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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Young people's climate activism: A review of the literature
This review of literature on young people's climate activism highlights methodological trends and key themes since 2018. It identifies a shift toward youth-centered qualitative research, focusing on the composition, practices, and outcomes of climate activism. Notable gaps include the overemphasis on Greta Thunberg, mass mobilisations, and activism in the Global North.
Climate warriors down under: Contextualising Australia’s youth climate justice movement
This report explores the youth-led climate justice movement in Australia, focusing on the socio-political context and challenges young activists face. It highlights the role of non-violent, collective action, key groups such as the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, and the impact of climate-related litigation cases, while addressing barriers like media bias and anti-protest laws.
Deep blue: Opportunities for blue carbon finance in coastal ecosystems
This report explores the growing opportunities for blue carbon finance in coastal ecosystems, focusing on mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows. It highlights the significant potential of these ecosystems to mitigate climate change, generate carbon credits, and provide essential co-benefits, including biodiversity conservation and economic resilience for coastal communities. Despite increasing interest, challenges in securing funding and scaling projects remain key barriers to unlocking their full potential.
Trade sanctions and the stability of climate coalitions
This report investigates the impact of trade sanctions on the stability of climate coalitions, finding that sanctions can increase coalition size when coalitions are large. However, smaller coalitions risk destabilisation if retaliation occurs. While sanctions may foster cooperation, global welfare implications remain mixed due to trade distortions.
Enhancing impact performance in agriculture through non-financial support and sustainable practices
This report examines the relationship between sustainable agricultural practices and non-financial support in impact investments, highlighting how such support can enhance performance. Findings reveal that non-financial support improves outcomes for smallholder farmers, especially women, by increasing service provision and adoption of sustainable farming, contributing to resilience and profitability.
Divestment and engagement: The effect of green investors on corporate carbon emissions
This report investigates whether green investors influence corporate carbon emissions by either divesting from polluters or engaging with management through stock ownership. The findings suggest green investors significantly reduce emissions through active engagement, whereas divestment strategies may counterproductively increase emissions. The report highlights private markets’ potential to address environmental issues independently of government regulation.
Cooler finance: Mobilizing investment for the developing world’s sustainable cooling needs
The report highlights the critical need for sustainable cooling in developing countries to meet climate goals, reduce emissions, and support health, food security, and productivity. It estimates a market demand of $600 billion annually by 2050 and provides strategies to attract private investment through policy, financing models, and international collaboration.
Aligning financial flows with the Global Diversity Framework: Translating ambition into implementation
The report advocates for governments to ensure financial flows align with biodiversity goals. It highlights the need for mandatory disclosures on nature-related risks, nature transition plans, and economic incentives to mobilise private finance for biodiversity conservation, emphasising a "whole-of-government" approach to implementation.
A tool for developing credible transition plans: Public edition for asset owner pilot-testing
This report provides asset owners with guidance for preparing and evaluating transition plans. It highlights key elements for credibility, outlines relevant frameworks, and offers recommendations for both preparers and users of transition plans, enhancing transparency and accountability in achieving net-zero goals.
Nature-related litigation: Emerging trends and lessons learned from climate-related litigation
This report explores emerging trends in nature-related litigation, focusing on biodiversity, deforestation, ocean degradation, and plastic pollution. It highlights the legal risks for the financial sector and calls for increased monitoring. Lessons from climate-related litigation are applied to nature protection strategies, impacting regulatory and corporate practices.
Climate-related litigation: recent trends and developments
The report highlights the growing volume and diversity of climate-related litigation. It outlines legal trends targeting financial and non-financial institutions and governments, with significant implications for financial risks and reputational damage. The report emphasises the potential increase in litigation tied to climate disclosure laws, greenwashing, and corporate responsibilities.
The effect of pricing instruments on CO2 emissions: Empirical evidence from Australia
The report evaluates Australia's short-lived carbon tax and renewable energy policies. It finds a 7% per capita emissions reduction from 2009 to 2018, with effects weakening after policy repeal. Coal exports increased during this period, potentially offsetting domestic emission reductions.
Plastics circularity investment tracker tool
The tool offers insights into private investments in plastics circularity globally from 2018 to 2023. It provides data by geography, investment categories, and solution types, enabling users to analyse trends and compare investments across regions and sectors.
How cheap talk in climate disclosures relates to climate initiatives, corporate emissions, and reputation risk
The report examines the relationship between corporate climate disclosures, cheap talk, and actual climate initiatives. It highlights how voluntary disclosures often suffer from superficiality, while targeted climate actions reduce cheap talk. Findings suggest cheap talk correlates with higher emissions and reputation risks, offering insights into the credibility of climate commitments.
Guide for adaptation and resilience finance
The guide outlines strategies for mobilising private capital into climate adaptation projects in emerging markets. It provides investment criteria, eligible activities, and guidance on reducing climate risks. The guide aims to standardise financing processes for resilience across global financial systems.