Library | Sustainable Finance Practices
Fixing financial and economic systems
Resources aimed at transforming financial and economic systems to prioritise human well-being, equity, and environmental sustainability. These resources include tools, networks, and guidance on systemic changes such as systems thinking, degrowth, green growth, doughnut economics, decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, and adhering to limits to growth.
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Investing in the green economy: Sizing the opportunity
This paper emphasises the capacity of the green economy in meeting environmental objectives in decision-making processes. FTSE Russell advocate data as crucial to investors to monitor industry and company-specific contributions to the economy and to assess opportunities in new green products and services.
Healthy competition: Why the safest bet for investors is healthier retail markets and how to get there
This second briefing report explores ShareAction’s Healthy Markets campaign, featuring the UK food retailers most exposed to the childhood obesity agenda. The brief is designed to inform and support investor stewardship and company engagement through an analysis of their disclosure policies and practices for healthy eating.
A banker's guide to transforming finance
This report focuses on the perceived purpose-gap in the banking sector wherein banks are not fulfilling their role to create positive economic, social and environmental outcomes. Filling this gap requires leveraging ‘systemic intrapreneurs’ within organisations to holistically shift banking strategy.
Strengthening financial resilience among rural and refugee communities in Rwanda
United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has improved financial inclusion, through implementing its Expanding Financial Access and Digital and Financial Literacy (REFAD) program in Rwanda, and by working with local partners to help cater digital financial solutions and improve financial literacy for rural and refugee communities.
Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action
Elinor Ostrom examines the management of common-pool resources such as rivers, bridges and grazing areas. Ostrom discusses the ‘tragedy of the commons’ and environmental, economic and social threats to common-pool resources. Ostrom applies political and economic theory and policy literature to discuss potential solutions and challenge conventional approaches.
Transition risks and market failure: a theoretical discourse on why financial models and economic agents may misprice risk related to the transition to a low-carbon economy
The paper has a theoretical focus and looks at the risks associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy. It looks to highlight externalities that may not be factored into risk models. It concludes in favour of a case of policy intervention and more sophisticated modelling to counter potential market failures.
Women on boards and the human capital connection
Companies with a gender diverse board and stronger talent management practices enjoyed higher growth in employee productivity compared to companies with a diverse board only or with strong talent management practices only. Companies with mostly male boards and lagging talent management practices had the lowest rates of employee productivity growth.
The emergence of foreseeable biodiversity-related liability risks for financial institutions: A gathering storm?
This report proposes a framework for financial institutions to consider biodiversity-related liability risks in their broader assessment of financial risks associated with biodiversity. Understanding the potential of liability risks will help financial institutions identify, price and mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of biodiversity-related risks.
The green swan: Central banking and financial stability in the age of climate change
Reviews new ways central banks can address the risk climate change poses to financial stability. To avoid "green swan" risks, central banks should develop forward-looking scenario-based analysis to understand climate-related risk and coordinate with other major players to develop and integrate climate mitigation policies at the international level.
Providing decent work for young workers, parents and caregivers
Provides guidance for companies to fulfil their responsibility to support the decent work of young workers, parents and caregivers across their supply chains. Includes a case study on IKEA’s approach to supporting children’s rights and a second case study on Wipro’s approach to gender diversity.
Indigenous investment principles
This investment framework is for Indigenous organisations with accumulated capital. It outlines principles that empower local organisations to take control of their financial assets. It guides thinking about the purpose, governance and investment of financial resources to better protect interests for current and future generations, particularly for culture and heritage.
Universal circular economy policy goals: Enabling the transition to scale
As industries and governments move towards the circular economy, clear and aligned direction is needed for a rapid transition to scale. This paper proposes five universal policy goals that can help governments build healthier economic recoveries and lower the costs of transition for businesses across sectors.
Unlocking Australia's sustainable finance potential
Recommendations on actions by Australian Government and finance sector for unlocking the potential of sustainable finance in Australia. The basis of these recommendations are the European Union's Action Plan on sustainable finance that was adopted by the European Commission in March 2018 and the likelihood of their success in Australia.
Relationship-to-profit: A theory of business, markets, and profit for social ecological economics
Supporting post-growth transformation, this doctoral thesis posits a new theory: relationship-to-profit theory. This explains the social and ecological implications of how businesses relate to profit, and argues that for economies to be sustainable businesses and markets should treat profit as a means rather than an end-in-itself.
Hitting the sweet spot: The investment case for solutions to childhood obesity
This report discusses the growing cost to society posed by rising rates of obesity in children and adults. It identifies risks and opportunities for investors created by shifting trends in the food and beverage markets, driven by evolving consumer demands and regulatory changes.
The future of tobacco stocks: a scenario analysis
This report identifies drivers of change within the tobacco industry and the potential risk factors that may arise as a result. The report conducts a scenario analysis that maps out three potential outcomes for the industry and the relative impact on the share price of the world’s largest tobacco companies.
