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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Climate change and economics 101: Teaching the greatest market failure

This report analyses 27 introductory economics textbooks used in the US that cover micro and macroeconomics to assess their treatment of climate change. Authors find limited coverage in texts and that most texts relate climate change to the negative externality of carbon emissions. Market solutions such as cap-and-trade and carbon taxes are recommended.
Research
4 March 2019

Higher cost of finance exacerbates a climate investment trap in developing economies

This study investigates how different weighted average cost of capital (WACC) assumptions impact decarbonisation pathways for developing economies. The results demonstrate the disproportionate impact of high capital costs between regions, with green electricity production potentially 35% lower in Africa, increasing the risk of a climate investment trap.
Research
30 June 2021

Water risks and financial market: Overview and analysis

South Pole Carbon
This report explores water risks and opportunities in the financial sector. It provides an overview of tools and approaches to assess water risks, identifies potential actions to align with international water goals, and calls for greater integration of water considerations into financial decision-making.

Research
18 May 2018

Women decision makers: How can more capital reach women decision makers in emerging markets?

Value For Women
This report explores the barriers preventing women fund managers from receiving capital, particularly local, diverse women. The report outlines recommendations and tools for investors to better support women decision makers.
Research
26 July 2023

Measuring what matters most: Seven systems transformations for benchmarking companies on the SDGs

World Benchmarking Alliance
This report provides guidance on developing benchmarks to transform systems towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies seven critical transformations: social, agriculture and food, decarbonisation and energy, circular, digital, urban, and financial systems. These benchmarks aim to hold companies accountable and drive meaningful change across industries to support sustainable development.
Research
15 July 2019

Future of waste

UBS
This report examines the future of waste reduction, the environmental and financial impacts of waste, and investment opportunities in waste management globally. The report provides regional, country, and sector insights on companies most affected by waste and ways for mainstream companies to proactively manage waste and pollution.
Research
24 February 2020

Transition risk framework: Managing the impacts of the low carbon transition on infrastructure investments

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
This report introduces a transition risk framework aiding investors and regulators in navigating risks and seizing opportunities in the low-carbon transition. It enhances comprehension of how transition risks impact financial performance in infrastructure investments, offering a transparent, adaptable, and robust methodology for assessing the financial implications of a shift towards a low-carbon economy.
Research
18 February 2019

The comprehensive business case for sustainability

Sustainable businesses redefine the corporate ecosystem by creating value for all stakeholders, including employees, shareholders, supply chains, civil society, and the planet. Managing sustainability risks requires making investment decisions today for longer-term capacity building and developing adaptive strategies. Significant cost reductions can result from improving operational efficiency, and sustainable companies deliver significant positive financial performance.
Research
21 October 2016

Opportunity NOCs: How investors can jumpstart energy transitions in national oil companies

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
This report outlines how national oil companies (NOCs) must begin decarbonising to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and how investors can influence and incentivise the energy transition. It shows that NOCs constitute half of the world’s oil and gas production and control two-thirds of global reserves, making them of great interest to investors.
Research
16 February 2023

The economic impact of ESG ratings

This report examines the impact of ESG ratings on fund holdings, stock returns, and firm behaviour. The study finds that only MSCI ESG ratings can explain the holdings of US ESG funds, and slow, gradual responses in ownership suggest that fund managers mainly use ESG ratings to comply with ESG mandates.
Research
15 January 2024

Unlocking investment capital for Indigenous Peoples

Indigeneous, Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC)
This paper tackles the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in accessing investment capital. It explores capital requirements and common barriers to obtaining the necessary funding, providing recommendations to fill gaps in access, provide support, and facilitate positive partnerships.
Research
12 May 2022

Summary for policymakers of the methodological assessment regarding the diverse conceptualisation of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services

This paper is on the diverse conceptualisations of multiple values of nature, its benefits, and the valuation of nature asserts that policymaking frequently ignores nature's assorted values, focusing on only a small subset, and details how diversity in valuation is salient but challenging.
Research
9 July 2022

A conceptualisation of sub-living wages: Liabilities, leverage, and risk

Harvard Business School
This report proposes an alternative approach for organisations to account for wages paid below the local living wage level through a firm's balance sheet, creating leverage effect as the organisation borrows from society, reflecting higher stakeholder risk. This can help investors, policymakers, customers, corporate managers and other stakeholders to assess an organisation's exposure to human capital erosion.
Research
15 June 2022

Amazonia against the clock: Regional assessment on where and how to protect 80% by 2025

Stand.earth
The report assesses the current state of the key priority areas in the Amazon and outlines the urgent actions that need to be taken to save the Amazon rainforest and mitigate climate change.
Research
15 September 2022

Indigenous business growth: Working together to realise potential

Supply Nation
This report says that increasing support for Indigenous businesses could, in turn, lead to prosperity for all Australians. A higher level of commitment and collaboration from both business and government is required. Challenges facing Indigenous businesses include start-up funding, skills and support systems and lack of demand for services.
Research
9 October 2018

Systemic interventions for decarbonisation: The business perspective

Nordic Sustainability
This report advocates for a systemic approach to accelerate rapid decarbonisation, positioning innovative businesses to win from driving such an approach. The report evaluates the associated theoretical high-level insights in the case of the decarbonisation of the light road transport sector, proposing a set of principles for decarbonisation and mindset shifts for business innovators and incumbents.
Research
1 November 2022
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