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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Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Columbia Climate School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law (SCCCL) conducts research and develops innovative legal techniques to address climate change. The centre focuses on climate litigation, renewable energy, and environmental justice. It provides resources, events, and publications to support climate law and policy advancements.
Financial crimes and land conversion: Uncovering risk for financial institutions
This report outlines the risks financial institutions face due to land conversion and related financial crimes. It emphasises the convergence of land conversion with crimes like money laundering and corruption, highlighting the need for robust due diligence and risk assessment. It introduces an Environmental Crimes Financial Toolkit to aid institutions in mitigating these risks.
Respecting Indigenous rights: An actionable due diligence toolkit for institutional investors
This toolkit offers practical guidance for investors to respect Indigenous rights. It covers understanding and incorporating these rights into investment policies, assessing and addressing impacts, and ensuring Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. This toolkit aims to mitigate risks and uphold international human rights standards.
Is CSRD working for financial institutions? A look into how CSRD is being rolled out across the financial sector
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), an ambitious EU regulation, demands increased transparency from financial institutions (FIs). Challenges include lack of sector-specific guidance and data collection difficulties. Despite the focus on reporting, FIs must use CSRD strategically to align financing with sustainability goals and ensure long-term compliance.
Banking on climate chaos: Fossil fuel finance series
The "Banking on Climate Chaos" benchmark report examines global banks' financing of fossil fuel companies, highlighting trends and policy shifts impacting climate goals. This series offers critical insights into financial institutions' roles in supporting fossil fuel expansion and their climate commitments.
Bankrolling ecosystem destruction: The EU must stop the cash flow to businesses destroying nature
The report analysed the financial flows of 135 companies in ecosystem risk sectors and found that 22.1% (US$278b) of credit and 9.4% (US$65b) of investment came from EU-based financial institutions from 2015 to 2023. The report recommends that EU regulation should align finance with global environmental targets to prevent financial flows from contributing to ecosystem destruction.
Empowering key development finance institutions in Asia to accelerate the decarbonization of the energy sector
The report outlines Asia's challenges to decarbonising energy while driving economic development. It suggests there is significant room for improvement among regional banks and to achieve their commitments to the Paris Agreement, firms need to implement more stringent sustainable finance policies.
Nature positive economies: Progress, lessons and next frontiers
The report titled explores a six-year global partnership aimed at embedding natural capital into economic decision-making. It highlights key lessons, including the need for systemic change, collaboration across sectors, and nature-based solutions to build resilient, sustainable economies. The report provides case studies and frameworks to guide future efforts towards nature-positive economies.
Terri Janke and Company
Terri Janke and Company is a leading Indigenous-owned law firm based in Australia. Specialising in Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights, they offer expert legal services to businesses and organisations. With a focus on cultural diversity and sustainability, they provide tailored solutions to meet clients' legal needs effectively and ethically.
The rising tide of greenwashing: Navigating ‘greenwashing’ risks in climate change targets and sustainability credentials
The report highlights the risks and challenges associated with businesses misrepresenting their sustainability credentials or strategies. The document elaborates on the subject with the help of multiple examples and practical guidelines to reduce legal and reputational exposure to businesses and corporations.
Australian Government
The Australian Government's official website offers updates on government policies, news, and initiatives. Visitors can access information on various governmental departments and services. Stay informed about Australia's governance, public affairs, and key decisions made by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
ESG investing in emerging markets – a roadmap towards net-zero
This report discusses the challenges in ESG investing for emerging markets due to varying standards in regulations and reporting. It also covers the importance of sovereign engagement and incorporating biodiversity in investment decisions. The lack of standardisation in data and regulation presents difficulties in generating sustainable investments.
Climate scorpion – the sting is in the tail: Introducing planetary solvency
The report explores the risks and impact of climate change on a global scale. The report emphasises the need for a realistic risk assessment urgently and laying out a blueprint on developing a Planetary Solvency framework.
Equitable Origin
Equitable Origin (EO) is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing responsible resource management. Through rigorous standards and certification processes, EO promotes sustainable practices in the energy, mining, and agricultural sectors. Their focus on equitable and environmentally friendly operations ensures a balance between economic development and environmental conservation.
The elephant in the room: Aligning global bonds markets with climate goals
The global bond market is crucial for the achievement of the Paris Agreement's climate goals. This report analyses the alignment of corporate bonds with these goals while identifying challenges and proposing potential solutions, including the use of asset-level data and revaluation of benchmarks.
Sovereign bonds: Spotlight on ESG risks
This report explores the use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) analysis as a potential risk-reducing and return-enhancing tool for investors in developed-country sovereign bonds. The report suggests that ESG factors are material to both creditworthiness and investment performance.
