Taking the lead on climate action and sustainable development: Recommendations for strategic national transition planning at the centre of a whole-of-system climate response
The report outlines principles for national transition planning to drive a coordinated, whole-of-economy shift to net zero. It proposes five pillars—strategy, implementation, engagement, metrics and governance—to align policy, mobilise finance, enhance accountability, and support sustainable development and climate resilience.
Sustainable and responsible investment for central banks
NGFS reports outline how central banks can integrate sustainable and responsible investment into corporate, sovereign and broader portfolio management, using climate metrics, risk and impact frameworks, governance arrangements and practical implementation guidance, while recognising data gaps, methodological limits and trade-offs with mandates and core investment objectives.
Regulating finance for biodiversity: An assessment for the global biodiversity framework
This report assesses how financial regulation in Indonesia, Brazil, China, the EU and the US aligns with Global Biodiversity Framework targets, finding biodiversity integration generally weak and recommending stronger disclosure, due diligence, taxonomies, sanctions and sector-specific rules to redirect finance away from forest-risk activities.
The economics of water: Valuing the hydrological cycle as a global common good
The report argues the hydrological cycle should be governed as a global common good, with water valued more accurately and managed for efficiency, equity and environmental sustainability, supported by five missions spanning food systems, ecosystems, circular water use, lower water-intensity industry, and universal safe water access. The report is produced by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, supported by the OECD.
100 million farmers: Breakthrough models for financing a sustainability transition
Report proposes financing and collaboration models to accelerate adoption of regenerative agriculture. It identifies economic, technical and social barriers farmers face and outlines coordinated mechanisms—combining ecosystem-service monetisation, blended capital and multi-actor partnerships—to scale sustainable food production and support farmers’ transition.