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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GRI Standards
The GRI Standards are globally recognised sustainability reporting guidelines enabling organisations to disclose economic, environmental and social impacts in a consistent and comparable way. They support transparency, accountability and informed decision-making by helping organisations identify, measure and communicate material ESG impacts and contributions to sustainable development.
IFC's performance standards on environmental and social sustainability
The IFC Performance Standards (2012) form part of the Sustainability Framework, setting requirements for clients to identify, manage, and mitigate environmental and social risks in financed projects. They comprise eight standards covering areas such as labour, resource efficiency, biodiversity, and community impacts, and are widely used as a global benchmark for responsible investment.
Recharge for rights: Ranking the human rights due diligence reporting of leading electric vehicle makers
Amnesty International assesses 13 leading EV makers’ public reporting on human rights due diligence in battery mineral supply chains. It finds uneven progress since 2017, but no company demonstrates adequate alignment with international standards; Mercedes-Benz and Tesla lead, while BYD ranks last.
Tipping points: Decision making under deep uncertainty
Examines climate tipping points and their implications for financial decision-making under deep uncertainty. It outlines risks of abrupt, nonlinear climate shifts, limitations of traditional valuation models, and emerging approaches including scenario analysis, resilience planning and climate intervention, emphasising challenges in pricing, timing and managing long-term systemic risks.
Implications of the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change for directors’ duties in relation to climate-related risks
Examines how the ICJ’s climate advisory opinion may elevate climate-related risks and regulatory pressures, increasing directors’ duty of care. Highlights litigation, disclosure, and transition risks, particularly for emissions-intensive sectors, and emphasises informed decision-making and accurate reporting to mitigate liability.
Forever wild series
This series outlines the Forever Wild Initiative’s approach to financing and managing large-scale wilderness landscapes through blended capital models, community co-design, and nature-based enterprises. It documents the development of equitable nature finance structures that integrate conservation, economic activity, and social outcomes across landscapes.
Oxford climate policy monitor: 2025 annual review
Assesses climate policies across 37 jurisdictions and six domains, finding overall strengthening despite political pressures, but slow implementation. Highlights rising policy leadership in developing regions and persistent gaps in ambition and execution relative to Paris Agreement targets.
2025 Southeast Asia fossil fuel divestment scorecard
Assesses 35 banks’ fossil fuel financing and climate policies in Southeast Asia, finding continued coal and gas funding despite commitments. International banks dominate financing, with policy gaps and loopholes persisting. The scorecard highlights misalignment with 1.5°C goals and calls for stricter divestment and increased renewable investment.
Nature markets: Overarching principles and framework: Specification version 2
Sets out overarching principles and framework for high-integrity UK nature markets, covering credit generation, trading and storage. Emphasises transparency, additionality, governance, verification and registries to ensure credible environmental outcomes, prevent greenwashing, and support investment in nature recovery.
Shareholder proposals: An essential investor right
The report argues shareholder proposals are a key investor right, enabling engagement on governance and ESG risks, improving corporate accountability and long-term value. It highlights regulatory frameworks, practical impacts across sectors, and emerging threats to this mechanism within US capital markets.
Sustainability at a crossroads
Survey of 844 experts finds the sustainability agenda at an inflection point, with most calling for major revision amid low confidence in progress and rising backlash. It highlights actionable levers across policy, finance, business, and civil society to drive a low-carbon, resilient transition.
Advancing gender equality through gender lens investing
Examines gender lens investing as an approach integrating gender analysis into investment decisions to promote equality and returns. Outlines strategies, benefits, challenges, and case studies, linking to SDGs and emphasising measurement, engagement, and diverse investment practices.
Investing to reconnect financial value with people, nature and the real economy: An iterative blueprint for capital markets actors, policymakers and regulators
This report outlines a blueprint for reforming capital markets to better reflect human, social and natural capital. It proposes changes to fiduciary duty, financial analysis and policy frameworks to reduce systemic risks and align investment practices with long-term economic, environmental and social outcomes.
Framing and language for effective climate conversations
Guide outlines how framing and language influence climate engagement, especially among ‘middle ground’ audiences. It emphasises aligning messages with shared values, avoiding polarising or technical language, and using practical, relatable framing to build support for emissions reduction and climate action.
Applying the OODA loop for leadership and company engagement
This guide explains applying the OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop to strengthen strategic leadership and company engagement in sustainable finance, enabling adaptive decision-making, stakeholder alignment, and iterative responses to ESG challenges, illustrated through practical steps and a case study of corporate transition.
Driving positive social change through co-operatives and mutual enterprises (CMEs)
This guide explains how co-operatives and mutual enterprises can support social change through democratic governance, member focus and long-term value. It argues they can improve stability, competition and sustainability in finance, while noting challenges including regulation, capital raising and market awareness.
