Library | ESG issues

Social

The social pillar in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) assesses a organisation’s impact on people and society. It covers labour practices, diversity and inclusion, human rights and community engagement. Prioritising social responsibility not only benefits society but also mitigates risks, strengthens reputation, and creates long-term value for businesses and investors.

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Green industrial policy’s unfinished business: A publicly managed fossil fuel wind-down

Roosevelt Institute
The report argues that green industrial policy must actively manage a fossil fuel wind-down. It contends that renewables expansion alone is insufficient, calling for public planning, regulation, and ownership to ensure equitable decarbonisation and prevent fossil fuel liabilities shifting to the public.
Research
17 July 2024

Connecting planetary boundaries and planetary health: A resilient and stable earth system is crucial for human health

The Lancet
The Lancet comment argues that integrating planetary boundaries and planetary health frameworks is essential to protect human health. It outlines health risks from Earth system destabilisation, stresses justice and equity, and calls for coordinated research, policy alignment, and improved monitoring and communication.
Research
15 July 2025

Council on Ethics for the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global

Government Organisations & Departments
Council on Ethics for the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global is a government-appointed body advising on ethical standards for sovereign wealth fund investments. It assesses companies against human rights, environmental and governance criteria, and publishes public recommendations on exclusion or observation to support responsible investment by Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global.
Organisation
1 research item

The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics

Academic Institutions
Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics is an international research institute under the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, advancing interdisciplinary sustainability science at the ecology–economics interface. It conducts global research programmes, hosts workshops, and fosters academic collaboration to deepen understanding of ecological systems, economic development and sustainable futures.
Organisation

The Autonomy Institute

Issue Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Autonomy Institute is an independent UK-based research organisation focused on the future of work, labour markets, democracy and economic transformation. It produces policy-relevant research, data analysis and public commentary on automation, welfare, working time and socio-economic change to inform evidence-based public policy debates.
Organisation
1 research item

Global facility for disaster reduction and recovery

Government Sponsored / Multilateral Organisations
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) is a World Bank–hosted global partnership supporting disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. It provides funding, data, analytics and policy guidance to help governments manage natural hazards, reduce vulnerability, and build resilient development pathways worldwide.
Organisation
1 research item

Moving away from mass destruction:109 exclusions of nuclear weapon producers

PAX
The report reviews 109 financial institutions with policies excluding nuclear weapon producers, assessing policy scope and implementation. It finds 55 institutions apply comprehensive exclusions, while others retain gaps or exposures, reflecting growing financial-sector alignment with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Research
27 February 2024

The use of the Lavender in Gaza and the law of targeting: AI-decision support systems and facial recognition technology

The report analyses Israel’s alleged use of the ‘Lavender’ AI decision-support system and facial recognition in Gaza, assessing compliance with international humanitarian law. It highlights risks from inaccuracy, bias, automation and opacity, concluding that commanders must retain judgement and verification to meet targeting obligations.
Research
23 May 2025

Rearm europe, rearm finance: What role for responsible investment in the financing of european defense?

Mirova
Mirova assesses Europe’s defence rearmament and examines how responsible investors could contribute without undermining ESG principles. It argues for selective financing, strict exclusions, and innovative tools such as defence bonds, while maintaining focus on environmental transition and European sovereignty.
Research
5 June 2025

United Nations Human Rights Council

Government Sponsored / Multilateral Organisations
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is an intergovernmental body within United Nations system made up of 47 Member States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It addresses human rights issues, themes, and violations throughout the year and meets regularly in Geneva, Switzerland.
Organisation
2 research items

Green finance was supposed to contribute solutions to climate change. So far, it’s fallen well short

The article argues that while climate disclosure and green finance initiatives have expanded since Mark Carney’s “tragedy of the horizon” speech, they have failed to shift capital at the scale required to address climate and nature risks. It contends that deeper structural reforms to financial valuation, incentives and capital allocation are needed to move beyond managing symptoms toward financing real-world solutions.
Article
5 January 2026

Next to fall: The climate-driven insurance crisis is here and getting worse

United States Senate Budget Committee
The report analyses U.S. homeowners’ insurance non-renewals, showing strong links between climate risks, rising premiums, and declining coverage. It finds coastal and wildfire-exposed regions face pronounced instability, with risks spreading inland. The Committee warns that worsening insurability could erode property values and trigger broader financial impacts.
Research
18 December 2024

Maximising Australia’s green growth: Leveraging trade and aid policy to drive Australia’s green exports agenda

Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI)
The report assesses risks to Australia’s fossil fuel exports and outlines how aligned trade, aid and climate finance policies can build demand for green exports. It proposes sustainable growth partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to secure markets, attract investment and support regional decarbonisation.
Research
5 January 2025

The spirit level at 15: The enduring impact of inequality

The Equality Trust
The report evidences how income inequality drives environmental, social and health harms, worsening trust, mobility, wellbeing and climate impacts. It shows cross-country correlations and calls for structural reforms, including redistribution, public investment and participatory governance, to reduce disparities and improve population outcomes.
Research
19 July 2024

Creating a sustainable food future

World Resources Institute
The report assesses how to feed nearly 10 billion people by 2050 while limiting land expansion and emissions. It identifies food, land and greenhouse gas gaps, and proposes 22 solutions spanning demand reduction, productivity gains, ecosystem protection, fisheries growth and agricultural emissions mitigation.
Research
13 April 2019

One-earth fashion: 33 transformation targets for a just fashion system within planetary boundaries

Public Eye
The report outlines fashion’s environmental and social impacts and proposes 33 time-bound transformation targets across materials, labour, value distribution and governance. It calls for reduced virgin inputs, fair working conditions and paradigm shifts to align the global fashion system with planetary boundaries and social justice.
Research
12 May 2024
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