Library | ESG issues
Governance
The governance pillar in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) refers to the systems, policies, and practices that ensure an organisation is managed responsibly and ethically. It includes issues such as board structure, reporting & disclosures, shareholders & voting, and risk management. Strong governance reduces risks, enhances trust, and supports long-term business sustainability.
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Fossil fuel divestment strategies: Financial and carbon-related consequences
This study examines financial and carbon-related impacts of fossil fuel divestment strategies. Empirical analysis of a Canadian stock index suggests ethical divestment reduces carbon exposure and performs as well or better than the benchmark.
The private wealth industry and tax: Politically biased, ethically compromising and failing clients
This report identifies that the private wealth sector is politically biased, ethically compromising, and failing clients with tax positive views. The report calls for significant changes to industry practice to better serve clients and ensure a more equitable society.
A guide to SDG interactions: From science to implementation
This report examines the nature of interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underpinned by a framework for understanding sustainable development goal interactions. Policymakers, practitioners and scientists working on implementing SDGs are the intended audience for this report.
Understanding and aligning with beneficiaries’ sustainability preferences
This report explores how engaging with beneficiaries can improve investments' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. It outlines a four-step process for investment professionals to understand and align with beneficiaries' sustainability preferences, ultimately strengthening a fund's performance and maintaining social license.
What is tax fairness and what does it mean for investors?
This report is a discussion paper on tax fairness and its impact on institutional investors. Six principles guide the initiatives to bring transparency and systematic approach in dealing with tax issues in the investment industry. It also outlines past legal and regulatory efforts and recommendations for future stakeholder engagement to improve tax arrangements.
On purpose: Towards a unified theory of responsible investment
This paper presents a framework for evaluating responsible investment (RI) approaches that re-align investment practice with purpose. It unifies the field, generates a coherent framework for designing quality RI offerings, and supports meaningful comparison of diverse RI offerings. It is essential reading for investors interested in RI.
Women in business leadership boost ESG performance: Existing body of evidence makes compelling case
Increase in women's representation in business leadership positions intensifies environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. 70 peer-reviewed papers published from 2008 to 2017 proportionally associate higher diversity with better firm performance. The compendium of available material evolves into a pressing case for more women in boards and other leadership roles.
Beyond investment: The power of capacity-building support
This report explores the use of technical assistance to enhance the impact of investments in challenging sectors. With contributions from industry professionals, the report highlights motivations, uses and challenges of capacity-building support, and provides analysis to encourage discussion and shape future practice.
User’s guide to IFC’s sustainability assessment and improvement tool for midsize growth companies
This tool aims to help small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage environmental and social risk and support long-term growth. The tool is contextualised for SMEs and provides comprehensive guidance focusing on environmental, social, and governance risk factors while presenting a pathway for manageable, systemic improvements.
Impacts of climate litigation on firm value
This report examines the financial effects of climate litigation on firms. The study used a new dataset and found that climate litigation has a modest negative impact on firms' stock prices. The bulk of the corporate climate litigation were filed against the largest companies.
Holistic portfolio construction with an impact lens: A vital approach for institutional asset owners in a changing world
This report highlights the importance for Institutional Asset Owners (IAOs) to apply an impact lens approach to their portfolio construction. By creating impact philosophies and policies, IAOs can align impact thematic(s) and drive an evolution towards providing both impact and financial returns to their beneficiaries.
New pathways to achieve social and environmental goals: How leading corporations use impact investing to align capital and purpose
This report examines how leading corporations use impact investing to pursue environmental and social goals. It contains case studies of companies such as PayPal and Schneider Electric, showcasing their impact investing practices and strategies.
Making Xinjiang sanctions work: Addressing forced labour through coercive trade and finance measures
This is a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the measures adopted and implemented to address the issue of forced labour in Xinjiang, China. Based on open-source data and expert analysis, the report highlights key themes and outlines a set of recommendations designed to improve the effectiveness of current trade and financial measures.
Taking stock of investor implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
This report assesses the first decade of implementation of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights and the role of institutional investors in promoting investor responsibility to respect human rights. Enabling environments for rights-respecting investment have emerged, however, access to remedy for victims requires urgent attention, and other investment ecosystem actors must step up.
COMPASS: The methodology for comparing and assessing impact
The COMPASS is a methodology for investors to assess and compare impact data to maximise social or environmental returns. Upon collecting standardised data, this paper provides a step-by-step process to normalise impact information, using three key analytic figures, and to create benchmarks within peer groups to aid investment decision-making.
Sustainability at a turning point: Consumers are pushing companies to pivot
This research of 14,000 people from 9 countries discovered that 93% say that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed their perception of environmental sustainability. Individuals are, as a result, looking to invest in companies that prioritise environmental responsibility and expect them to communicate sustainability benchmarks and future plans clearly. In addition, more than half of consumers would work for a company that values sustainability, which is increasingly becoming a top hiring consideration.