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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Global protocol for community-scale greenhouse gas inventories: An accounting and reporting standard for cities version 1.1
The Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Version 1.1) provides a standardised framework for cities to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions. It enables consistent, transparent accounting across six sectors, including energy, transport, and waste, supporting emissions tracking, target setting, and aggregation with national inventories.
The greenhouse gas protocol: A corporate accounting and reporting standard
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard provides a framework for businesses to quantify and report greenhouse gas emissions. It establishes standardised accounting principles, categorises emissions by scope, and offers guidance for setting organisational and operational boundaries. The Standard promotes transparency, consistency, and comparability in corporate GHG inventories.
RIAA policy platform: Sustainable finance for a thriving Aotearoa New Zealand 2023 and beyond
This report outlines RIAA’s policy platform to strengthen sustainable finance in Aotearoa New Zealand. It recommends a national strategy, clearer ESG disclosures, taxonomy alignment with global standards, anti-greenwashing measures, Māori inclusion, human rights protections, and alignment with biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals.
GHG protocol scope 2 guidance: An amendment to the GHG protocol corporate standard
This report updates the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard by introducing dual reporting for Scope 2 emissions—requiring both location-based and market-based methods. It defines Scope 2 accounting principles, emission factor hierarchies, and quality criteria for contractual instruments, aiming to improve transparency, accuracy, and comparability across energy markets.
Corporate value chain (scope 3) accounting and reporting standard: Supplement to the GHG protocol corporate accounting and reporting standard
The Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard provides a consistent framework for measuring and reporting indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across a company’s value chain. It outlines 15 categories of Scope 3 emissions, offers guidance on boundary setting, data collection, and reporting, and aims to improve transparency, enable emissions reduction, and support strategic decision-making.
Opportunities for methane mitigation in agriculture: Technological, economic, and regulatory considerations
This report assesses cost-effective methods to reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation, manure management, and rice cultivation. It outlines region-specific strategies and underscores the need for research, regulatory frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration to support implementation and scale-up of mitigation solutions.
Green and intelligent: the role of AI in the climate transition
Artificial intelligence (AI) can support the climate transition by reducing global emissions by up to 5.4 GtCO₂e annually by 2035 in the power, food, and transport sectors, surpassing its own energy footprint. Strategic government action is essential to ensure AI accelerates low-carbon solutions equitably and effectively.
Counterproductive sustainable investing: The impact elasticity of brown and green firms
Sustainable investing strategies that reallocate capital from brown to green firms may unintentionally worsen environmental outcomes. This study finds that green firms show minimal environmental improvement from lower capital costs, while brown firms become more polluting when financially constrained. Current investment approaches offer weak incentives for impactful emissions reductions.
Corporate climate litigation in Australasia: (Re)shaping the private law-climate interface
The report examines how corporate climate litigation in Australia and New Zealand is shaping private law. It highlights legal actions involving directors’ duties, disclosure obligations, consumer protections, and tort law. The analysis shows incremental adaptations in private law to address climate change impacts, especially through anti-greenwashing and climate accountability claims.
The path to a new era for nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is gaining momentum as a reliable, low-emissions electricity source. The report outlines growth drivers, investment needs, emerging technologies such as small modular reactors, and policy frameworks required for scale-up. Financing challenges, supply chain risks, and workforce planning are key to realising nuclear’s role in future energy systems.
A typology of the climate activist
This paper presents a typology of climate activists based on their focus—internal (endogenous) or external (exogenous)—and their theory of change—collaborative or confrontational. It proposes 16 activist types across individual, group, coalition, and institutional levels to improve conceptual clarity around climate activism.
Targeting net zero: The need to redesign bank decarbonization targets
This report examines the limitations of current bank decarbonisation targets and proposes design reforms to align with net zero. It analyses scope coverage, target types, and sector alignment, offering practical recommendations for enhancing climate credibility and effectiveness in financial institutions’ transition planning.
Nature positive: Leaders’ insights for the transition in cities
The report outlines strategies and case studies from global cities integrating nature into urban development to address climate and biodiversity challenges. It highlights the importance of public-private collaboration, compact planning, and nature-based infrastructure in fostering resilient, sustainable, and equitable cities. Solutions are scalable and grounded in real-world examples.
Kantar
Kantar is a global leader in marketing data, insights and analytics, supporting over 96 of the world’s top 100 advertisers across 90+ markets. It combines behavioural and attitudinal data to inform brand strategy, creative testing, media effectiveness, customer experience and sustainable growth.
Starting up: Responsible investment in venture capital
This report examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are being adopted in venture capital. It outlines current practices, challenges, and industry-specific considerations, and highlights the need for tailored guidance, collaboration, and early-stage engagement to advance responsible investment across the venture capital ecosystem.
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide, established in 1874, is Australia's third-oldest university and a member of the prestigious Group of Eight. Ranked among the top 100 globally, it offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Located in Adelaide, South Australia, the university is renowned for its research excellence and vibrant campus life.