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Environmental impact of digital assets

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The report highlights the environmental impact of digital assets, focusing on energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanisms in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It underscores significant carbon emissions and advocates transitioning to less energy-demanding models, renewable energy use, and cross-border cooperation. Policy recommendations include targeted regulation, enhanced data transparency, and leveraging distributed ledger technologies for sustainable finance.
Research
1 December 2022

When the bee stings: Counting the cost of nature-related risks

Bloomberg L.P.
In collaboration with the TNFD, and aligned with its newly released recommendations, BloombergNEF has examined 10 instances of companies suffering material financial losses, the threat of such losses and share price pressure from poorly handled interactions with nature. The case studies demonstrate the financial importance of a business understanding and managing its impacts and dependencies on the natural world.
Research
9 December 2023

Our commitment to nature: Supporting biodiversity and sustainable land use through engagement

Federated Hermes
This paper outlines Federated Hermes' expectations and engagement priorities for sectors characterised by having high biodiversity impacts and dependencies. These include consumer goods and retail, agrochemicals, mining and materials, oil and gas, utilities, real estate and construction, and finance.
Research
2 February 2021

The hidden environmental cost of cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin mining impacts climate, water and land

United Nations (UN)
Bitcoin mining has significant environmental impacts, driven by its reliance on electricity-intensive processes. In 2020-2021, mining consumed 173 TWh of electricity, primarily from fossil fuels, and emitted 86 Mt CO2, contributing to climate change, water scarcity, and land use issues. Global regulatory action is urgently needed.
Research
20 November 2023

U.S. climate policy and blockchain innovation in future smart and sustainable cities

This report explores blockchain's potential to address climate challenges and foster smart, sustainable cities. It highlights blockchain's capacity for decentralisation, transparency, and efficiency in urban governance, renewable energy, and civic participation. Recommendations include multi-stakeholder collaboration, educational initiatives, and human-centred design to ensure ethical, inclusive implementation for climate resilience and innovation.
Research
10 September 2023

Infrastructure tokenization: Does blockchain have a role in the financing of infrastructure?

The World Bank
The report explores the potential of blockchain technology in financing infrastructure projects. It evaluates blockchain's capabilities in enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in infrastructure tokenisation, while addressing challenges like regulatory constraints, market adoption, and technical barriers. The findings highlight both opportunities and limitations for integrating blockchain into infrastructure financing.
Research
18 April 2023

How business and finance can contribute to a nature positive future now

Business for Nature
This report provides an in-depth exploration of the term "nature positive" and its implications for business and finance. It aims to build a shared understanding and alignment on what nature positive means, offering insights and recommendations to drive meaningful action towards halting and reversing nature loss. This report is particularly valuable for investors as it clarifies the concept of "nature positive" and its relevance to investment strategies. It helps investors understand the risks and opportunities associated with nature loss and provides a framework for integrating nature-positive principles into investment decisions.
Research
17 October 2022

Australia's State of the Environment 2021

Australian Government
This website hosts the Australia State of the Environment Report, which provides comprehensive assessments of the condition of Australia's environment. The report covers various themes, including biodiversity, land, inland water, coasts, marine environment, atmosphere, and heritage. It offers valuable insights into environmental trends, pressures, and management actions, supporting informed policy and decision-making for sustainable development.
Online tool/database

Building a capital consortium for nature-positive investments

The report explores strategies to increase private sector investment in nature-positive projects. Using a capital continuum framework, it identifies barriers such as risk perception, funding gaps, and scalability challenges. Recommendations include development finance institution involvement, innovative funding models like DevCos, and strengthening voluntary carbon markets to provide price signals and liquidity.
Research
25 September 2023

Act now! The why and how of biodiversity integration by financial institutions

Finance for Biodiversity Foundation
This is an operational guide bringing together information that financial institutions need to be aware of when embarking on the process of biodiversity integration. It includes information on what other financial institutions are doing, regulations and policies, relevant scientific insights, and developments in the field of biodiversity measurement approaches. This guide aims to support all financial institutions in integrating biodiversity in their decision-making irrespective of their level of maturity on biodiversity.
Research
10 December 2022

Beyond 'business as usual': Biodiversity targets and finance - Managing biodiversity risks across business sectors

United Nations Environment Programme
This report aims to enable a better understanding of the business sectors and financial mechanisms a risk from biodiversity destruction and lay the ground-work for target setting by the finance sector. It also supports investors in understanding the broader economic implications of biodiversity loss, offering insights and recommendations for integrating biodiversity into business and investment strategies.
Research
30 June 2020

Top 10 biodiversity-impact ranking of company industries

Finance for Biodiversity Foundation
This briefing paper employs four biodiversity impact measurement tools to provide biodiversity footprint scores of high-impact sectors and industries. It also provides investors with a ranking of companies based on their biodiversity impacts, helping identify high-impact areas and prioritise engagement and investment strategies.
Research
12 April 2023

Financing nature: Closing the global biodiversity financing gap

The report examines the economic case for protecting biodiversity, identifies market failures causing biodiversity loss, highlights the biodiversity financing gap, and recommends nine financial and policy mechanisms to close this gap and maintain ecosystem integrity. This report also supports investors in identifying investment opportunities in nature-based solutions by providing comprehensive analyses of financial mechanisms and case studies, encouraging the allocation of capital to biodiversity-friendly projects.
Research
15 September 2020

Biodiversity in the balance: How nature poses investment risk and opportunity

The white paper summarises and presents key information about biodiversity risks and opportunities for investors, drawing from prominent publications by a range of international agencies. The paper re-produces popular charts from papers such as the Millennial Ecosystem Assessment, WEF Nature Risk report series, and the WEF Global Risk Report to highlight the key investment/business case for biodiversity.
Research
11 January 2024

UN Environment Programme's emissions gap report series

United Nations Environment Programme
This benchmark report, produced by the United Nations Environment Programme, assesses the discrepancy between projected and necessary global greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement targets. It highlights the urgent need for enhanced mitigation actions and tracks progress on national commitments and policy implementations.
Benchmark/series

Finance for biodiversity: Guide on engagement with companies

Finance for Biodiversity Foundation
This guide is designed to support financial institutions that are looking for ways to engage with companies on biodiversity related issues. The guide includes practical information on engagement scope and approaches, collaborative engagements to join, guidelines for engagement, and how to escalate from engagement to voting.
Research
30 April 2022
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