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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Tackling child labor: A guide for financial institutions
This guide offers banks and financial institutions a framework to address child labour within their clients' operations and value chains. It emphasises enhancing due diligence, improving client engagement, and participating in multi-stakeholder initiatives to mitigate child labour risks.
The global slavery index 2023
This report reveals that 50 million people live in modern slavery. It highlights the G20's $468 billion worth of high-risk imports and identifies North Korea, Eritrea, and Mauritania as having the highest prevalence. Australia, the Netherlands, and the UK have the strongest government responses.
Good practice toolkit: Strengthening modern slavery responses
This toolkit provides guidance on improving business practices under Australia's Modern Slavery Act. It emphasises effective stakeholder and supplier engagement, human rights due diligence, and the use of digital technologies. The toolkit includes practical examples and recommendations for businesses, governments, and civil society to better combat modern slavery.
FAST connection diagnostic and risk mapping
The FAST Initiative's Risk Mapping tool aids finance professionals in identifying and mitigating risks related to forced labour and human trafficking in supply chains. It offers practical guidance and resources to enhance due diligence and promote responsible investment practices.
Refugee-related investments: Myth or reality?
This report examines the current state of refugee-related investment, a subset of impact investing focused on companies benefiting forcibly displaced people. It discusses the need for sustainable solutions for refugees' economic inclusion, the challenges faced by this nascent field, and recommendations for governments, development partners, and private sector actors to accelerate refugees' social and economic inclusion while benefiting host countries.
Exploring the cooperative economy report 2023
The 2023 World Cooperative Monitor Report provides rankings of the top 300 global cooperatives by turnover and GDP per capita. It highlights the economic impact and member benefits of cooperatives, offering insights into their performance, sustainability, and contribution to local communities and development goals.
Mutuals industry review 2023: Challenges for a purposeful future
This report shows that the mutuals industry increased net assets by 4.2% to AUD$11.7 billion, largely driven by increased interest rates and continued loan growth. The report also highlights key insights into the industry's future, including pathways to a sustainable and customer-centric future, managing the cyber threat, closing the gap on sustainability reporting, AI risks and opportunities, and CPS 230 Operational Risk Management.
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.
