Library | ESG issues

Targets & Accountability

Targets and accountability are essential for ensuring organisations and governments follow through on commitments to sustainability, climate action, and social responsibility. Setting measurable and transparent targets such as net-zero goals, emissions reductions, diversity benchmarks, and human rights protections allows for tracking progress and holding entities accountable. Clear, data-driven targets strengthen stakeholder trust and help align financial and business strategies with long-term sustainability objectives.

Refine
Resource type
Sustainable Finance Practices
ESG issues
SDGs
SASB Sustainability Sector
Finance relevance
Asset Class
Location
TAG
310 results
REFINE
SHOW: 16

A systematic review of the voluntary governance landscape for an urgent, high-integrity, and equitable transition to net zero

This systematic review analyses 36 voluntary governance documents to assess how well they guide non-state entities towards an urgent, high-integrity, and equitable net-zero transition. It identifies consensus areas, like science-based targets, alongside critical gaps in operational detail, equity, and accountability, highlighting the need for robust standards and regulation.
Research
28 April 2026

Discussion paper on state of nature measurement

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
Discussion paper outlines integrating state of nature metrics into TNFD, GRI and SBTN frameworks. It proposes embedding consensus metrics from the Nature Positive Initiative across assessment, disclosure, transition planning and target-setting, highlighting ecosystem extent and condition as central to evaluating nature-related dependencies, risks and opportunities.
Research
10 April 2026

The unseen costs of blue skies: Pollutant substitution and biodiversity loss

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
China’s PM₂.₅-targeted regulation reduced particulates but increased O₃ via pollutant substitution driven by incentive distortions. Resulting ozone rises increased mortality and reduced biodiversity, offsetting ~24% of policy benefits. Findings highlight welfare losses from narrow performance metrics and the need for multi-pollutant regulation.
Research
15 April 2026

ASEAN taxonomy for sustainable finance series

ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF)
The ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance is a benchmark series that provides a common framework to classify sustainable economic activities across ASEAN. It guides financial institutions, policymakers and market participants in assessing environmental objectives, supporting an orderly transition and alignment with regional and international sustainable finance standards.
Benchmark/series
6 November 2025

ASEAN SDG Bond Toolkit

Climate Bonds Initiative
Provides practical guidance for issuing SDG bonds in ASEAN, outlining principles, processes, and frameworks aligned with green, social and sustainability bond standards. It explains SDG mapping, eligibility criteria, reporting practices, and market context to support issuers in mobilising capital for sustainable development.
Research
1 December 2021

Systemic Impact Investment Standard

The Systemic Impact Investing Standard is an independently audited framework enabling asset owners to assess whether asset managers’ strategies, processes and outcomes align with delivering systemic impact. It supports improved investment decision-making by emphasising sourcing, management and measurement practices that generate credible, system-level social and environmental outcomes.
Research
24 October 2025

GRI Standards

Global Reporting Initiative
The GRI Standards are globally recognised sustainability reporting guidelines enabling organisations to disclose economic, environmental and social impacts in a consistent and comparable way. They support transparency, accountability and informed decision-making by helping organisations identify, measure and communicate material ESG impacts and contributions to sustainable development.
Research
1 January 2016

IFC's performance standards on environmental and social sustainability

International Finance Corporation
The IFC Performance Standards (2012) form part of the Sustainability Framework, setting requirements for clients to identify, manage, and mitigate environmental and social risks in financed projects. They comprise eight standards covering areas such as labour, resource efficiency, biodiversity, and community impacts, and are widely used as a global benchmark for responsible investment.
Research
1 January 2012

2025 Southeast Asia fossil fuel divestment scorecard

RimbaWatch
Assesses 35 banks’ fossil fuel financing and climate policies in Southeast Asia, finding continued coal and gas funding despite commitments. International banks dominate financing, with policy gaps and loopholes persisting. The scorecard highlights misalignment with 1.5°C goals and calls for stricter divestment and increased renewable investment.
Research
24 May 2025

Good practices for handling whistleblower disclosures

Australian Securities and Investments Commission
ASIC report outlines good practices for whistleblower programmes, based on a review of selected firms. It highlights governance, culture, training, monitoring, and use of disclosures to improve performance, alongside executive accountability and board oversight to ensure compliance with Corporations Act requirements.
Research
1 March 2023

The Climateworks guide to credibility for corporate climate transition plans

Climateworks Centre
Provides an Australian-focused framework for assessing the credibility of corporate climate transition plans, outlining principles, criteria and disclosure expectations. It supports companies, investors and regulators in evaluating emissions targets, governance, strategy alignment and risk management within mandatory climate reporting and net zero transition planning.
Research
7 July 2025

Governing for net zero: The board's role in organisational transition planning

Australian Institute of Company Directors
This report guides Australian boards on integrating net zero transition planning into strategy, governance, disclosure and stakeholder engagement. It outlines directors’ legal duties, mandatory climate reporting requirements, and practical oversight questions to help organisations manage climate-related risks, opportunities and implementation.
Research
14 July 2025

Sustainable Finance Roundup March 2026: Markets, Climate Risk, and the Transition in Practice

This month’s sustainability roundup captures a shift from framework development to real-world application, where climate and nature risks are increasingly embedded across financial systems, legal accountability, and decision-making. It highlights how intensifying physical climate signals, evolving disclosures, and maturing litigation are converging with insights on sovereign risk, energy systems, and corporate strategy. Together, these developments show how sustainability is moving beyond principle—being tested, priced, and enforced across markets, regulation, and the real economy.
Article
31 March 2026

Private doubts, collective conformity: the Power and fragility of climate narratives

This article examines why current climate frameworks persist despite widespread professional skepticism, highlighting institutional incentives and “preference falsification” as key drivers. It calls for more open, cross-sector dialogue focused on diagnosing real problems and unlocking practical, system-level solutions.
Article
30 March 2026

Incentivising climate action with executive remuneration in Australia

Investor Group on Climate Change
Provides a framework for linking climate goals to executive remuneration in Australia, emphasising alignment with credible transition strategies, measurable and sector-specific metrics, appropriate weighting, and transparent disclosure. Highlights growing adoption, implementation challenges, and guiding principles to improve investor engagement and incentive effectiveness.
Research
5 November 2024

ASRS first year has landed: Here's what we’re seeing in the market

This article examines how Australian organisations are approaching the first year of mandatory ASRS climate disclosures. It highlights common implementation patterns, areas of misallocated effort, and emerging practices that prioritise financially material, decision-useful climate reporting.
Article
16 March 2026
PREV
2 of 20
NEXT
Join or sign in to use Alma, Altiorem’s AI Agent. While the Altiorem library is free, Alma is exclusive to paying subscribers.