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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The comprehensive business case for sustainability
Sustainable businesses redefine the corporate ecosystem by creating value for all stakeholders, including employees, shareholders, supply chains, civil society, and the planet. Managing sustainability risks requires making investment decisions today for longer-term capacity building and developing adaptive strategies. Significant cost reductions can result from improving operational efficiency, and sustainable companies deliver significant positive financial performance.
New EU guidance helps companies to combat forced labour in supply chains
The guide provides practical advice on identifying, preventing, mitigating, and addressing forced labour's risk and translating international standards into concrete action. The guidance is in line with the previously published EU trade strategy and upcoming legislation on Sustainable Corporate Governance.
Opportunity NOCs: How investors can jumpstart energy transitions in national oil companies
This report outlines how national oil companies (NOCs) must begin decarbonising to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and how investors can influence and incentivise the energy transition. It shows that NOCs constitute half of the world’s oil and gas production and control two-thirds of global reserves, making them of great interest to investors.
Renewable energy and Indigenous people
This paper outlines challenges and opportunities for Indigenous Australians in adopting renewable energy, emphasising successful partnerships with experienced developers. It stresses the importance of building knowledge and capability at various project scales and recommends support mechanisms to empower Indigenous communities in advancing their renewable energy projects.
Investor ESG guide on private security and human rights
This investor guide highlights that private security-related adverse human rights impacts are common and typically include excessive use of force, unfair working conditions and sexual exploitation. As fiduciaries, institutional investors are obligated to identify and mitigate these potential adverse impacts.
At the crossroads: 10 years of implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Australia
The report examines the implementation and impact of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Australia over the past decade.
Sustainable investing: Establishing long-term value and performance
The study finds that corporations with a commitment to sustainable investing have superior risk-adjusted returns. While fund managers face challenges in capturing the outperformance with some exceptions, they have not generally underperformed. Integrated reporting can be used to improve the transparency and accuracy of ESG information.
Unlocking investment capital for Indigenous Peoples
This paper tackles the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in accessing investment capital. It explores capital requirements and common barriers to obtaining the necessary funding, providing recommendations to fill gaps in access, provide support, and facilitate positive partnerships.
Net zero integrity: Assessment of the net zero pledges of Australian companies
This report assesses the net zero pledges of ten Australian companies, highlighting a gap between current voluntary commitments and the requirements of global standards. None of the firms have a comprehensive, quantified, and independently verified plan for reducing emissions in line with a science-based pathway.
Intangible cultural heritage, diverse knowledge systems, and climate change
This paper explores the relationship between climate change, different knowledge systems, culture, and heritage. It discusses the importance of a historical perspective, defines and describes different knowledge systems, and addresses the limitations of the predominant scientific approach. It also presents a framework for collaboration among plural knowledge systems.
Putting pandemics behind us: Investing in one health to reduce risks of emerging infectious diseases
This report discusses One Health, an approach that recognises the interdependent nature of human, animal, and environmental health. It presents an investment framework designed to mobilise finance for pandemic prevention and reduce the risks of emerging infectious diseases.
Navigating energy transitions: Mapping the road to 1.5°C
This report maps the road to 1.5°C in energy transitions, discussing pathways and policies to achieve this goal. It highlights the role of investors in driving the energy transition, and the need for mandatory disclosure requirements and robust reporting frameworks to achieve material impact.
Are corporate biodiversity commitments consistent with delivering ‘nature-positive’ outcomes? A review of ‘nature-positive’ definitions, company progress and challenges
This article examine the emerging trend of "nature-positive" in business and large corporations. The authors propose key criteria to distinguish 'nature-positive' approaches from previous iterations, analyse company sustainability reports, and examine progress from 2016 to 2021.
Guidance and questionnaire for assessing client sustainability preferences and motivations
This report presents guidelines for investment firms to assess client sustainability preferences and motivations, and select financial products accordingly. The guidance outlines a three-step process toward a product recommendation and identifies keyword categories of sustainability preferences and motivational characteristics.
Diversity in action: How to sustain the financial planning profession
This paper contains case studies from select firms, outlining their actions towards diversifying their workforce and delivering scalable insights for replicating their successes. A key resource for increasing diversity and inclusion in the financial planning profession.
A practitioner guide for asset managers and asset owners to assess clients’ and beneficiaries’ sustainability preferences
This report is a practical guide for asset managers and owners to assess clients' sustainability preferences. It introduces research questions based on contextual settings and presents general guidelines for conducting surveys and experiments. The report also includes key findings and insights for financial institutions and regulators to adapt to energy transitions.