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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Appetite for disruption: A second serving
This report explores the growth of the alternative protein market, particularly in the face of supply chain disruptions, food safety concerns from COVID-19, and global emissions. This is published alongside FAIRR's Sustainable Proteins Hub, an interactive tool which allows investors to assess how companies are diversifying toward alternative, climate-positive portfolios.
Healthy competition: Why the safest bet for investors is healthier retail markets and how to get there
This second briefing report explores ShareAction’s Healthy Markets campaign, featuring the UK food retailers most exposed to the childhood obesity agenda. The brief is designed to inform and support investor stewardship and company engagement through an analysis of their disclosure policies and practices for healthy eating.
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (University of Oxford)
The interdisciplinary Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford specialises in teaching, research and outreach on environmental economics and policy, enterprise management, financial markets, investment and law. It engages with businesses and governments on climate change and long-term environmental sustainability.
PitchBook Data
PitchBook Data is a data and software company that tracks public and private equity markets including venture capital, private equity and mergers and acquisitions. As a financial analysis tool, it provides extensive data and analysis on capital markets to inform investment decision making.
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is an academic institution dedicated to postgraduate scholarship, research and publishing in the field of business management, including environmental, social and governance issues. The institution seeks to shape business management and leadership that will make a difference in the world.
A banker's guide to transforming finance
This report focuses on the perceived purpose-gap in the banking sector wherein banks are not fulfilling their role to create positive economic, social and environmental outcomes. Filling this gap requires leveraging ‘systemic intrapreneurs’ within organisations to holistically shift banking strategy.
Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action
Elinor Ostrom examines the management of common-pool resources such as rivers, bridges and grazing areas. Ostrom discusses the ‘tragedy of the commons’ and environmental, economic and social threats to common-pool resources. Ostrom applies political and economic theory and policy literature to discuss potential solutions and challenge conventional approaches.
Transition risks and market failure: a theoretical discourse on why financial models and economic agents may misprice risk related to the transition to a low-carbon economy
The paper has a theoretical focus and looks at the risks associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy. It looks to highlight externalities that may not be factored into risk models. It concludes in favour of a case of policy intervention and more sophisticated modelling to counter potential market failures.
Women on boards and the human capital connection
Companies with a gender diverse board and stronger talent management practices enjoyed higher growth in employee productivity compared to companies with a diverse board only or with strong talent management practices only. Companies with mostly male boards and lagging talent management practices had the lowest rates of employee productivity growth.
The emergence of foreseeable biodiversity-related liability risks for financial institutions: A gathering storm?
This report proposes a framework for financial institutions to consider biodiversity-related liability risks in their broader assessment of financial risks associated with biodiversity. Understanding the potential of liability risks will help financial institutions identify, price and mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of biodiversity-related risks.
Investing in low-carbon transitions: Energy finance as an adaptive market
This article explores the role of financial markets in capitalising low-carbon energy systems and long-term change. Ultimately, the authors contend that current assumptions on efficient market behaviour do not fit the energy industry, and to reliably capitalise on low-carbon transitions, an adaptive market assumption should be held.
Political leadership on climate change: The role of health in Obama era U.S. climate policies
To overcome climate action inertia that many governments are experiencing, the paper proposes that health can be used as a core motivator for climate action. This idea is explored through the case study of the Obama administration’s climate mitigation policies.
The green swan: Central banking and financial stability in the age of climate change
Reviews new ways central banks can address the risk climate change poses to financial stability. To avoid "green swan" risks, central banks should develop forward-looking scenario-based analysis to understand climate-related risk and coordinate with other major players to develop and integrate climate mitigation policies at the international level.
Providing decent work for young workers, parents and caregivers
Provides guidance for companies to fulfil their responsibility to support the decent work of young workers, parents and caregivers across their supply chains. Includes a case study on IKEA’s approach to supporting children’s rights and a second case study on Wipro’s approach to gender diversity.
Global Witness
Global Witness is an investigative non-government organisation with the goal of a more sustainable, just and equal planet. It has a history of exposing environmental and human rights abuses, power imbalances and financial impact around the world.
Institutional shareholders and corporate social responsibility
The study sets out to examine the relationship between institutional investors and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Specifically, the researchers examine whether an institutional investor’s level of ownership in a firm can influence its CRS commitments and whether different levels of shareholder “attention” affect the portfolio firm’s CSR commitments.
