This report focuses on the decarbonisation of listed equity portfolios in Australia, outlining current investor initiatives and commitments to support decarbonisation and energy transition. The report discusses carbon exposure metrics, company engagement and divestment strategies, and investing in climate solutions.

This 2020 report presents the results from a survey that assesses whether a risk differential can be detected between green, non-green and brown financial assets (loans and bonds). Based on information obtained by 49 banks, it presents a snapshot of current practices among financial institutions in their asset allocation.

This report is a study of the enabling environment for financial inclusion in 55 low to middle income countries. It focuses on the role of financial inclusion in terms of how governments in those countries responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a synthesis of the key themes from the 2020 Climate Safe Learning Lab convening which the Lab hosted with the Climate Safe Lending Network. It shares insights into what is really going on inside banks when it comes to their speed of climate action.

Are “green finance" and climate change gaining traction in the Asian financial sector? Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) reviewed the practices of 88 leading financial institutions across Asia-Pacific to find out. Growing momentum is discovered: 28% of banks and 30% of investors have incorporated climate change into their respective policies.

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.

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.

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 report focuses on the perceived purpose-gap in the banking sector wherein banks are not fulfilling their role to create positive economic, social and environmental outcomes. Filling this gap requires leveraging ‘systemic intrapreneurs’ within organisations to holistically shift banking strategy.

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has improved financial inclusion, through implementing its Expanding Financial Access and Digital and Financial Literacy (REFAD) program in Rwanda, and by working with local partners to help cater digital financial solutions and improve financial literacy for rural and refugee communities.