Reference library
Insights
Concise references on energy, the transition, climate risk, disclosure, and sustainable finance — carried over from the ESG Advising library and maintained under MJW Energy Advisory.
118 insights
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingSocial
SASB General Issue Category: Social Capital
SASB General Issue Category: Social Capital, including Human Rights & Community Relations, Customer Privacy, etc.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
Microsoft turns to underground waste storage to offset AI's carbon toll
Microsoft has signed a long-term deal with Vaulted Deep to purchase carbon credits in an effort to offset emissions from its growing fleet of AI data centers. Vaulted's specialty? Human feces – or "excess organic material," as the official press release delic…
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
UK Green Taxonomy Dies As Sustainability Regulations Face Global Pushback
HM Treasury announced they will not create a UK Green Taxonomy to define what actions are considered green, climate friendly, or other sustainability related claims.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
EPA Endangerment Finding
The 2009 EPA Endangerment Finding declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health and welfare, forming the legal basis for U.S. climate regulation under the Clean Air Act.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
EPA Endangerment Finding
The 2009 EPA Endangerment Finding declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health and welfare, forming the legal basis for U.S. climate regulation under the Clean Air Act.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationGovernance
Most Important KPIs for US Asset Managers
A comprehensive ESG investing dashboard should track portfolio carbon intensity, ESG integration, voting records, climate risk, sustainable offerings, diversity, engagement outcomes, and social and environmental impact to meet regulatory expectations and drive long-term value creation.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
The Hidden ESG Risks of Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) operate at the financial heart of the U.S. prescription drug system, yet their opaque practices introduce significant ESG risks—especially regarding access to medicine, pricing transparency, and ethical governance. As regulators and standards bodies press for more accountability, stakeholders must consider PBMs' impact when disclosing under IFRS S1/S2, SASB, and GRI frameworks.
- Regulatory & ComplianceEnvironmental
What are the major factors facing PBMs
PBMs were intended to be cost-saving intermediaries, but their current structure incentivizes profit-maximizing behavior that often comes at the expense of patients, employers, and pharmacies. A growing body of evidence shows that PBM practices contribute to rising drug costs, reduced access, and market distortions. While some reforms are underway, systemic changes—including pricing transparency, realignment of incentives, and enhanced regulation—are essential to protect the public from ongoing abuses.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
ESG Data Management
Establish comprehensive data collection, validation, and management systems to ensure accurate, reliable, and timely ESG performance measurement and stakeholder reporting.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
IRA Repeal Impacts
S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis reveals that repealing the Inflation Reduction Act would reduce US solar, wind, and battery capacity by 13-15% while increasing gas generation by 16%, cutting CO₂ emissions progress from 20% to just 11% below 2022 levels by 2035. Regional impacts vary dramatically: Texas uniquely benefits with lower energy prices, Florida suffers the worst outcomes with most renewables becoming uneconomical due to no renewable mandates, California faces the largest price increases, and New York must compensate for lost offshore wind capacity. The key finding is that states with strong Renewable Portfolio Standards fare much better than those relying on market economics alone, proving federal tax credits are crucial for clean energy deployment.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Carbon Earnings at Risk
"Carbon earnings at risk" refers to the potential financial losses a company could face due to its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a world where carbon is priced—either through carbon taxes, emissions trading systems (ETS), or regulatory penalties. It’s a form of transition risk under the broader category of climate-related financial risks (as outlined by the TCFD and increasingly by IFRS S2).
- Regulatory & ComplianceGovernance
First-Time Reporting Timeline for CSRD
Updated 2025 CSRD reporting timeline delays compliance for most companies until FY2028. This phased implementation supports SMEs and non-EU companies with extended preparation windows.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Permitted Reporting Exemptions Under CSRD
Updated CSRD guidance reduces scope by 80% and postpones reporting deadlines to FY2028. Introduces voluntary SME standards and simplified assurance rules.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
Updated in 2025, the CSRD now applies only to companies with 1,000+ employees, with reporting deadlines deferred to FY2028 for most. It introduces voluntary SME reporting, simplified ESRS, and digital sustainability taxonomies.
- Sustainable FinanceEnvironmental
Financed Emissions Example
Use emissions intensity to allocate emissions to Scope 3 Category 15.
