There is consistent evidence of financial services contributing to improved well-being, yet the influence of contextual factors is largely unknown. The theory of change framework identifies several knowledge gaps that funders/researchers can address to develop a more accurate prediction of when financial inclusion policy will generate positive wellbeing outcomes.

An analysis of how transition risks could impact the financial performance of companies through examples from the utilities, autos and steel sectors. This report provides insight into how the financial performance of companies in these sectors, and others, could vary in the future due to low-carbon economy transitions.

In collaboration with international organisations, the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge has developed an overview of the main biodiversity-related initiatives currently targeting financial institutions. The Overview features a summary of twelve major initiatives and defines its key activities, collaboration, delivery, and goals it aims to achieve.

Banks continue to finance the global plastics chain, despite the significant risks of lender liability from the impacts of plastic waste. This report highlights the lack of development of any due diligence systems, contingent loan criteria, or financing exclusions at the banks when it comes to the plastic packaging industry.

This report explores the contribution of the banking sector to the biodiversity crisis and the destruction of nature as of 2019. The report ranks the 50 largest banks globally based on their financing of unethical operations, finding a large impact on deforestation, ecosystem destruction and overfishing.

This guide is based on more than 100 interviews with institutional investors at a range of investment funds, about their experiences with sustainable investing. This guide offers insights on how to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors with the investment process to help investors capitalise on sustainable investing.

There has been a gap between understanding climate change and the implications it has for finance and the broader economy. This paper provides insight into scenario analysis - using data and climate science to provide more transparency on their financial risks in the medium and long term.

Addresses the concept of civic energy concerning the municipal ownership of energy systems in the UK and Germany by contrasting their banking systems to demonstrate how social and cultural values have shaped the civic energy sector. In turn, this demonstrates the importance of financial institutions in the low-carbon transition.

The report describes nine principles for managing and measuring investments that seek to achieve a positive social or environmental impact. The principles may be implemented through different impact management systems and are designed to be fit for purpose for a range of institutions and funds.

The International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) Global Stewardship Principles (GSPs) provide an international framework for investors to implement their fiduciary obligations on behalf of clients and beneficiaries. ICGN’s stewardship principles are a set of aspirational best practices, curated to be used flexibly with individual investor circumstances in mind.

This paper outlines a set of standards for private equity, debt and venture capital fund managers to align their funds with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report provides a practical, detailed, and comprehensive framework for fund managers to align their activities with the SDGs.

This report provides a guide on how to identify and treat human rights violations in the financial services sector. It is broken down into four parts to help the sector address modern slavery risks and develop more transparent reporting practices.

This paper argues against Andrew Rudd’s ‘inescapable conclusion’ that integration of environment, social or governance (ESG) criteria in the investment processes must worsen portfolio diversification. While, negatively impacting diversification through number of stocks and correlation it improves portfolio diversification through a reduction of the average stock’s specific risk.

This research is a review of literature on the use of macroeconomic and financial policy tools for mitigating the impact of climate change. The paper explores the effectiveness of fiscal, financial and monetary policy instruments for such mitigation which it considers to be the transition to a low carbon economy.

As the world’s second largest asset manager, Vanguard Group Inc. has the potential to become a climate action leader. Despite Vanguard’s commitment to the Net-Zero Asset Manager initiative, the report argues that Vanguard’s significant share in fossil fuel exposed companies demonstrates a passive attitude towards climate change.

This paper makes the investment case for businesses and investors alike to implement policies that align with the latest science on climate change. It provides a framework that stakeholders can use to mitigate climate risks and manage the transition to a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.