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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Financing our future: Actions to scale up and accelerate the pace of change towards a more sustainable financial system

Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)
This report offers actionable recommendations to the world's finance sector. This report presents evidence on the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and outlines key actions for finance actors across numerous industries to advance toward a sustainable financial system.
Research
7 December 2018

Communicating the scientific consensus on climate change: Diverse audiences and effects over time

This study finds that communicating the scientific consensus on climate change increases understanding and engagement. Consensus messaging leads to updated beliefs across diverse audiences, with 40% of the original effect lasting 26 days. The treatment effect is most durable for those doubtful or dismissive of climate change.
Research
10 October 2022

Biodiversity risk: Legal implications for companies and their directors

Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative
The report analyses the legal obligations of company directors with regards to biodiversity risk. The report examines emerging disclosure standards, provides a jurisdictional spotlight, and includes case studies to illustrate the corporate interface with biodiversity.
Research
13 December 2022

Safe and just Earth system boundaries

This report sets safe and just Earth system boundaries (ESBs) for domains including climate, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and identifies sub-global ESBs for avoiding Earth system destabilization. Achieving these ESBs requires a systemic transformation across sectors and addressing drivers of Earth system change for a safe and just future.
Research
31 May 2023

Investor expectations of corporate transition plans: From a to zero

Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)
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.
Research
28 April 2023

The impact potential assessment framework (IPAF) for financial products

Sustainable Finance Observatory
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.
Research
13 March 2023

Defining social norms and related concepts

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
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.
Research
12 November 2021

Why circular business models fail and what to do about it: A preliminary framework and lessons learned from a case in the European Union

Circular business models fail to scale due to cultural, regulatory, economic, and technical barriers. This report proposes a preliminary empirical framework for linking circular business models to specific barriers and offers four lessons for managerial strategies.
Research
22 June 2023

Assessment of the six largest pesticide companies’ approaches to addressing biodiversity loss

ShareAction
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.
Research
31 October 2023

Constructive corporate engagements: From a corporate perspective

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
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.
Research
8 September 2023

The changing climate policy landscape: Considerations for policymakers and the needs of investors

Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC)
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.
Research
6 September 2023

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
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.
Research
13 July 2023

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.
Research
5 October 2022

Road to resilience: An investor action plan for an adaptive and sustainable economy

Investor Group on Climate Change
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.
Research
17 August 2023

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.
Research
22 March 2016

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.
Research
25 June 2023
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