- Sustainable FinanceEnvironmental
Financed Emissions
Scope3 Financed Emissions: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with a company's investments, lending, and financial activities, particularly in the context of their portfolio companies. Emissions Allocation: The process of assigning emissions to a specific lender or investor based on their exposure to a portfolio company's emissions.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
Navigating the New Era of ESG Reporting: From Voluntary to Mandatory
The landscape of ESG reporting is undergoing a fundamental transformation. What began as voluntary sustainability reporting has rapidly evolved into a complex ecosystem of mandatory disclosure requirements across major markets.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Methane
Methane is a simple hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH₄. It’s made up of: 1 carbon (C) atom 4 hydrogen (H) atoms
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
What is Nuclear Fusion?
Fusion is the process of combining two or more atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. It is the same process that powers stars, including our Sun, and is considered one of the most promising sources of clean and virtually limitless energy.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
What Are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a type of nuclear reactor that are designed to be smaller, more flexible, and often more cost-effective than traditional large-scale nuclear power plants.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
What is Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear energy is a type of energy that is generated by harnessing the power of atomic reactions. It's a way to produce electricity without burning fossil fuels like coal, gas, or oil.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) Scope Considerations
Understand which companies fall under the CSRD after the 2025 simplifications, including new thresholds, reporting deadlines, and expanded scope for non-EU operations.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Overview of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) are a set of comprehensive guidelines created to support the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Emission Factors for Scope 2 Market-Based Method
The Scope 2 Market-Based Method for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions focuses on using emission factors that reflect the specific electricity purchases of an organization, rather than using the average emissions from the local grid (which is the approach for the Location-Based Method).
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Primary Climate Hazards
Primary climate hazards are extreme weather events and environmental changes intensified by climate change, posing significant risks to ecosystems, human health, and infrastructure.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Reducing Emissions at the Wellhead: The Role of Multiphase Pumps in Cleaner Oil and Gas Production
Unlock efficient CO₂ and methane reduction with multiphase pumps—innovative tech for a cleaner oil and gas future.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
International Methane Emissions Observatory
Reducing methane emissions is the single fastest way to slow global warming as we decarbonize, but the world needs empirical data to enable climate action at scale. UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) is harnessing this methane data revolution by putting open, reliable, and actionable data directly into the hands of individuals with the power to reduce emissions.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
The Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0
The Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) is the United Nations Environment Programme’s flagship oil and gas reporting and mitigation programme. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas industry that improves the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
How a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Works
A hydrogen fuel cell is a device that converts hydrogen into electricity through a chemical reaction, with water and heat as the only byproducts. It is a clean energy technology that can power vehicles, buildings, and even portable devices without emitting harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
The Latest Dirty Word in Corporate America: ESG
Many companies no longer utter these three letters: E-S-G. Following years of simmering investor backlash, political pressure and legal threats over environmental, social and governance efforts, a number of business leaders are now making a conscious effort to avoid the once widely used acronym for such initiatives.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
Measuring Double Materiality: Focus on Water Impact
Hypothetical beverage company called "FreshDrink Co." Financial materiality (impact on the company): Climate change is causing water scarcity in regions where FreshDrink Co. sources its water. This scarcity could lead to increased water costs and potential supply disruptions, directly affecting the company's financial performance and long-term viability. Environmental and social materiality (impact of the company): FreshDrink Co.'s water usage in water-stressed areas may deplete local water resources, affecting the surrounding ecosystems and communities' access to clean water.
- ESG Ratings & RankingsGovernance
S&P Global CSA Score
The S&P Global CSA Score is the S&P Global ESG Score without the inclusion of any modeling approaches. The graphic below visualizes the CSA. The size of the segments reflects the financial materiality assigned at each level as well as the weight applied in the score aggregation process.
