Library | Sustainable Finance Practices

ESG strategy, analysis and integration

Tools and methodologies for embedding ESG considerations into investment strategy, analysis and decision-making, credit analysis, and insurance underwriting. These include applying different approaches, including positive and negative screening, ESG analysis and asset allocation.

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Harnessing digital finance for sustainability: An integrative review and research agenda

The report reviews the role of digital finance in advancing sustainability goals through bibliometric and thematic analysis of 168 studies. It identifies key themes like financial inclusion, green finance, and fintech, proposing a conceptual framework to align digital innovation with sustainable development, fostering eco-friendly investments, and promoting global financial inclusion.
Research
30 November 2024

Green fintech: Sustainability of Bitcoin

The report examines Bitcoin's environmental sustainability within the Green FinTech framework. It highlights Bitcoin's significant energy consumption during mining, correlating positively with miner revenue. While offering financial inclusivity, Bitcoin's carbon emissions challenge its environmental credentials. The study advocates for renewable energy adoption in cryptocurrency mining to align with sustainability goals.
Research
8 June 2022

Impact tokens: A blockchain-based solution for impact investing

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
The report explores the concept of impact tokens, blockchain-based tools designed to unlock investments for sustainable projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These tokens enhance transparency, foster financial inclusion, improve data collection, and incentivise sustainable behaviours. Case studies illustrate applications across energy, agriculture, and waste management sectors, demonstrating potential in addressing global challenges. .
Research
19 April 2019

Blockchain for sustainability: A systematic literature review for policy impact

The report reviews blockchain's role in sustainability, analysing 10,188 studies. It highlights blockchain's potential in supply chain management, energy systems, and IoT-based solutions like smart cities. However, gaps persist in aligning blockchain applications with global ESG regulations and carbon trading mechanisms. Recommendations aim to improve blockchain's utility in achieving net-zero goals.
Research
17 October 2023

Responsible investment and blockchain

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
The report explores blockchain technology's relevance to responsible investment, highlighting its potential to enhance transparency, automate processes, and improve ESG data tracking. It discusses blockchain's implications for shareholder voting, decentralised systems, financial inclusivity, and sustainability. Practical challenges, including regulation, technical integration, and energy use, are also addressed. .
Research
17 April 2018

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

Finance for biodiversity: Engagement templates

Finance for Biodiversity Foundation
This engagement template compliments the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation's Engagement Guidance document for Financial Institutions.
Online tool/database

Biodiversity measurement approaches: A practitioner's guide for financial institutions (4th edition)

Finance for Biodiversity Foundation
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of tools and methodologies for financial institutions to assess biodiversity impacts and dependencies. It includes practical recommendations, evaluations of twelve tools, case studies, and guidance on marine biodiversity. The guide supports nature-related risk management, aligning with frameworks like TNFD and EU Biodiversity standards.
Research
15 November 2024

Eliminating commodity-driven deforestation: Finance sector roadmap

Global Canopy
The Finance and Deforestation advisory group provides a time-bound roadmap for all types of financial institutions, including asset owners, pension funds, asset managers, insurers and banks at any stage of the process, to start eliminating deforestation, conversion, and associated human rights abuses from their financial portfolios by 2025. This Roadmap covers all asset classes, including equity, fixed income, project finance, and real assets.
Research
10 January 2023

Conservation investment blueprints: A development guide

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
This guide outlines a comprehensive framework for developing and implementing conservation finance projects. It provides step-by-step instructions, best practices, and case studies to help project developers design, fund, and manage effective conservation initiatives. The guide aims to bridge the gap between conservation needs and financial investments.
Research
3 January 2018

Biodiversity finance reference guide

International Finance Corporation
This reference guide builds on the Green Bond Principles and Green Loan Principles as well as related resources, including the ICMA Handbook for Impact Reporting. It also aligns with targets in the recently adopted Global Biodiversity Framework. Both the Green Bond Principles and Green Loan Principles list biodiversity as an eligible use of proceeds. However, they do not provide a granular description of the types of projects that fit this category. The purpose of this reference guide is to address this gap and provide an indicative list of investment activities that contribute to protecting, maintaining, or enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services and sustainably managing living natural resources through the adoption of practices that integrate conservation needs and sustainable development.
Research
14 June 2023

Assessment of biodiversity measurement approaches for business and financial institutions: Update report 4 (2022)

European Commission
This document is designed to support businesses with navigating various biodiversity measurement approaches currently available. A navigating wheel and classification system has been developed to support interpretation.
Research
9 December 2022

Business for Nature

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Business for Nature is a global coalition uniting over 100 business and conservation organisations, along with forward-thinking companies. It promotes credible corporate action and advocates for ambitious governmental policies to establish a nature-positive economy by 2030.
Organisation
3 research items

Nature starter: Practical steps to integrate nature into business strategy (By CEOs, for CEOs)

NatSTART is a toolkit being developed by the Climate Leaders Coalition to support businesses to scope out and screen for nature-related risks. It is designed to support firms to integrate nature into their business strategies, starting with locating their interface with nature. It Provides guidelines for integrating biodiversity and climate considerations into business and policy decisions.
Research
29 November 2023

Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit (SPOTT) 

SPOTT supports the finance sector and supply chain stakeholders to manage ESG risks through transparency assessments of soft commodity producers and traders. It helps evaluate ESG practices of companies, guiding responsible investment decisions.
Online tool/database
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