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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Reinventing capitalism: A transformation agenda
This issue brief by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) explores the need for a reinvented capitalism that prioritises true value over value extraction. It examines the unsustainable outcomes of contemporary capitalism and presents a transformation agenda to help steer businesses towards a sustainable global economy.
Asset-level data and the energy transition: Findings from ET risk work package 2
This report demonstrates the potential of asset-level data to manage risks and opportunities arising from the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. The authors develop a demonstrator database of assets across six carbon-intensive industries, calculating cumulative committed carbon emissions (CCCE) and potential reductions (RCCCE) through retrofits.
Mapping ocean governance and regulation
This report provides an overview of ocean governance and regulations through the lenses of ocean-based industries, addressing international governance, key industries, emerging issues and regulatory developments, cross-cutting challenges and the role of the private sector through the UN Global Compact Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business.
The good transition plan: Climate action strategy development guidance for banks and lending institutions: COP26-version
This guide is designed for banks and lending institutions to assist in the creation of a climate action strategy. The report analyses the challenges and solutions to financing transitions towards a climate-safe world, outlining a comprehensive seven-element framework, key tools for measuring alignment with Paris Goals, and numerous sector guidelines.
Retiring oil and gas assets will have long-term financial and environmental impacts
Ageing oil and gas assets will have significant long-term financial and environmental impacts, with decommissioning costs rising steadily in coming decades. Asset retirement obligations could reach US$42 billion by 2024, posing considerable financial, logistical, and environmental challenges given limited financial assurance requirements, regulatory loopholes, and the complexity of decommissioning.
Business reporting on the SDGs: An analysis of the goals and targets 2022
This report offers a comprehensive overview of the Sustainable Development Goals and how businesses can align their practices with these goals through transparent disclosures and disclosures reporting. This 2022 edition provides actionable steps for businesses to contribute to sustainable development.
The implications of behavioural science for effective climate policy
This report explores the implications of behavioural science for effective climate policy and focuses on eight main sectors, such as diet change, adaptation and aviation, with recommendations for further empirical research. The report underscores the importance of understanding human behaviour and how insights can be used in climate policy development for effective implementation.
Business of peace: The private sector as a partner in conflict prevention and resolution
This report explores how multinational corporations can support conflict prevention and resolution. It emphasizes the cost of conflict to corporate operations and reputation, identifies opportunities for corporate leadership, and provides case studies of how some corporations work with local governments, NGOs, and social entrepreneurs.
Catalysing bank climate action: Lessons from the inside
This report shares insights from the Climate Safe Lending Fellowship, a programme for banking professionals committed to accelerating the decarbonisation of their institutions. The report offers practical approaches and tools used by climate intrapreneurs to help their banks transition toward climate-safe banking.
The TNFD nature-related risk and opportunity management and disclosure framework: Beta v0.1 release
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has released a beta version of its Nature-related Risk and Opportunity Management and Disclosure Framework. The framework aims to deliver a risk management and disclosure framework for organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks and opportunities.
Prosperity without growth: The transition to a sustainable economy
The authors of this report argue that society's pursuit of economic growth has been detrimental to the environment and economic sustainability. The report challenges traditional thinking around the benefits of growth and argues for a new macro-economics for sustainability.
Investor primer to transition risk analysis
This report focuses on scenario analysis as a tool for assessing climate and energy transition risks that traditional financial analysis may not capture. It gives insight into the conceptual and methodological underpinnings of scenario analysis, drawing on models from The CO-Firm and KECH climate research.
Insuring a low carbon future: A practical guide for insurers on managing climate-related risks and opportunities
This report explores how climate awareness is being integrated into underwriting, investment, and group-wide risk management practices in the insurance industry. It identifies common barriers and presents a practical framework of eight building blocks relevant for insurers introducing and developing climate strategies. Based on interviews with 14 proactive insurers.
Point of no return 2023: Part IV: Climate and biodiversity
This report assesses the climate and biodiversity policies and practices of 77 of the world’s largest asset managers, who collectively hold over $77 trillion in assets. The report finds that asset managers need stronger and more comprehensive net-zero targets, consistent with limiting biodiversity loss, and a greater focus on climate scenario analysis.
Modern temperatures in central–north Greenland warmest in past millennium
Greenland's central and north regions have recorded their warmest temperatures in over a millennium. Scientific data showed that temperatures have risen by an average of 1.5 ± 0.4 degrees Celsius, which is above the range of pre-industrial temperature variability. The warming followed a long-term trend that is likely connected to anthropogenic effects.
Investing in the living wage: A toolkit for responsible investors
This toolkit details low pay risks for investors, particularly in industries such as retail, hospitality, and care homes. The toolkit urges investors to proactively tackle low pay issues by promoting the Living Wage through collaborative engagement, integrating ESG concerns into policies and guidelines, and encouraging incentive schemes in this area.