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Natural capital accounting: Design and implementation protocol V1.1
This document provides guidance on natural capital accounting, a means to extend economic information to meaningfully describe the relationship between the economy and the environment. The report outlines a high-level, five-step process for designing and implementing natural capital accounting and compiling coherent environmental-economic data to support policy and decision-making.
Child-lens investing framework
This report introduces the Child-Lens Investing Framework, an approach to impact investing designed to guide investors to invest using a child-centric lens. The report provides an overview of the framework's various components and explores its alignment with leading responsible and impact investing standards and frameworks.
Exploring philanthropy's role in addressing the affordable housing crisis: A synthesis of the evidence
This report explores how philanthropic funds can be leveraged to tackle financial and non-financial barriers in affordable housing. Desk research, case studies, and financial modelling have been used to highlight the role philanthropy can play in bridging the gap for various affordable housing models.
Blended finance: When to use which instrument?
Blended finance requires a deep understanding of the various financial instruments available. This paper offers guidance on selecting from diverse and innovative tools based on an organisation's context and finance requirements. The report provides practical relevance through case studies and key questions to help decision-makers in making a more informed choice.
Sustainable investing capabilities of private banks
This report presents the findings of research into the sustainable investing capabilities of private banks, including governance, sustainability risk, and client interactions. The report notes progress among leading banks but highlights the need for continuing education for client advisors and improved ESG and impact reporting and monitoring capabilities.
Who pays for sustainability? An analysis of sustainability-linked bonds
This paper analyses sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), which tie bond coupons to sustainability performance targets. They find issuing an SLB yields an average premium of -9 basis points on the yield at issue compared to a conventional bond, and the savings for an issuer exceed the maximum penalty for failure to meet the target.
The hidden risk in state pensions: Analysing state pensions’ responses to the climate crisis in proxy voting
This report analyses the proxy voting strategies of 19 state pensions, as well as the five New York City Comptroller systems, managing over US$2 trillion in assets. Results reveal that most pensions failed to address climate-related financial risk, especially in areas such as lobbying, environmental justice, and Indigenous rights.
The Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the financial industry
The Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the Financial Industry by Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) provides a framework for measuring and disclosing greenhouse gas emissions. It helps financial institutions enhance transparency, assess climate risks, and support sustainable investment decisions, promoting accountability and impactful environmental actions.
Sustainable corporate governance and non-financial disclosure in Europe: Does the gender diversity matter?
This study explores the link between boardroom gender diversity and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosure in European listed firms. The results show that having women directors improves ESG practices, potentially enhancing sustainable value creation for firms. The study recommends policy actions promoting gender equality in decision-making roles to further enhance corporate transparency and accountability.
Increasing female participation on boards: Effects on sustainability reporting
This study explores the relationship between board gender diversity and sustainability reporting using data from 2,116 banks over a ten-year period. Results indicate that having 22–50% female board members positively affects ESG disclosure, but beyond 50%, negative effects appear. It suggests that banks should mandate quotas to promote sustainable disclosure.
Climate governance study 2024: Moving from vision to action
This study reveals that Australian directors increasingly prioritise climate change as a material governance issue. However, stakeholders are pulling in a variety of directions, making it challenging for organisations to execute their climate strategies. Policy uncertainty poses the most significant obstacle for climate governance, although the implementation of mandatory climate reporting from July 2025 presents an opportunity for greater accountability.
Towards financing large-scale holistic landscape restoration in Europe: Recommendations for EU policy actors to attain inspirational, social, natural and financial returns
The report provides financing recommendations for large-scale holistic landscape restoration in Europe, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and food and water insecurity. It emphasises the effectiveness of landscape finance in promoting healthy ecosystems, offering practical frameworks for policymakers to accelerate impactful activities and align natural and community needs for comprehensive restoration.
UN Environment Programme's adaptation gap report series
The Adaptation Gap Report series provides yearly updates on global progress in climate change adaptation. It assesses the status of adaptation planning, implementation, and finance, highlighting the increasing gap between the need for adaptation and the actions taken.
Adaptation, loss and damage: A global climate impact fund for climate justice
This report delves into climate justice amid anthropogenic climate change, advocating for a pilot Global Climate Impact Fund (GCIF). The fund aims to distribute the financial responsibility for the climate change transition based on attribution and contribution studies, employing standardised criteria. The report emphasises prioritising long-term resilience and sustainable development pathways.
Survival of the richest: How we must tax the super-rich now to fight inequality
This briefing paper highlights how taxing the super-rich is crucial in fighting inequality and addressing the multiple crises we are currently facing. The report provides practical solutions to raise taxes, while showcasing how decreasing economic inequality leads to decreasing gender, race, and colonial inequality.
'Signals of seriousness' for human rights due diligence
This discussion draft proposes a list of "signals of seriousness" that could inform administrative assessments of companies' HRDD efforts under potential EU legislation. The document provides comprehensive guidance on human rights and environmental due diligence and highlights key features of HRDD practices, offering critical insights to regulators seeking to enforce the proposed legislation.