This report argues that ESG is both essential and ordinary: vital as a driver of long-term value but not unique compared to other intangibles such as culture or innovation. It cautions against over-emphasising ESG metrics, politicisation, and superficial classification, advocating instead a broader focus on overall sustainable value creation.

This report reviews global ESG and responsible investing practices, focusing on definitions, regulation, climate finance, and institutional investor roles. It evaluates evidence from academic research and PRI data, highlighting investor influence, governance, and engagement strategies, while noting challenges around ratings, greenwashing, and measuring real outcomes.

This article analyses institutional investors’ incentives to internalise negative externalities across their portfolios. It focuses on climate change, showing how large asset managers influence fossil fuel companies to reduce emissions, disclose risks, and limit lobbying, reframing shareholder primacy by prioritising portfolio-wide welfare over firm-level profit maximisation.

This report summarises why firms should maximise shareholder welfare rather than market value, noting that investors often have ethical and social preferences beyond profit. It proposes shareholder voting on corporate policy to better align company decisions with investor welfare, particularly where externalities are inseparable from production.

This guide outlines environmental, social, and just transition considerations for investors in aviation’s fuel shift. It compares biofuels and e-fuels, highlights regulatory and biodiversity risks, and provides engagement questions to assess companies’ transition strategies, ensuring alignment with climate goals while safeguarding communities and long-term financial stability.

This report examines the human rights risks associated with artificial intelligence in the ICT sector. It offers guidance for rights-respecting AI development, outlines regulatory frameworks, presents the business rationale for ethical AI, and supports investor engagement with practical tools and questions for assessing AI-related corporate practices

This report examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are being adopted in venture capital. It outlines current practices, challenges, and industry-specific considerations, and highlights the need for tailored guidance, collaboration, and early-stage engagement to advance responsible investment across the venture capital ecosystem.

The report outlines how strategic investment can reduce animal testing in the health sector. It provides investors with guidance on promoting transparency, encouraging non-animal methods, and influencing regulation, while highlighting the risks of limited disclosure and misalignment with consumer concerns.

This study examines the visibility of climate-related disclosures in reports from 28 large Australian ASX50 firms during 2022. It finds that disclosures on physical climate risks are generally limited and superficial, whereas opportunities from the transition to a low-carbon economy are more prominently highlighted, indicating selective disclosure practices across sectors.

The War and Sanctions portal, managed by Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, is an open-access database detailing individuals, entities, and assets linked to Russia’s military activities. It supports due diligence and compliance efforts by providing verified information on sanctions, war-related logistics, and foreign components in weaponry.

CCLA’s 2024 report outlines investor-led efforts to address modern slavery through corporate engagement, policy advocacy, and improved data. Key sectors include construction and agriculture. Progress was made via benchmarking and collaborative initiatives, though disclosure and remedy remain limited. EU legislation and stakeholder coordination are driving further momentum.

The PRI Resolution Database provides information on shareholder resolutions, management proposals, and votes, aiming to enhance transparency in shareholder advocacy and proxy voting. It includes details on ESG themes, proposal statuses, and allows PRI signatories to pre-declare voting intentions.

CIM’s FY2024 Impact Report details investments in social and affordable housing, disability accommodation, and carbon farming. The portfolio supported 260 homes, 114 SDA dwellings, and biodiversity-focused climate projects, while applying rigorous impact measurement. The report reflects lessons from emerging sectors and First Nations partnerships.

Conscious Investment Management is an Australian impact investment firm focused on generating measurable social and environmental outcomes. Its portfolio includes social and affordable housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation, renewable energy, carbon farming, and social impact bonds. CIM collaborates with not-for-profits and community housing providers, aligning investments with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This report offers practical guidance for investors engaging companies on managing conflict-affected and high-risk area (CAHRA) exposure. It highlights legal obligations, best practices in heightened human rights due diligence, and governance strategies, drawn from pilot dialogues with tech and renewable energy firms. Recommendations target risk mitigation aligned with global standards.

Heartland Initiative is a nonprofit investor advisory organisation dedicated to advancing human rights in investment. It collaborates with institutional investors, civil society, and policymakers to address systemic risks and promote responsible investment practices. Heartland offers tailored learning services and fosters environments that integrate human rights considerations into business strategies.