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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Mitigation efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and meet the Paris Agreement have been offset by economic growth

University of Washington
The report analyses post-2015 trends in carbon dioxide emissions using Bayesian probabilistic models. Despite a 25% drop in global carbon intensity since the Paris Agreement, economic growth offset these gains, increasing total emissions by 5.6%. Projections indicate a 2.4 °C temperature rise by 2100 and only a 17% chance of staying below 2 °C.
Research
17 October 2025

Sustainable Finance Roundup September 2025: Policy, Markets, and Momentum

This month’s sustainability roundup covers Australia’s new 2035 emissions target, ASIC’s final climate disclosure guidance, and Fortescue’s revised transition plan. It also examines global developments, from ISSB reporting updates and TNFD nature disclosures to Woodside’s gas extension, rising physical climate risks, and evolving ESG policy debates shaping corporate and investor responses.
Article
20 October 2025

Climate-related and other emerging risks disclosures: Assessing financial statement materiality using AASB Practice Statement 2

Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB)
This report summarises guidance from the AASB and AUASB on applying AASB Practice Statement 2 to climate-related and other emerging risks. It explains how such risks may be material to financial statements, outlines related accounting and auditing considerations, and emphasises the need for transparent disclosure and investor-relevant information.
Research
13 December 2018

Final report of the expert panel on sustainable finance: Mobilizing finance for sustainable growth

Government of Canada
This report summarises recommendations from Canada’s Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance to mobilise private capital for low-carbon, resilient growth: improve market clarity and standards (incl. TCFD), build national climate data (C3IA), and develop financing solutions such as green and transition instruments, infrastructure investment, and building retrofits, supported by enabling policy.
Research
16 July 2019

Government of Canada

Government Organisations & Departments
Canada.ca is the official website of Government of Canada. It provides access to government services, benefits, programs and information on topics such as immigration, taxes, health, environment, business and more. With authoritative and up-to-date content, Canada.ca is a central portal for Canadian government services and policies.
Organisation
1 research item

2019 Hutley opinion: Climate change and directors’ duties

Centre for Policy Development (CPD)
This report summarises legal opinions by Noel Hutley SC and Sebastian Hartford Davis for the Centre for Policy Development, concluding that Australian company directors must assess, disclose and manage foreseeable climate risks. It highlights growing regulatory and investor expectations, making climate oversight a key element of directors’ duties and liability exposure.
Research
26 March 2019

Responsible investment benchmark report Australia 2024

Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)
This report summarises the growth and performance of Australia’s responsible investment market in 2023, with RI assets reaching A$1.6 trillion, or 41% of total managed funds. It highlights strengthened ESG integration, transparency, and stewardship, reflecting increasing investor demand, regulatory developments, and alignment with global sustainability standards.
Research
19 November 2024

Responsible investment benchmark report Aotearoa New Zealand 2024

Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)
This report summarises the 2024 benchmarking of New Zealand’s responsible investment market, assessing 70 investment managers using RIAA’s Responsible Investment Scorecard. It finds NZ$207 billion in responsible assets, representing 56% of total funds, and highlights expanding ESG integration, transparency, stewardship, and impact investing alongside strengthened regulation and market maturity.
Research
12 March 2024

Fiduciary duty in the 21st century final report

United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
This report summarises how integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors is now a fundamental part of fiduciary duty. It finds that ESG issues are financially material, embedded in global regulation, and essential for prudent, loyal and transparent investment decisions by institutional investors.
Research
16 May 2022

Sustainable development report 2025

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
The Sustainable Development Report is a benchmark series that tracks global and national progress toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Produced annually by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and partners, it presents the SDG Index and Dashboards, offering comparable data, analysis, and trends for all UN member states.
Benchmark/series
26 June 2025

MDPI

Academic Institutions
MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute) is a Swiss-based publisher of open access, peer-reviewed journals, established in 1996. MDPI publishes over 470 academic journals across science, technology and medicine, with authors covering article processing charges to enable unrestricted global access.
Organisation
2 research items

Outsourcing active ownership in Japan

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)
This report summarises private shareholder engagements in Japan by Governance for Owners Japan between 2009 and 2019. Findings show high success rates and positive abnormal returns, with quiet activism proving more effective than public campaigns. Evidence indicates such private engagements support Japan’s governance reforms and long-term shareholder value.
Research
14 July 2021

Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)

Government Sponsored / Multilateral Organisations
Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) is a Japanese policy think tank founded in 2001. RIETI conducts theoretical and empirical economic research, bridges academe and government, and offers evidence-based trade, industry and economic policy recommendations.
Organisation
1 research item

Volatile temperatures and their effects on equity returns and firm performance

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
This report summarises research on US firms’ exposure to temperature variability and its financial effects. It shows that volatile temperatures reduce profitability, affect consumer demand and labour productivity, and influence investor attention. Portfolios exposed to higher variability underperform, indicating temperature volatility is a material climate risk for firms and investors.
Research
6 December 2024

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Academic Institutions
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a global research university specialising in economics, politics, law, social policy and data science. Based in London, LSE offers undergraduate, graduate and executive degrees, and leads in social science research, public policy impact and global academic partnerships.
Organisation
2 research items

The economics of disclosure and financial reporting regulation: Evidence and suggestions for future research

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)
This report summarises empirical evidence on the economic effects of disclosure and financial reporting regulation. It reviews challenges in identifying causal relationships, assessing costs and benefits, and evaluating market-wide outcomes. The authors highlight limited conclusive evidence and propose priorities for future research to better inform policy and regulatory design.
Research
3 March 2016
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