Library | Sustainable Finance Practices
Impact measurement and verification
Resources for developing metrics and frameworks to measure, monitor, implement and verify the environmental, social, and financial impacts of investments.
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Driving improvements in modern slavery reporting: The role for Australian investors
Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 (MSA) was intended to create a race to the top among Australian companies in addressing modern slavery disclosure. The response from corporate Australia is lagging, however. This research on disclosures under the MSA identifies three key gaps in S&P/ASX 300 modern slavery reporting and performance.
The missing middles: Segmenting enterprises to better understand their financial needs
Small and growing businesses (SGBs) have significant and positive impact on emerging and frontier markets. This report proposes a new segmentation framework to help service providers, enterprises, donors, limited partners (LPs) and field-building organisations understand and navigate the complex landscape of SGB investment in frontier and emerging markets.
A legal framework for impact: Sustainability impact in investor decision-making
The report examines whether laws within eleven diverse jurisdictions support institutional investors in pursuing sustainability outcomes, while at the same time earning a financial return. It discusses options available to policymakers for legal reform in order to facilitate investing for sustainability impact.
New nature economy report II: The future of nature and business
This report provides an applicable agenda for businesses to contribute to the development of practical roadmaps that address the most important drivers of nature loss and build a nature-positive future. It is the second part of a three-part New Nature Economy Report series.
Corruption risks and ESG screening of mining investments: How corruption affects environmental, social, governance (ESG) outcomes in mining and what investors need to do to guard their investments
This discussion paper identifies the manner in which corruption affects ESG outcomes of mining companies and details specific methods of evaluating/calculating a mining company ‘exposure to risk. Strategies of response that investors can take to drive sustainable and responsible business practices within mining firms are also outlined within the report.
A research and learning agenda for the impact of financial inclusion
There is consistent evidence of financial services contributing to improved well-being, yet the influence of contextual factors is largely unknown. The theory of change framework identifies several knowledge gaps that funders/researchers can address to develop a more accurate prediction of when financial inclusion policy will generate positive wellbeing outcomes.
Finance and biodiversity: Overview of initiatives for financial institutions
In collaboration with international organisations, the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge has developed an overview of the main biodiversity-related initiatives currently targeting financial institutions. The Overview features a summary of twelve major initiatives and defines its key activities, collaboration, delivery, and goals it aims to achieve.
Getting physical: Scenario analysis for assessing climate-related risks
There has been a gap between understanding climate change and the implications it has for finance and the broader economy. This paper provides insight into scenario analysis - using data and climate science to provide more transparency on their financial risks in the medium and long term.
Investing for impact: Operating principles for impact management
The report describes nine principles for managing and measuring investments that seek to achieve a positive social or environmental impact. The principles may be implemented through different impact management systems and are designed to be fit for purpose for a range of institutions and funds.
Factory farming in Asia: Assessing investment risks
Asia's meat, dairy, and seafood industries are increasingly vulnerable to risks with the potential to damage returns. This report analyses twelve Asia-Pacific markets identifying five areas of risk including food safety and nutrition, public health, environment, animal welfare and labour standards. Each area of risk includes key questions for investors.
How ESG issues become financially material to corporations and their investors
This working paper advances a framework that illustrates how environment, social and governance (‘ESG’) issues become financially material and impact on company and industry valuation. The framework comprises five stages of the pathways to materiality.
How to report on the SDGs: What good looks like and why it matters
Corporate action towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be fundamental to achieve necessary progress. This report aims to guide corporations on how and why to report on the SDGs and gives an overview of current progress based on the top 250 global companies.
Winning without win-win? Recommendations on financial market strategies for biodiversity and nature
Expert recommendations for investors regarding financial market strategies to address urgent risks in biodiversity and nature, including examples of meaningful market actions and critique of 'win-win' thinking in investment decision-making. Recommendations drawn from a private cross-sectoral dialogue hosted by Preventable Surprises in February 2021.
The impact principle: Widening participation and deepening practice for impact investment at scale
Developed from the contributions of The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG) working group and case studies, this report aims to accelerate and scale impact investment. Split into two sections, the first explores priorities for action to drive positive impact and the second assists actors to translate the priorities into action.
Climate-related risk scenarios for the 2050s: Exploring plausible futures for aquaculture and fisheries in New Zealand
Adopting an organisational risk lens, this report explores the potential extent and interconnectedness of climate-related impacts to New Zealand Fisheries through two, alternate scenarios (reflecting 2ºC and 4ºC of global warming) set in the year 2050. The report aims to support strategic decision making about sustainable utilisation of New Zealand's ocean resources.
Sustainability: The bond that endures - Tools and insights for ESG investing in fixed income
BlackRock considers four key areas for environmental, social and governance (ESG) in fixed income: sustainable building blocks such as ESG indexes, a lens for considering the sustainability of government bond issuers, the financial relevance/materiality of ESG characteristics across different industries, and how to build sustainable portfolios using fixed income.