This report explores the current landscape of ESG ratings. Investors are the primary customers for ESG ratings products and drivers of their evolution. Fifty-two percent of corporates and fifty-nine percent of investors have moderate trust that ESG ratings accurately reflect ESG performance.

This report examines the future of waste reduction, the environmental and financial impacts of waste, and investment opportunities in waste management globally. The report provides regional, country, and sector insights on companies most affected by waste and ways for mainstream companies to proactively manage waste and pollution.

This report dissects the role of central banks in fossil fuel finance and climate change, presenting 10 criteria for assessment and analysing 12 central banks worldwide. While there is increased recognition among global central banks of the severity of climate change, they continue to prop up fossil fuels and largely maintain an industrial structure that uncritically exacerbates the climate crisis.

The report highlights how one billion children are at extreme risk due to climate change with small island states and countries already facing existential threats. It is a call to action for businesses and governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and commit to sustainable practices.

This report outlines how national oil companies (NOCs) must begin decarbonising to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and how investors can influence and incentivise the energy transition. It shows that NOCs constitute half of the world’s oil and gas production and control two-thirds of global reserves, making them of great interest to investors.

The study finds that corporations with a commitment to sustainable investing have superior risk-adjusted returns. While fund managers face challenges in capturing the outperformance with some exceptions, they have not generally underperformed. Integrated reporting can be used to improve the transparency and accuracy of ESG information.

This paper outlines challenges and opportunities for Indigenous Australians in adopting renewable energy, emphasising successful partnerships with experienced developers. It stresses the importance of building knowledge and capability at various project scales and recommends support mechanisms to empower Indigenous communities in advancing their renewable energy projects.

This report assesses the net zero pledges of ten Australian companies, highlighting a gap between current voluntary commitments and the requirements of global standards. None of the firms have a comprehensive, quantified, and independently verified plan for reducing emissions in line with a science-based pathway.

This report explores the environmental impact claims made by European retail investment funds and assesses their accuracy and possible ramifications. Findings reveal a high prevalence of misleading claims and a need for better guidance and regulation to address the issue. Short and long-term recommendations are proposed.

This report explores the concept of materiality in the context of corporate sustainability disclosure. It discusses evolving definitions of materiality in the US and abroad, the need for a common language and structure for disclosure frameworks, and SASB's role in providing decision-useful and financially material information to investors and financial capital providers.

This policy blueprint advocates for a shift to renewable energy, proposing over A$40 billion annual investment. It highlights superannuation funds as potential long-term capital sources for the transition, addressing barriers and recommending clear policies to achieve ambitious sustainability goals across critical sectors for a more sustainable future.

This report provides insights on sustainable investing labelling. Investors can self-classify and maintain market integrity through clear, accurate labelling backed by independent verification. The report offers a proprietary Framework for Impact Labeling, case studies, and observations about sustainable investing.

The paper delves into how sustainable investing (SI) contributes to social and environmental goals. It highlights shareholder engagement as a well-supported mechanism, partial support for capital allocation impact, and limited empirical backing for indirect mechanisms. Policymakers are suggested to facilitate the spread of sustainable companies to amplify impact.

This initiative was designed to align asset managers' portfolios with net-zero targets. However, their methodology lacks standardisation and rigour, leading to ambiguous targets and little progress towards net zero. An overhaul of the initiative is needed to ensure asset managers are held accountable.

This report presents the findings of research into the sustainable investing capabilities of private banks, including governance, sustainability risk, and client interactions. The report notes progress among leading banks but highlights the need for continuing education for client advisors and improved ESG and impact reporting and monitoring capabilities.

This paper analyses sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), which tie bond coupons to sustainability performance targets. They find issuing an SLB yields an average premium of -9 basis points on the yield at issue compared to a conventional bond, and the savings for an issuer exceed the maximum penalty for failure to meet the target.