Library | Sustainable Finance Practices

Effective communication and greenwash

Tools and strategies for transparent communication on sustainability performance, with guidance on identifying and preventing greenwashing and advancing consumer education and financial literacy.

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Making credible sustainability claims: A guidance series for schemes and companies collection

ISEAL Alliance
This report guides companies and sustainability schemes in making credible environmental claims under the EU ECGT Directive. It differentiates between specific and generic claims, outlines performance requirements, and offers principles for clear, accurate communications to prevent greenwashing and restore consumer trust.
Benchmark/series
1 August 2026

The connected reporting landscape: GAA Connectivity in Reporting Series

This report examines the conceptual and practical frameworks for connected reporting. It emphasises the strategic role of accountants in integrating financial statements with sustainability disclosures. By addressing organisational silos and regulatory requirements, the document provides actionable guidance for achieving coherent, decision-useful corporate information for investors and key stakeholders.
Research
18 August 2026

Impact investing messaging playbook

Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
The GIIN Impact Investing Messaging Playbook provides a unified communication framework for members. It outlines core industry stories, guiding principles, and tailored messaging for diverse audiences and sectors, including energy and healthcare. The report highlights the industry's growth to a $1.571 trillion market dedicated to solving systemic global problems.
Research
23 September 2026

Stop in the name of law: How litigation is challenging offsetting claims

Carbon Market Watch
This report analyses the rising legal and regulatory scrutiny of corporate carbon offsetting claims. It examines landmark cases in Europe, Australia, and the US, highlighting a global shift towards banning misleading 'net-zero' labels. The findings underscore the necessity for companies to prioritise genuine in-house emissions reductions over carbon credits.
Research
27 August 2026

Spillover: Shell and TotalEnergies' expansive roles in the voluntary carbon market

Carbon Market Watch
This report analyses the extensive involvement of Shell and TotalEnergies in the voluntary carbon market. It highlights how fossil fuel majors use carbon credits to obscure a lack of absolute emissions reductions, while exercising structural influence over credit supply, project development, and market governance.
Research
1 September 2026

Trends in climate risk reporting: Lessons from initial voluntary corporate reports under California’s SB 261

Ceres
This research analyses 154 voluntary corporate climate risk reports submitted under California’s SB 261. It identifies early trends in governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics. Findings highlight that while risk awareness is widespread, gaps remain in financial quantification, quantitative scenario analysis, and the development of formal transition plans.
Research
1 September 2026

Can investors price the risk? Assessing municipal bond climate disclosure and financial resilience

Ceres
This report analyses climate risk disclosure in the $4.4 trillion US municipal bond market. Examining 60 high-risk offerings, it finds 33% omit climate references. Disclosures are often generic and backward-looking, lacking the TCFD-aligned metrics necessary for investors to price risk accurately and reward resilience investments.
Research
10 August 2026

The traffic light effect in ESG ratings

Harvard Business School
This research identifies a 'traffic light effect' in ESG ratings, where investor-paid raters like MSCI suppress rating changes to favour stability and peer alignment. Implemented downgrades predict negative returns of 2.8% over twelve months, but suppressed downgrades do not, indicating that discretionary overrides impede value-relevant signals to investors.
Research
6 April 2026

Can investor coalitions drive corporate climate action?

This research evaluates Climate Action 100+’s impact on corporate climate action using a Difference-in-Differences analysis. It finds no evidence of improved disclosure or historical emission reductions. While the coalition influenced long-term targets for specific companies, the absence of short-term milestones suggests potential decarbonisation backloading and greenwashing risks.
Research
23 October 2024

Deconstructing AI hype: A playbook for resistance

This research provides a materialist deconstruction of AI hype, arguing it facilitates power concentration rather than just misrepresenting technology. It details how "hypers" manufacture urgency and capture credibility. The paper offers a playbook for resistance through contestation, undermining legitimacy and building collective agency to challenge AI entrenchment.
Research
11 October 2026

Thematic notes on clear, fair & not misleading sustainability-related claims: Addressing greenwashing risks in support of sustainable investments: Third note: impact claims

This ESMA report provides guidance on avoiding greenwashing in sustainability impact claims. It outlines four key principles—accuracy, accessibility, substantiation, and timeliness—while defining theoretical concepts like intentionality and additionality. Practical do’s and don’ts for funds and bonds help market participants ensure communications are clear, fair, and not misleading.
Research
12 October 2026

Global warming and the National Cattlemen’s Association 1986–1996

This research examines the National Cattlemen’s Association’s response to global warming evidence between 1986 and 1996. The organisation prioritised strategic communications and public relations over production changes to mitigate methane emissions. By reframing scientific findings and challenging critics, the NCA aimed to protect beef demand and industry interests.
Research
7 October 2026

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.
Research
1 January 2024

Beyond greenwashing: ESG disclosure substance, investor flows, and fund behavior

This research examines mutual fund ESG disclosures in shareholder letters. It finds that only 'opportunistic' disclosures focused on financial value attract significant investor flows. While aggregate data suggests greenwashing, granular analysis reveals 'impact' disclosures result in genuine portfolio improvements. However, opportunistic claims increase outflow risks if performance disappoints.
Research
1 June 2026

Peer groups matter: Comparative industry effects in ESG rating disagreement

This research identifies the 'comparative industry effect'—differences in industry classification and peer group construction—as a major driver of ESG rating divergence. It explains 30% of industry-level score differences, particularly affecting environmental ratings and firms with limited public disclosure or complex ownership structures.
Research
1 January 2026

Venture capital backing and ESG disclosure in private firms

This research examines the association between venture capital backing and voluntary ESG disclosure in U.S. private firms. It finds that VC-backed firms develop disclosure gradually through professionalisation. Conversely, non-VC-backed firms exhibit strategic disclosure increases immediately before initial public offerings to reduce information asymmetry.
Research
25 February 2026
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