This paper, “ESG: A Panacea for Market Power?” by Philip Bond and Doron Levit (2024), examines how firms’ social (“S”) ESG policies affect market competition. It finds that moderate ESG actions such as fairer treatment of workers or customers can reduce market power and improve welfare, while overly aggressive policies harm both firms and stakeholders. The authors show that competition in ESG policies among socially minded firms can deliver efficient, welfare-maximising outcomes, linking ESG adoption to market structure, corporate governance models, and executive incentives.

The report introduces the concept of Regenerative Good Growth (RGG) as an alternative to extractive GDP-focused models. It argues that economic progress should regenerate five renewable capitals, natural, social, human, cultural, and sustainable physical, while ensuring fairness, engagement, and reduced environmental harm. RGG promotes inclusive, low-carbon, and nature-positive transitions through diverse public participation.

MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute) is a Swiss-based publisher of open access, peer-reviewed journals, established in 1996. MDPI publishes over 470 academic journals across science, technology and medicine, with authors covering article processing charges to enable unrestricted global access.

This study analyses whether investor engagement on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues reduces firms’ downside risk. Using data from 1,443 engagements with 485 global firms (2005–2018), it finds that successful engagements, particularly on environmental and climate issues, significantly lower downside risk and related environmental incidents.

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is a UN intergovernmental body that supports developing countries in trade, investment, finance and technology. It delivers data-driven policy analysis, technical cooperation and global consensus building to help countries integrate into the world economy and advance sustainable development.

This report summarises how Australia’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy could be expanded to agriculture, forestry and land management, proposing draft criteria for biodiversity protection, sustainable water use, and pollution control. It aligns with global biodiversity goals to guide investment and lending that support nature-positive outcome.

The Tobacco Supply Chain tool is a publicly accessible database mapping the global tobacco supply chain from agriculture to retail by identifying companies, processes and countries involved.

Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is New Zealand’s independent regulator overseeing financial markets. It promotes fair, efficient and transparent markets, ensures quality financial advice and protects investors. FMA develops regulation, supervises licenced entities, enforces compliance, supports innovation and aims to enhance trust in NZ’s financial sector.

This report presents an updated “Doughnut” framework, tracking 35 social and ecological indicators from 2000–2022. Findings show only modest progress on reducing deprivation, while ecological overshoot has worsened, with wealthier nations driving most impacts. The study highlights stark inequalities and calls for regenerative, distributive economic approaches.

SCP-HAT (Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspots Analysis Tool) is an online tool that maps national and sector-level “hotspots” of unsustainable production and consumption using input-output and lifecycle methodologies.

International Resource Panel (IRP) is a science-policy platform established by United Nations Environment Programme in 2007. It produces peer-reviewed assessments and data such as the Global Material Flows Database to guide governments, industry and civil society on resource efficiency, sustainable use, circular economy and environmental impact.

One Planet Network is a global multi-stakeholder partnership advancing sustainable consumption and production (SCP). It implements the 10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) through six thematic programmes. The network acts as a knowledge hub and convenes governments, businesses, civil society and experts on SCP and SDG 12.

Life Cycle Initiative stewards global standards, tools and training for life-cycle assessment (LCA) and life-cycle thinking. It supports practitioners, policymakers and industry in applying LCA across plastics, textiles, tourism and construction. The initiative develops data networks, e-learning modules and hotspot analysis frameworks to advance sustainable decision making.

The Environmental Hotspots tool by UNEP offers an interactive map of high-risk ecological zones worldwide, allowing users to explore environmental pressures across sectors (e.g. ecosystems, resource extraction).

InforMEA is a UN information portal giving central access to multilateral environmental agreements, including treaty texts, COP decisions, national reports, laws and court rulings. It also hosts a glossary, e-learning courses and tools linking MEAs to global goals.

European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s intergovernmental organisation dedicated to space exploration, Earth observation, satellite navigation, and technological innovation. ESA collaborates with international partners, coordinates high-profile missions, and supports science, space safety and industry growth across member states.