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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Australian material flow analysis to progress to a circular economy
This report provides a comprehensive material flow account for Australia in 2019 to support the assessment of its circular economy progress. The report highlights key areas where policy interventions can improve material intensity, resource efficiency, and waste minimisation. It also evaluates Australia's circularity indicators and performs well on three proposed indicators.
Developing a public private partnership approach to increase financial inclusion for modern slavery survivors in Mexico
This report provides insight into the development of a public-private partnership approach to increase financial access for modern slavery survivors in Mexico. The pilot intervention aims to improve financial inclusion of vulnerable populations, contributing to reducing and preventing trafficking and slavery.
Getting ahead of the curve on dynamic materiality: How U.S. investors can foster more inclusive capitalism
This discussion paper highlights tools and opportunities for US investors to foster sustainable and responsible value creation in order to support more inclusive and thriving economy. It also discusses the risks posed to portfolios by social and environmental risks and how diversified investors can mitigate them.
Transformational investment: Converting global systemic risks into sustainable returns
This report explores transformational investment while arguing that the global economy is under threat from long-term systemic risks. Rich Nuzum, President of Investments and Retirement at Mercer, called on institutional investors to help mitigate the risks through "long-term thinking" and "constructively tackling complicated problems".
Change finance, not the climate
This is a comprehensive and practical handbook by Transnational Institute and Institute for Policy Studies. This report outlines how to democratically marshal financial resources for a Global Green New Deal and to green the financial institutions by focusing on central banking, private banks, and financial markets towards tackling climate chaos.
Financing our future: Actions to scale up and accelerate the pace of change towards a more sustainable financial system
This report offers actionable recommendations to the world's finance sector. This report presents evidence on the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and outlines key actions for finance actors across numerous industries to advance toward a sustainable financial system.
Guidance for pursuing impact in listed equities: The GIIN's listed equities working group
This paper provides guidance for impact investors to achieve positive outcomes in public markets through listed equities. This report offers key concepts, practical recommendations, and examples for managing listed equity portfolios. Investors will find insights for developing impact strategies that deliver measurable social and environmental impact and financial returns.
Why circular business models fail and what to do about it: A preliminary framework and lessons learned from a case in the European Union
Circular business models fail to scale due to cultural, regulatory, economic, and technical barriers. This report proposes a preliminary empirical framework for linking circular business models to specific barriers and offers four lessons for managerial strategies.
Investing in influence: Investors, portfolio firms, and political giving
Increased institutional ownership of US corporations has led to a discussion about the benefits and risks of asset management companies in control. This paper examines whether the political preferences of institutional investors affect the political contributions of portfolio firms. The results suggest that a large acquisition by an investor is associated with increased political giving by both the investor and acquired firm.
The climate benefits of plastic waste management in India and Southeast Asia: Investing in waste management and recycling solutions in India and Southeast Asia could reduce GHG emissions by 229 million tonnes by 2030
The Circulate Initiative's GHG calculator indicates that improved waste management and recycling could reduce GHG emissions by 229 million tonnes by 2030. Mismanaged plastic waste rates in six Southeast Asian countries range from 50% to 75%. This sector is crucial for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, attracting climate-focused investors.
Road to resilience: An investor action plan for an adaptive and sustainable economy
This paper presents a strategy to manage economic and environmental stability in response to physical climate risks. This aims to bring awareness and understanding of physical climate risks and highlights the importance of innovative solutions toward a sustainable low-carbon economy.
Queensland social enterprise strategy
The Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy is a government initiative designed to drive economic and social growth through job creation, improved market access, and making connections in the social enterprise sector. The strategy highlights key areas of focus and outlines a range of actions to help Queensland social enterprises flourish.
Insurance regulation for sustainable development: Protecting human rights against climate risks and natural hazards
This report argues that insurance regulation has a critical role to play in protecting human rights against climate risk and natural hazards. Among its recommendations, the report calls for the proper pricing of climate risks, broader coverage from insurance, and the alignment of investments with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
FERC's failure to analyze energy market forces: Risks to ratepayers, landowners and the overall economy
This report shows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is failing to analyse vital energy market forces that should underpin assessment of new interstate gas pipelines. The research shows FERC’s decisions regarding these pipelines can impose unjustified costs on captive customers in the form of expensive and long-term contracts, and harm landowners and the wider economy.
The Ramsey discounting formula for a hidden-state stochastic growth process
The paper highlights how the choice of an appropriate discount rate is a critical issue in economics, and arguably more so for projects involving long time horizons. In particular, environmental projects and activities whose effects will be felt in the future pose significant challenges. The paper models such challenges as an evolving hidden-state stochastic process.
The material footprint of nations
This research paper explores consumption-based indicators of resource use, asserting that developed countries have increased the use of natural resources at a slower rate than economic growth, but this is untrue. Material Footprint (MF) uncovers the full material requirements of nations, offering insights into actual resource productivity.