Library | Sustainable Finance Practices

Fixing financial and economic systems

Resources focused on transforming financial and economic systems to prioritise human well-being, equity, and environmental sustainability. Includes systemic change models such as degrowth, green growth, doughnut economics, and limits to growth.

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Prepare or pay: Counting the cost of climate-fuelled bushfires

Emergency Leaders for Climate Action
This report quantifies the economic burden of climate-fuelled bushfires in Australia, projecting an average annual cost of $6 billion. It examines how climate change intensifies fire weather and provides recommendations for federal investment in preparedness, community resilience, and the rapid reduction of coal, oil, and gas pollution.
Research
21 October 2026

Upgrading financial markets

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
This field experiment in rural Sierra Leone evaluates upgrading Village Savings and Loan Associations into digital financial service agents. While infrastructure expands access, introducing consumer feedback mechanisms significantly improves service quality, transaction usage, and household shock mitigation. Results demonstrate that accountability is essential for developing functional, scalable financial markets.
Research
9 October 2026

Chokepoint disruptions and their macroeconomic consequences

Bank for International Settlements
This report examines the macroeconomic consequences of global supply chain chokepoint disruptions. It finds that rising geopolitical tensions threaten critical nodes, causing significant output losses and price pressures. While substitution and inventories mitigate impacts, policy responses must consider a disruption's centrality and the private sector's capacity to adjust.
Research
15 October 2026

Pricing power in the mortgage market: Evidence from GSE fee waivers

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
This research examines GSE fee waivers for lower-income first-time homebuyers, revealing that lenders pass through less than 40% of these savings. Intermediaries captured over 60% of the $1.5 billion benefit. High-cost loan officers and non-banks show the lowest pass-through, highlighting significant market power and search frictions.
Research
15 October 2026

Asset manager capture

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)
This research examines "reverse capture", where government actors pressure large asset managers to advance political agendas. It analyses how expanding presidential power and market concentration enable this dynamic, using the ESG retreat as an illustration. The authors recommend narrowing fiduciary duties to insulate investment stewardship from political interference.
Research
28 August 2026

Renewable electrification as a means of transitioning away from fossil fuels: From commitment to implementation at COP31

Germanwatch
This report evaluates renewable-based electrification as a pillar for transitioning away from fossil fuels. It proposes the ‘35 by 35’ target, analyses progress in five key countries, and outlines action priorities for COP31. The focus is on integrating renewables, efficiency, and equitable finance to accelerate global decarbonisation.
Research
7 September 2026

Breaking the bottleneck: How advance market commitments can bridge the supply-demand gap in recycled materials

The Circulate Initiative
This research evaluates advance market commitments to bridge the supply-demand imbalance for recycled materials. It identifies opportunities in mixed plastic, textile waste, and paper-based alternatives, advocating for binding financial agreements to incentivise investment in recycling capacity and support global sustainability targets.
Research
1 September 2026

Facing backlash and derailment risks: Building capacities for navigating transformations to sustainability and justice in turbulent times

This research article identifies three backlash archetypes that threaten to derail sustainability and justice transformations during critical transition phases. To navigate these risks, the authors propose developing three transformative capacities: harnessing hope and imagination, hospicing with dignity, and enabling radical collaboration while holding paradoxes.
Research
22 July 2026

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026

United Nations (UN)
This 2026 report evaluates global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It reveals that only 36 per cent of targets are on track, with progress hindered by financing gaps and climate crises. The document also highlights the critical role of data and AI in future monitoring.
Research
5 August 2026

Charting the path: Foundations for a scalable First Nations investment market in Australia

Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)
This research outlines foundations for a scalable First Nations investment market in Australia. It identifies systemic barriers and proposes a theory of change focused on representation, systems alignment, and capital flows. The report recommends embedding cultural authority into governance and utilising blended finance to support First Nations economic self-determination.
Research
30 November 2025

Ocean investment protocol: A multi-stakeholder plan to enable funding for the sustainable ocean economy

United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
This report outlines a multi-stakeholder framework to accelerate funding for a sustainable ocean economy. It provides specific recommendations for financial institutions, insurers, and governments to manage systemic risks and mobilise the estimated one trillion dollars in additional finance required by 2030 to meet global climate and biodiversity targets.
Research
14 September 2026

Financing Nature: A mid-decade update: From isolated progress to implementation at scale

The Nature Conservancy
This report updates the global biodiversity financing landscape, identifying a US$1.317 trillion annual funding gap. It highlights that nature-negative flows reach US$7.3 trillion annually. Key recommendations include urgent subsidy reform, scaling nature-based solutions, and leveraging technological innovation to transition from isolated progress to large-scale implementation.
Research
24 September 2026

Putting climate coalitions into practice: A common framework for balancing competitiveness and equity

Global Climate Policy Project at Harvard and MIT
This technical report proposes a framework for international climate coalitions, focusing on emissions-intensive industries such as steel and aluminium. Modelling indicates that coordinated carbon price floors could reduce annual emissions by up to 584 million metric tons. It introduces an 'effective carbon cost' metric to balance global competitiveness and equity.
Research
10 September 2026

Green trade, regional value chains and new partnerships for cooperation: Accelerating green industrialisation through partnerships with a focus on Africa

ODI Global
This briefing paper examines how green trade and regional value chains can accelerate African industrialisation. It outlines opportunities within the AfCFTA and the African Green Industrialisation Initiative, emphasising the need for de-risking instruments, institutional capacity building, and new partnership frameworks to align international capital with Africa’s sustainable development goals.
Research
22 February 2026

Collaboration in action: How to collectively work towards systems change

Impact Europe
This report examines how diverse capital providers collaborate to achieve systems change. It identifies catalytic capital as a pivotal tool for de-risking investments and mobilising private funds. Key findings highlight the necessity of trust, long-term partnerships, and shared metrics to overcome structural barriers and address the $4 trillion SDG financing gap.
Research
16 January 2026

Financial and economic returns to investing in One Health: Evidence and future directions

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
This research examines the financial case for investing in One Health to mitigate global health threats. It highlights how integrated approaches reduce costs and improve efficiencies. Through various global case studies, the report demonstrates significant economic returns and provides a strategic blueprint for future sustainable investment.
Research
6 November 2026
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