Library | Sustainable Finance Practices
ESG Integration and analysis
Tools, methodologies and frameworks for embedding ESG considerations into financial decision-making – focusing specifically on analysis and integration, while separating out broader strategic elements.
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The third, systems stage of corporate governance: Why institutional investors need to move beyond modern portfolio theory
The authors of this paper argue that institutional investors need to move beyond Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT), and consider a wider risk management strategy. The paper outlines the potential failings of MPT and suggests ways for institutional investors to better align with the needs of society and the economy.
Investing in the living wage: A toolkit for responsible investors
This toolkit details low pay risks for investors, particularly in industries such as retail, hospitality, and care homes. The toolkit urges investors to proactively tackle low pay issues by promoting the Living Wage through collaborative engagement, integrating ESG concerns into policies and guidelines, and encouraging incentive schemes in this area.
Climate change analysis in the investment process
This report emphasises the need for investors to consider the physical and transitional risks of climate change in their portfolios. It highlights the importance of integrating carbon pricing and scenario analysis into investment processes. The report advocates for greater education and improved disclosure from issuers to facilitate better climate-related analysis.
Insuring a low carbon future: A practical guide for insurers on managing climate-related risks and opportunities
This report explores how climate awareness is being integrated into underwriting, investment, and group-wide risk management practices in the insurance industry. It identifies common barriers and presents a practical framework of eight building blocks relevant for insurers introducing and developing climate strategies. Based on interviews with 14 proactive insurers.
Inclusive business financing: Where commercial opportunity and sustainability converge
This report explores how best to finance inclusive businesses, which have gained prominence for reducing poverty and inequality in developing countries. Drawing on case studies from across Asia, it examines bank debt and private equity as conduits for financing, and offers recommendations for improving the financing of inclusive businesses.
Biodiversity loss and land degradation: An overview of the financial materiality
This report provides key insights into the materiality of biodiversity loss and land degradation with a focus on financial risks while reviewing the literature available. The report highlights biodiversity's prominent role in the economy, the major threats to biodiversity, the tools available to measure biodiversity's impact and outlines a typology for nature-related financial risks.
Toward ESG alpha: Analyzing ESG exposures through a factor lens
This paper investigates the relationship between environmental, social and governance (ESG) exposures and factor returns for 1,312 US equity mutual funds. The study suggests that factor tilts, rather than pure ESG considerations, drive factor returns. ESG components unrelated to factors carry insignificant excess return premiums that are economically small.
Intentionally designed endowment primer
This primer provides insight into aligning endowment investments with institutional missions while considering sustainability. The report includes strategic questions, background, examples, and relevant research. Intended for fiduciaries, this primer encourages institutional acceptance and deployment of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria to facilitate profitable sustainability while advancing social purpose.
Future of sustainability in investment management: From ideas to reality
This report examines sustainable investing, considering the increasing investor demand for ESG factors and how to adapt to the sustainability paradigm. It identifies business model and investment model drivers, as well as operating and people model enablers and the challenges and skills required for integrating ESG.
Do androids dream of responsible investment? Exploring responsible investment in the age of information
This report provides insight into the emerging responsible investment risks surrounding technology. The report covers four key areas of concern; bias and discrimination, manipulation and influencing behaviour, big tech and market dominance, and automation and the future of work, alongside case studies and recommended questions for asset owners.
Are pharma companies addressing sexual and reproductive health access barriers for women and girls?
This report examines the role of pharmaceutical companies in addressing access barriers hindering women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally. It assesses their research on new SRHR medicines and products, pricing strategies, company capacity building efforts, and inclusive business models.
Who cares wins: Connecting financial markets to a changing world
The report outlines recommendations by leading financial institutions for integrating environmental, social, and governance factors in financial analysis and investment decisions. Produced under the auspices of the United Nations Global Compact, this report reflects the commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainable development by twenty endorsing institutions.
Decarbonising cement: The role of institutional investors
This report outlines why cement production is carbon-intensive and provides pathways for decarbonisation. A 60% reduction in emissions by 2050 is required to limit temperature increases to 1.75°C. Institutional investors need to engage with cement companies and cut off funding for carbon-intensive infrastructure to mitigate climate-related risks.
Connecting the dots: Energy transition scenarios and credit quality
This report explores the implications of climate transition scenarios for the credit quality of nine companies in power utilities, cement, and steel. It shows the potential credit consequences of failing to mitigate risks and grasp opportunities associated with the low-carbon transition. The study highlights the value of granular scenario analysis for investors.
Fossil fuel divestment strategies: Financial and carbon-related consequences
This study examines financial and carbon-related impacts of fossil fuel divestment strategies. Empirical analysis of a Canadian stock index suggests ethical divestment reduces carbon exposure and performs as well or better than the benchmark.
COMPASS: The methodology for comparing and assessing impact
The COMPASS is a methodology for investors to assess and compare impact data to maximise social or environmental returns. Upon collecting standardised data, this paper provides a step-by-step process to normalise impact information, using three key analytic figures, and to create benchmarks within peer groups to aid investment decision-making.