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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Investor expectations of corporate transition plans: From a to zero
This report outlines key components for a credible corporate transition plan aligned with net-zero pledges under the Net Zero Investment Framework (NZIF). The guidance aims to help investors assess corporate emissions targets and progress towards decarbonisation. It is designed to be applicable across different sectors and geographies.
The impact potential assessment framework (IPAF) for financial products
The Impact Potential Assessment Framework for financial products (IPAF) is a multi-purpose tool developed to assess products based only on their actions to generate real-life impact. Using public information, it evaluates the product's maximum impact potential through four widely documented mechanisms.
Defining social norms and related concepts
This report defines social norms as the perceived unwritten rules deemed acceptable and influential in guiding human behaviour within a community. Social norms can be beneficial or harmful and influence collective change. The report distinguishes injunctive norms, descriptive norms, moral norms, and attitudes to establish behaviour change interventions.
Definitions for responsible investment approaches
This report provides definitions for different responsible investment approaches - Screening, ESG Integration, Thematic Investing, Stewardship, and Impact Investing. It aims to standardise terminology, enabling investors to communicate their responsible investment practices with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
Mobilizing money and movements: Creative finance for food systems transformations
This report explores creative financing strategies for transforming food systems. Through six case studies, it showcases levers of change for transformational investing, including blended finance, shared ownership, and diverse investment types. The report emphasizes community engagement and local food production to build sustainable and resilient food systems.
Assessment of the six largest pesticide companies’ approaches to addressing biodiversity loss
This assessment evaluates the approaches of six leading pesticide companies toward addressing biodiversity loss. None of the companies has committed to phasing out highly hazardous pesticides, and progress in reporting and disclosure is limited. Investors are urged to heed recommendations and use the report to guide engagements.
Constructive corporate engagements: From a corporate perspective
This research focuses on constructive corporate engagement. This report analyses survey results from 100 senior company directors and interviews with ten executives to examine the drivers of successful engagements. Insights include the importance of collaborating with companies, focusing on material issues, and using standard metrics for success.
The changing climate policy landscape: Considerations for policymakers and the needs of investors
This report outlines eight key features of effective global climate policies. It analyses how different approaches to policy design shape capital markets' responses. The report also calls on governments to create policies with clear short, medium, and long-term targets that provide the right incentives and ensure a just transition.
The climate benefits of plastic waste management in India and Southeast Asia: Investing in waste management and recycling solutions in India and Southeast Asia could reduce GHG emissions by 229 million tonnes by 2030
The Circulate Initiative's GHG calculator indicates that improved waste management and recycling could reduce GHG emissions by 229 million tonnes by 2030. Mismanaged plastic waste rates in six Southeast Asian countries range from 50% to 75%. This sector is crucial for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, attracting climate-focused investors.
Five insights for avoiding global collapse: What a 50-year-old model of the world taught me about a way forward for us today
This book analyses a 50-year-old model of the world to provide five insights for avoiding global collapse. The book examines societal pressures, the role of technology, governance structures, and finance that contribute to earth's ecosystem health and sustenance."
Road to resilience: An investor action plan for an adaptive and sustainable economy
This paper presents a strategy to manage economic and environmental stability in response to physical climate risks. This aims to bring awareness and understanding of physical climate risks and highlights the importance of innovative solutions toward a sustainable low-carbon economy.
Environmental sciences, sustainable development and circular economy: Alternative concepts for trans-disciplinary research
This report discusses the challenges and opportunities of trans-disciplinary research in environmental sciences. It explores three alternative environmental concepts: "environmental sciences", "sustainable development", and the increasingly popular "circular economy". The article clarifies their meaning and inter-relationship, helping trans-disciplinary researchers to understand the opportunities and challenges of each.
Collaborative investor engagement with policymakers: Changing the rules of the game?
This report explores why and how institutional investors engage with governments and the challenges they face in the process. The authors analyse 11 case studies and identify drivers such as managing investment risks and fulfilling fiduciary duties, as well as challenges like limited influence on governments. The findings contribute to the sustainable finance and public policy literature.
Queensland social enterprise strategy
The Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy is a government initiative designed to drive economic and social growth through job creation, improved market access, and making connections in the social enterprise sector. The strategy highlights key areas of focus and outlines a range of actions to help Queensland social enterprises flourish.
The Ramsey discounting formula for a hidden-state stochastic growth process
The paper highlights how the choice of an appropriate discount rate is a critical issue in economics, and arguably more so for projects involving long time horizons. In particular, environmental projects and activities whose effects will be felt in the future pose significant challenges. The paper models such challenges as an evolving hidden-state stochastic process.
Climate horizons
This report explores how Australian companies and investors should manage and disclose climate-related risks and opportunities. It suggests scenario-based analysis is a key tool for this, which can be consistent with Australia's international climate commitments and the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).