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.

2020 brought record levels of interest and fund flows into sustainable funds in the US as investors became increasingly concerned about COVID-19, climate change and social issues. The record flows were followed with an immense increase in the sustainable fund universe and outperformance over conventional funds.

Based on interviews with 22 leading asset owners, this 2018 report explores the best-practices landscape for managing climate risks and opportunities. The report identifies barriers faced by industry leaders and presents a framework of ten building blocks for other asset owners developing and introducing climate strategies.

Commissioned by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI), this report has been produced to support the Australian investment community's understanding of how biodiversity loss presents a risk to their portfolios. It provides recommendations about actions that Australian investors can take in response to this risk, in preparation for the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

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.

This report uses quantitative and qualitative research to further our understanding of developments in digital financial inclusion driven by fintech, and their macroeconomic effects. It also details the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and discusses the future of fintech’s impacts on financial inclusion.

A two page read that reports the annual growth of the Responsible Investment Managed Funds market within Australia and New Zealand. It offers insight into the composition of this market and a short snapshot into the performance of overseas equity trusts.

This report emphasises that investors should recognise their leverage towards addressing modern slavery risks in their financial activities, including investment portfolios and their supply chains. The report is part of a wider supply chain transparency project to advocate for Modern Slavery Acts globally, by engaging governments and partnering with businesses.

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.