Library | ESG issues
Law, Regulation & Compliance
The evolving legal and regulatory landscape financial organisations regarding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations comprises both voluntary frameworks and mandatory regulations. Voluntary initiatives, such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), provide guidelines for companies to disclose climate-related financial risks and opportunities. In contrast, mandatory regulations like the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) require financial market participants to disclose how they integrate ESG factors into their investment decisions.
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Global sustainable investment review series
This benchmark series provides a factual mapping of the state of responsible and sustainable investment across major global financial markets. Produced biennially, it offers regional insights and policy recommendations to help finance professionals navigate evolving regulatory frameworks, standardised methodologies, and the transition to a net-zero economy through international cooperation.
Mainstreaming just transition finance: Lessons from emerging best practice
This report examines the integration of just transition principles into private finance. It highlights structural barriers, including the lack of robust business cases and quantifiable evidence. Recommendations include embedding just transition into existing regulatory frameworks, strengthening the evidence base for commercial benefits, and aligning private incentives with national commitments.
Mapping social and environmental due diligence legislation
This OECD report maps 21 legislative measures across 11 jurisdictions concerning social and environmental due diligence. It identifies key areas of convergence and divergence in regulatory scope and requirements. The findings aim to support international policy co-operation, reduce implementation complexity, and promote consistent global enforcement approaches.
Tips on effective grievance mechanisms for businesses
This report outlines strategies for businesses to implement effective grievance mechanisms aligned with UN Guiding Principles. It highlights how robust engagement can prevent potential financial losses of $25-40 million. Guidance covers design, internal governance, and maintaining effectiveness in high-risk environments to build stakeholder trust and ensure human rights compliance.
Fair Finance Ghana ESG policy assessment report
This report assesses ESG policies across five Ghanaian banks using international benchmarks. Results show low sustainability integration, particularly regarding climate change and transparency. It recommends adopting global frameworks, extending ESG accountability to lending portfolios, and improving standardised reporting to align the sector with international best practice.
Global critical minerals outlook series
The Global Critical Minerals Outlook is an annual series published by the IEA that tracks market, investment, technology, and policy trends across critical mineral supply chains. Each edition provides medium- and long-term demand and supply projections for key energy minerals, covering supply security, concentration risks, and diversification developments.
Global energy review series
The Global Energy Review is an annual benchmark series published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that assesses trends across the entire energy sector, covering all fuels, technologies, regions, and energy-related CO2 emissions for the preceding calendar year.
The emancipatory potential of biodiversity reporting: Evidence from the United Kingdom and South Africa
This research evaluates the emancipatory potential of biodiversity reporting within the United Kingdom and South Africa. Analysing disclosures from 2018 to 2022, it finds significant increases in reporting intensity. The study presents a principles-based framework to distinguish between compliance-oriented disclosures and transformative, action-oriented environmental reporting.
A well-adapted UK: The fourth independent assessment of UK climate risk (CCRA4-IA)
This report assesses the UK’s climate risks to 2050, identifies priority adaptation actions across key sectors, and outlines investment, policy and governance measures to strengthen resilience. It provides evidence-based recommendations to support climate adaptation planning and reduce long-term economic and societal impacts.
AI data centers and electricity demand: Taming the energy guzzlers
This paper examines AI data centre electricity demand and its costs for ratepayers and the environment. It finds that Big Tech market capitalisations have risen far above predicted levels since ChatGPT's 2022 launch, while data centres drive up electricity prices and fossil fuel use. Regulatory reforms and innovations are recommended.
Carbon tariffs, emissions leakage, and production relocation
This paper examines whether carbon tariffs prevent emissions leakage from firm relocation in a North-South duopoly model. It finds that carbon tariffs combined with export rebates form the optimal carbon tax regime, preventing leakage when the northern firm's emissions intensity exceeds fifty percent of the southern firm's, and can benefit both countries.
From climate crisis to insurance crisis: Designing solidarity-based natural disaster insurance
This report examines rising climate-related insurance losses and Germany's lack of comprehensive natural disaster coverage, with only 57% of residential buildings insured against such risks. It analyses international public-private insurance models — particularly France's CatNat system — and recommends a solidarity-based approach alongside measures to hold the fossil fuel industry financially accountable.
Shareholder proposals and corporate governance in a season of regulatory uncertainty
This report analyses the 2025–2026 proxy season following the SEC's suspension of its no-action review process. Shareholders filed approximately 20% fewer proposals; companies filed over 100 fewer exclusion notices. Exclusions disproportionately affected novel and revised proposals, with proponents increasingly turning to litigation and alternative strategies to preserve shareholder rights.
Widening the lens: Scaling climate adaptation and resilience through sustainable finance
This report examines climate adaptation and resilience in sustainable finance, highlighting a significant financing gap in emerging markets and limited formal allocation in labelled debt markets. It argues for a broader lens that recognises resilience outcomes already embedded in policy-driven investments, using Ecuador's sovereign housing framework as a case study.
Navigating towards water resilience: An introductory guide for central bankers, financial supervisors and regulators
This WWF Greening Financial Regulation Initiative guide introduces central banks, financial supervisors and regulators to the financial risks posed by the global water crisis. It covers physical, transition and systemic risks, emerging responses from the financial sector, available assessment tools, and policy recommendations for integrating water risks into supervisory frameworks.
Interest rate caps, competition, and strategic borrowing: Evidence from Kenya
This paper examines Kenya's 2016 interest rate regulation, which capped bank lending rates but exempted the digital platform M-Shwari. Using borrower-level administrative data and a structural model, the authors find that the M-Shwari carve-out preserved credit access for high-risk borrowers, while a uniform cap would have eliminated it entirely.
