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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Metals-as-a-Service: A strategic and investable circular business model for the wind energy industry and beyond
Metals-as-a-Service (MaaS) proposes a circular business model for the wind energy sector and beyond, in which metal ownership is retained by a Special Purpose Vehicle throughout the asset lifecycle. The model converts metal procurement from capital expenditure into a service-based structure, enabling securitisation, improved supply security, and circular value creation.
Nature-based solutions for a sustainable critical minerals value chain
This report examines how nature-based solutions (NbS) can be integrated into critical minerals mining. Drawing on case study research and expert events at Climate Week NYC and COP30, it identifies six resilience-building NbS categories and highlights the need for systems-based planning, community collaboration, and improved financing mechanisms.
Airports and aviation emissions: The Airport Tracker as a tool for data-driven advocacy
This policy brief presents findings from the third update to the Airport Tracker, a global inventory covering the world's 1,300 busiest airports. Using 2023 data, it analyses CO₂ and local air pollution from passenger, freight and private jet flights, finding that aviation remains off track to meet net-zero goals.
The differential impacts of critical mineral prices and oil prices on the economy
This paper uses a neoclassical open-economy growth model to compare the macroeconomic impacts of critical mineral and oil price shocks. Oil price increases are found to be more contractionary for output and welfare, while mineral price shocks primarily affect investment and external balance sheets, warranting macroprudential and fiscal policy responses.
How to use consensus state of nature metrics to understand business dependencies on ecosystem services
This briefing note explains how businesses and financial institutions can configure the NPI consensus State of Nature metrics to understand their dependencies on ecosystem services. It outlines a four-step practical process, identifies where the metrics provide strong insight, and highlights where complementary indicators are needed.
Making water use in global trade more sustainable: The challenge to improve supply-chain resilience and water security in the context of geopolitical change
This Chatham House paper examines how global supply chains drive unsustainable water use and water insecurity, particularly in the Global South. It explores 'virtual water' trade dynamics, the impact of geopolitical fragmentation on cooperative water governance, and presents 10 recommendations for governments, corporations, financial institutions and civil society.
Climate change and cruelty: Revealing the true impact of factory farming
This World Animal Protection report examines the climate and environmental impacts of factory farming in Brazil, China, the USA and the Netherlands. It models scenarios for reduced meat consumption and higher welfare production, finding that eating less and better could halve the climate impacts of chicken and pork by 2040.
Leading the charge: Turning risk into reward with a circular economy for EV batteries and critical minerals
This report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation examines systemic risks in the EV battery value chain and sets out a circular economy framework, identifying five bright spots — battery design, rightsizing, circular business models, regional infrastructure, and data transparency — to build resilience and reduce critical mineral demand.
Don't mess with the ETS: Priorities for the upcoming EU emissions trading system revision
Carbon Market Watch presents a 10-point plan for improving the EU Emissions Trading System ahead of its upcoming revision. The report argues against weakening the cap, free allocation phase-out, or the Market Stability Reserve, and calls for expanded coverage of aviation, shipping, and biomass, alongside eliminating fossil fuel subsidies from ETS revenues.
IEA Methane Tracker Data Tool
The IEA Methane Tracker Data Tool provides interactive, country-level methane emissions data and enhanced policy tracking across the energy sector.
The G7 Net Zero Temperature Check
BSI's G7 Net Zero Temperature Check benchmarks corporate net zero progress across G7 nations, surveying over 7,000 business leaders on climate strategy and commitments.
The Clean Investment Monitor
Tracks global investment in clean energy and decarbonisation technologies using facility-level data, covering the US, China, and all countries worldwide.
SME Climate Hub
Free platform helping SMEs measure emissions, build climate action plans, and report progress toward net zero by 2050.
PowerPulse: India Corporate Dashboard
An IEEFA dashboard assessing the financial, operational, and energy transition progress of listed power sector companies in India every quarter.
Trump climate endangerment stories
This interactive mapping tool from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) combines climate data and community stories to show how climate change is affecting temperatures, water resources, disaster losses, insurance costs and public health across the United States. It also illustrates the projected impacts of changes to federal climate pollution regulations.
What a waste 3.0: Global snapshot of solid waste management toward circularity until 2050
What a Waste 3.0 provides a global assessment of municipal solid waste management across 217 countries and economies. It analyses waste generation, collection, treatment, recycling, financing, employment, climate impacts and circularity pathways to 2050, highlighting rising waste volumes, infrastructure investment needs, resource recovery opportunities and policy frameworks for sustainable waste systems.