This report summarises discussions from a roundtable on Islamic finance’s potential to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It explores the alignment of Islamic finance principles with the SDGs, highlighting the need for regulatory clarity, technical capacity building, and incentives to strengthen Islamic finance markets.

The Net Zero Investment Framework (NZIF) 2.0, updated in June 2024, provides guidelines for investors to align their portfolios with the Paris Agreement goals. It includes detailed methodologies for various asset classes, governance, strategic asset allocation, and policy advocacy, focusing on achieving real economy emissions reductions through independent fiduciary decisions.

This study explores how corporate climate change mitigation actions influence the cost of capital for Japanese firms from 2017-2021. It finds that higher carbon intensity increases the cost of equity, debt, and overall capital. Climate-related disclosures lower the cost of equity and overall capital, despite raising debt costs.

This guide by PRI summarises human rights relevance for asset owners, offering strategies for policy, governance, stewardship, and disclosure. It includes case studies, international standards, and practical resources to promote human rights in the financial system.

The report outlines key performance indicators (KPIs) for responsible corporate tax conduct, highlighting green and red flags. Key aspects include transparent financial statements, robust tax commitments, public Country-by-Country disclosures, disclosure of uncertain tax positions, and consistent corporate cash taxes paid over five years. It aims to guide investors in assessing tax conduct.

This report investigates the implications of 'Scope 4' emissions accounting claims, which refers to greenhouse gas emission reductions or removals due to a decision or action. This study suggests that extant Scope 4 assessments do not fit the established framework for scope-based emissions accounting, and calls for cautious claims of this nature and the need for more research.

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 database of Asian mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in high-emission sectors reveals a steady, not increasing, trend from 2020 to April 2024. This shift of high-emission assets from public to private ownership, totalling USD 5-9 billion annually, raises concerns about reduced transparency and accountability in emissions reporting. While not accelerating, this trend has negative implications for investor stewardship and emissions disclosure.

Big oil and gas companies’ climate pledges lack ambition and integrity, resulting in continued exploration and extraction. They fail to align with the Paris Agreement, relying on misleading accounting and greenwashing. Immediate action from governments and investors is essential to catalyse a socially just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels.

Climate TRACE is a comprehensive tool for tracking global greenhouse gas emissions. Utilising satellite data and AI, it provides real-time insights, helping finance professionals assess environmental impacts and make informed decisions. This tool supports ESG integration and sustainability in financial practices.

This benchmark report assesses the vulnerability of 2,134 assets across 20 APAC REITs to climate risks. By 2050, nearly 10% of properties face high risk, particularly from coastal inundation and flooding, highlighting significant financial implications for investors and the urgent need for adaptation strategies.

This report examines the systemic inequity faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in the US, highlighting its significant economic consequences. It provides evidence of the positive link between LGBTQIA+ inclusion and financial performance, and outlines a framework for investors to advance LGBTQIA+ equity through system-level investing.

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.

This briefing highlights how businesses' impact nature and the significant economic and environmental consequences of biodiversity loss. It explores the risks of biodiversity loss and opportunities of investing in nature-based solutions, and offers recommendations for finance professionals to mitigate potential negative impacts and embed biodiversity considerations into decision-making processes.

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.

This toolkit aims to provide investors with guidance on how to navigate the intersecting terrain of AI and human rights. It covers the various aspects of AI implementation that have potentially significant implications for human rights, and how investors can engage with companies on these issues. Its focus is on emerging risks and opportunities for investors in the context of rapidly evolving technologies and the ethical challenges they pose.