Library | ESG issues
Public Policy
Public policy refers to the actions and decisions taken by governments to address societal issues through laws, regulations, and funding priorities. It shapes the business environment by influencing regulatory requirements, market conditions, and corporate responsibilities. Policies related to taxation, labour laws, environmental regulations, and trade agreements can impact business operations, costs, and investment strategies.
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Interpreting the corporate standard for U.S. public sector organizations
This guide interprets the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard for U.S. public sector organisations. It provides standardised methods for accounting and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, supports inventory quality, and addresses public sector-specific scenarios such as leased assets, joint operations, and regulatory compliance.
Global protocol for community-scale greenhouse gas inventories: Supplemental guidance for forests and trees
This supplemental report provides standardised methods for communities to estimate greenhouse gas emissions and carbon removals from forests and trees. It expands the global protocol for community-scale greenhouse gas inventories by offering detailed guidance for accounting Scope 1 emissions and removals, supporting local climate action planning and integration with national inventories.
Estimating and reporting the comparative emissions impacts of products
This report outlines a neutral framework for estimating and reporting the greenhouse gas impacts of products, both positive and negative. It advocates the use of consequential methods for decision-making, highlights methodological challenges in attributional approaches, and recommends transparency and completeness in emissions assessments and corporate reporting.
Policy and action standard: An accounting and reporting standard for estimating the greenhouse gas effects of policies and actions
The Policy and Action Standard provides a consistent framework for estimating and reporting the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of policies and actions. It outlines methods for ex-ante and ex-post assessments, defines principles of GHG accounting, and offers guidance on defining policy boundaries, estimating baseline emissions, and assessing uncertainty to support transparent, accurate decision-making.
Mitigation goal standard: An accounting and reporting standard for national and subnational greenhouse gas reduction goals
This report outlines a standardised framework for governments to design, assess, and report on greenhouse gas mitigation goals. It defines principles, methodologies, and accounting requirements to support consistent and transparent emissions tracking and goal evaluation at national and subnational levels.
Replacing Animal Research
Replacing Animal Research is a UK charity dedicated to ending animal testing by promoting human-relevant, non-animal research methods. Through funding scientific projects, publishing the peer-reviewed journal ATLA, and engaging in education and policy advocacy, it aims to create a world where no animal suffers for science.
RIAA policy platform: Sustainable finance for a thriving Aotearoa New Zealand 2023 and beyond
This report outlines RIAA’s policy platform to strengthen sustainable finance in Aotearoa New Zealand. It recommends a national strategy, clearer ESG disclosures, taxonomy alignment with global standards, anti-greenwashing measures, Māori inclusion, human rights protections, and alignment with biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Opportunities for methane mitigation in agriculture: Technological, economic, and regulatory considerations
This report assesses cost-effective methods to reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation, manure management, and rice cultivation. It outlines region-specific strategies and underscores the need for research, regulatory frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration to support implementation and scale-up of mitigation solutions.
Green and intelligent: the role of AI in the climate transition
Artificial intelligence (AI) can support the climate transition by reducing global emissions by up to 5.4 GtCO₂e annually by 2035 in the power, food, and transport sectors, surpassing its own energy footprint. Strategic government action is essential to ensure AI accelerates low-carbon solutions equitably and effectively.
The path to a new era for nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is gaining momentum as a reliable, low-emissions electricity source. The report outlines growth drivers, investment needs, emerging technologies such as small modular reactors, and policy frameworks required for scale-up. Financing challenges, supply chain risks, and workforce planning are key to realising nuclear’s role in future energy systems.
Nature positive: Leaders’ insights for the transition in cities
The report outlines strategies and case studies from global cities integrating nature into urban development to address climate and biodiversity challenges. It highlights the importance of public-private collaboration, compact planning, and nature-based infrastructure in fostering resilient, sustainable, and equitable cities. Solutions are scalable and grounded in real-world examples.
Market Forces
Market Forces works to hold financial institutions accountable for funding environmentally harmful projects. Based in Australia, it campaigns for banks, superannuation funds and governments to align investments with climate goals. Market Forces provides research, advocacy tools and transparency on fossil fuel financing to support climate-conscious financial decision-making.
Australian sustainable finance taxonomy (Version 1 - 2025)
The Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy (2025) provides a framework classifying economic activities aligned with environmental sustainability goals, particularly climate mitigation. It includes performance-based criteria for key sectors such as agriculture, mining, energy, construction, and transport, facilitating sustainable capital allocation, consistent reporting, and transition planning, thus supporting Australia’s transition to a net-zero emissions economy.
Exploring pathways for world development within planetary boundaries
The report assesses global development scenarios to 2050 using planetary boundaries. Current trends worsen conditions across key Earth system indicators, except ozone depletion. Implementing strong sustainability measures, including climate agreements, diet shifts, and resource efficiency, significantly reduces boundary breaches but still leaves climate, biodiversity, and nutrient flows at risk.
RIAA Policy Platform 2025: Harnessing sustainable finance for a thriving Australia
The RIAA Policy Platform 2025 outlines nine policy priorities and two principles to align Australia’s finance system with sustainability goals. It recommends regulatory reforms, improved data, Indigenous inclusion, and stronger accountability to mobilise capital for a net zero, nature-positive economy that supports long-term economic resilience and societal wellbeing.
Find it, fix it, prevent it: Modern slavery report 2024
CCLA’s 2024 report outlines investor-led efforts to address modern slavery through corporate engagement, policy advocacy, and improved data. Key sectors include construction and agriculture. Progress was made via benchmarking and collaborative initiatives, though disclosure and remedy remain limited. EU legislation and stakeholder coordination are driving further momentum.