Library | Sustainable Finance Practices

Laws and regulations

Resources outlining governmental policies and legislation that govern sustainable finance, focusing on mandatory requirements to drive sustainable practices and manage risks.

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Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits

United Nations Environment Programme
The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity, aiming to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources. It enhances legal certainty and transparency for providers and users of these resources, promoting sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity while respecting traditional knowledge and contributing to global environmental and development goals.
Research
22 January 2011

Corporate sustainability reporting directive 2024

&Bloom
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) introduces phased sustainability reporting for entities from 2025, using European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Key requirements include double materiality assessments, mandatory disclosure in management reports, assurance processes, and compliance roadmaps. Businesses must integrate financial and sustainability reporting to align with evolving EU regulations.
Research
27 August 2024

Australian sustainability reporting standards 2024

&Bloom
The 2024 Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) mandates phased sustainability reporting, starting in 2026. It introduces mandatory climate-related disclosures (AASB S2) alongside voluntary general sustainability disclosures (AASB S1). Key preparatory steps include materiality assessments, gap analysis, and compliance roadmaps, with assurance transitioning from limited to reasonable by 2030.
Research
14 October 2024

Broken promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia’s Modern Slavery Act

Australian Human Rights Institute
This report reviews corporate compliance with Australia's Modern Slavery Act's requirements. Findings reveal limited progress, with many companies failing to address mandatory reporting criteria and fulfil commitments to tackle modern slavery risks. The report urges stronger oversight, due diligence, and legal consequences to shift responses from policy statements to actionable measures that effectively protect vulnerable workers.
Research
17 November 2022

The new disclosure landscape - Comparing sustainability standards and regulations: ESRS, IFRS S1/S2, SEC Climate Rule, and CA SB 253/261

ERM SustainAbility Institute
This report compares major sustainability disclosure regulations, including the ESRS, IFRS S1/S2, SEC Climate Rule, and California’s SB 253/261. It provides an overview of their scope, implementation timelines, reporting requirements, and penalties, helping companies understand the complex landscape and align disclosures across multiple frameworks to reduce compliance burdens and enhance transparency.
Research
16 September 2024

Climate Change Laws of the World tool

Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
The Climate Change Laws of the World tool offers a comprehensive database of climate legislation and policies from across the globe. It provides finance professionals with access to legal frameworks and regulations that impact investment decisions, promoting informed, sustainable finance practices in alignment with climate-related goals.
Online tool/database

Pension fund trustees and fiduciary duties: Decision-making in the context of sustainability and the subject of climate change

The report discusses the legal duties of pension fund trustees, especially in the context of sustainability and climate change. It highlights how trustees must balance financial risks and returns while incorporating long-term sustainability. The paper provides guidance for trustees to navigate fiduciary duties, including the implications of climate-related factors on investment decisions.
Research
6 February 2024

OpenSecret's federal lobbying tool

OpenSecrets' Federal Lobbying tool offers insights into lobbying activities within the US government. It tracks spending by companies, industries, and interest groups, providing finance professionals with data on how lobbying efforts may influence legislation and policy, helping inform decision-making on regulatory and governance issues.
Online tool/database

An innovation pathway to decarbonization: Circular economy solutions for policymakers and industry in the US

Ellen MacArthur Foundation
The US has a significant opportunity to decarbonise its industrial sector and boost its economy by transitioning to a circular economy. This report explores the economic and environmental benefits of circular solutions in key industries, such as batteries, construction, and electronics. It also analyses current US policies that support a circular economy and provides recommendations for further policy interventions to accelerate this transition.
Research
23 April 2024

Is CSRD working for financial institutions? A look into how CSRD is being rolled out across the financial sector

Nordic Sustainability
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), an ambitious EU regulation, demands increased transparency from financial institutions (FIs). Challenges include lack of sector-specific guidance and data collection difficulties. Despite the focus on reporting, FIs must use CSRD strategically to align financing with sustainability goals and ensure long-term compliance.
Research
16 April 2024

Is regulation enough? A review of UK master trusts' ESG policies

ShareAction
This report explores the approach to climate change risk by UK's largest master trusts. It examines 16 master trusts' ESG policies and practices, focusing on the work of the trustees and their engagement with investee companies on ESG practices and risk management. The report draws attention to some positive developments, showing that some schemes have incorporated ESG and/or climate change factors into their asset allocation strategy.
Research
19 December 2019

Sustainable finance forum: Legal opinion 2019

The Aotearoa Circle
This report, and legal opinion, lays out the current legal obligations on directors of New Zealand companies and retail managed investment schemes to address climate risks. It finds that these obligations are evolving and expanding, driven by the growing recognition of the material financial risk climate change presents for businesses.
Research
29 October 2019

Climate emergency – tipping the odds in our favour: A climate-change policy briefing for COP27

Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)
This paper is a policy briefing for COP27 which presents potential solutions for stabilizing the climate, assessing the level of risk inherent in the current approach to climate change, and explores how society can accelerate climate action. It uses a risk-management approach to assess how climate change is being managed.
Research
4 November 2022

Climate change: Legal implications for Canadian pension plan fiduciaries and policy-makers

McCarthy Tétrault
This report outlines the legal obligations of Canadian pension plan fiduciaries to consider the financial risks and opportunities presented by climate change in their investments. It provides practical guidance, based on recent case law and expert recommendations, for fiduciaries to fulfill their responsibilities to plan beneficiaries.
Research
27 May 2021

Bridging ESG silos: The intersection of climate change and modern slavery

Walk Free
This briefing for investors examines the intersection of climate change and modern slavery. It details how environmental and social risks are interconnected and can materially affect a company's long-term profitability. The report provides case studies and tools to help investors identify, assess, and respond to these risks in their portfolios.
Research
28 September 2023

Beyond compliance in the renewable energy sector: Assessing UK and Australian Modern Slavery Act statements

Walk Free
This report assesses the statements of 60 renewable energy companies under the UK and Australian Modern Slavery Acts, identifying their compliance gaps. Though most firms disclose their modern slavery policy, few extend it beyond tier one, limiting worker protection. The report calls for improved guidance, supply chain transparency, and stronger government enforcement measures.
Research
20 September 2023
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