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Building capacity to identify and assess nature-related financial risks
This report examines nature-related financial risks in the Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil sectors. Using scenario analysis, it evaluates how an intensified El Niño and ecosystem degradation affect production, costs, and credit risk. Findings highlight the vulnerability of upstream producers and the necessity for banks to assess nature-based dependencies.
Who pays for climate breakdown? Banks, financed emissions, and the road to climate accountability
This research examines the legal principles for holding banks accountable for climate breakdown. It evaluates shifting causation standards from 'but-for' to 'material contribution', explores quantification methodologies like PCAF, and analyses strategic litigation. The report highlights banks' transition from passive intermediaries to active contributors responsible for financing global emissions.
Climate Risk Management Toolkit for Financial Institutions
Developed by British International Investment, this toolkit helps financial institutions in emerging markets embed climate risk management into governance, lending, and portfolio monitoring in alignment with TCFD standards.
Still Banking on Coal
Still Banking on Coal is a dataset by Urgewald that tracks global bank financing for the thermal coal industry. It provides transparency on loans and underwriting from over 740 banks, highlighting the gap between climate commitments and actual financial flows.
More critical than ever: Strengthening growth and resilience through the multilateral development banks
This report examines the critical role of Multilateral Development Banks in driving growth and resilience. It highlights challenges from declining official aid and geopolitical fragmentation, while proposing reforms to scale financing, accelerate project delivery, and target concessional resources toward the world’s poorest and most vulnerable nations.
State of blended finance series
State of Blended Finance is a research series examining how public, philanthropic and private capital combine to finance sustainable development in emerging markets. It analyses transaction structures, investor participation, capital mobilisation, development impact, market trends and barriers to scaling blended finance.
National development banks: Policy integration for climate
This research analyses the integration of national development banks (NDBs) into climate policies across 103 economies. It highlights that only 17.5% of countries explicitly reference NDBs in climate commitments. The report provides recommendations for governments and NDB leadership to strengthen institutional alignment and improve climate finance effectiveness.
Who bears the transition risk? Uneven climate risk assessment of SMEs across German banking groups
This report examines how German banks assess climate transition risks, specifically for SMEs. It finds that private banks significantly increased risk weights for carbon-intensive firms after 2018, while cooperative and savings banks did not. The reliance on sector-level metrics suggests potential loan mispricing and systemic risks within regional banking groups.
The price of climate talk: Central bank communication, climate governance, and sovereign risk premia
This research examines how central bank climate communication affects 10-year sovereign bond yields. Using a dataset of over 17,000 speeches, it finds that climate-related discourse increases yields by making risks more salient. This effect is stronger in countries with independent central banks, reflecting the role of institutional credibility.
Pricing in resilience: The future of financial services for soil health
This research examines how agricultural finance, markets and policy are transitioning soil health from a conservation goal to a financial metric. It details five forces driving structural carbon demand and seven financial innovations, including carbon warrants and digital verification, designed to reprice risk and unlock institutional capital for regenerative agriculture.
International credit to Africa
This research examines the rapid expansion of international credit to Africa since the Global Financial Crisis. It highlights the rise of Chinese lending under the Belt and Road Initiative, the dramatic growth of international bond issuance, and the continued dominance of governments as borrowers in US dollar-denominated markets.
Bank executive compensation and risk-taking
This research investigates bank executive compensation since the Great Financial Crisis. It finds that longer deferral horizons successfully reduce risk-taking and encourage prudent capital management. However, evidence regarding variable pay caps is inconclusive. Case studies from 2023 failures highlight governance shortcomings in risk-adjusting performance metrics and compensation schemes.
The Box: syndication fee league tables
This benchmark series provides transparency on bank syndication fees, comparing income from sustainable and unsustainable activities. It tracks league tables for global and regional financial institutions, including the ASEAN and Japanese markets. The analysis enables investors to incentivise behavioural change by identifying banks that continue to prioritise fossil fuel financing.
Upgrading financial markets
This field experiment in rural Sierra Leone evaluates upgrading Village Savings and Loan Associations into digital financial service agents. While infrastructure expands access, introducing consumer feedback mechanisms significantly improves service quality, transaction usage, and household shock mitigation. Results demonstrate that accountability is essential for developing functional, scalable financial markets.
Pricing power in the mortgage market: Evidence from GSE fee waivers
This research examines GSE fee waivers for lower-income first-time homebuyers, revealing that lenders pass through less than 40% of these savings. Intermediaries captured over 60% of the $1.5 billion benefit. High-cost loan officers and non-banks show the lowest pass-through, highlighting significant market power and search frictions.
Corporate governance scandals in India’s banking and financial services sector
This research examines corporate governance failures in India’s financial sector, focusing on scandals at YES Bank, IndusInd Bank, and IL&FS. It analyses the impact of 'star' promoters, gatekeeper failures, and regulatory fragmentation, advocating for enhanced standards of care for directors and a wholesale reconsideration of sector-specific governance frameworks.