- ESG Ratings & RankingsStrategic
Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®)
The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed in 1999 by S&P Dow Jones Indices and MSCI. The GICS methodology aims to enhance the investment research and asset management process for financial professionals worldwide. It is the result of numerous discussions with asset owners, portfolio managers, and investment analysts around the world. It was designed in response to the global financial community’s need for accurate, complete, and standard industry definitions.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
ISO 37000 Governance of Organizations
ISO 37000:2021 Governance of organizations — Guidance provides organizations and their governing bodies the tools they need to govern well, enabling them to perform effectively while behaving ethically and responsibly.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Compliance vs. Voluntary Carbon Market
Carbon Markets: The compliance carbon market is regulated by laws that enforce emissions reductions, such as the EU ETS and California’s cap-and-trade program. Companies buy or sell carbon credits based on their emissions. The voluntary carbon market, driven by corporate net-zero goals, operates independently but is rapidly expanding. Transactions are increasingly conducted on digital exchanges, with blockchain technology playing a growing role in trading carbon credits.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Carbon Intensity Measures
Measures for carbon intensity can vary based on the industry and the specific focus of the measurement. Here are some of the most common measures for carbon intensity.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)
EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group) is an independent, non-profit organization that provides advice and support to the European Union (EU) on financial reporting and accounting matters.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
Texas’s 2021 Anti-ESG Law
Texas’s 2021 Anti-ESG Law and 2022 Blacklist refer to legislative and regulatory actions taken by the state of Texas to counteract what it views as discriminatory practices against the oil and gas industry by financial institutions that follow environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
Benchmarking ESG Peers
Benchmarking ESG peers enhances a company's sustainability efforts by identifying best practices, improving performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and increasing transparency.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Offshore Oil and Gas Decommissioning GOM
Oil and gas companies with offshore infrastructure must decommission it when it's no longer useful—by plugging wells and removing platforms within set deadlines. As of June 2023, more than 2,700 wells and 500 platforms were overdue for decommissioning in the Gulf of Mexico. Delays can increase environmental, safety, and financial risks. For example, delays could indicate that companies are in financial trouble and may leave the government to pay for decommissioning. The Department of the Interior only holds about $3.5 billion in bonds from companies to cover a potential cost of $40-$70 billion.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a proposed policy instrument designed to address the issue of carbon leakage in the European Union's (EU) climate change mitigation efforts.
- ESG Ratings & RankingsStrategic
CDP
CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts. The world’s economy looks to CDP as the gold standard of environmental reporting, with the richest and most comprehensive dataset on corporate and city action.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) are a set of standards developed under the mandate of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG). The ESRS aims to provide a unified framework for sustainability reporting within the European Union, enhancing the consistency, comparability, and reliability of sustainability information provided by companies.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
2020 UK Stewardship Code
The responsible allocation, management, and oversight of capital to create long-term value for clients and beneficiaries, leading to sustainable benefits for the economy, the environment, and society
- Regulatory & ComplianceGovernance
SEC Final Climate Disclosure Rule
The final rule adopted on March 6, 2024, requires public companies to disclose information in three key areas: (1) climate-related financial risks, (2) GHG emissions, and (3) any climate-related targets or transition plans.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
SEC Climate-Related Disclosures: Sunshine Meeting
Sunshine Meeting on Climate-Related Disclosures Announced by the SEC The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a Sunshine Meeting on Climate-Related Disclosures, which will be held on the SEC.gov website at 9:45 AM (ET) on Tuesday, March 6. This open meeting aims to discuss the SEC's ongoing efforts to enhance climate-related disclosures for publicly traded companies.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
IDD (Insurance Distribution Directive)
The IDD is about setting EU-wide rules for selling insurance products. It came into effect in October 2018.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II
MiFID II stands for the "Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II." It's a law in the European Union (EU) that regulates companies providing services linked to financial instruments (like stocks, bonds, units in collective investment schemes, and derivatives) and the places where those instruments are traded (like stock exchanges). Think of it as a set of rules to make financial markets more transparent, safe, and fair for everyone, especially for individual investors.
- ESG Ratings & RankingsGovernance
Bloomberg's ESG Disclosure Score
Bloomberg's ESG Disclosure Score is a rating system that measures the level of transparency and disclosure of a company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
ISSB and SASB - How Do They Fit Together
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) represent complementary facets of the global effort to standardize sustainability reporting. The ISSB provides a global baseline for sustainability and climate-related disclosures through its S1 and S2 standards, focusing on general sustainability issues and specific climate impacts, respectively. These standards aim to enhance transparency, consistency, and comparability in reporting across all sectors. SASB, now integrated under the IFRS Foundation alongside ISSB, complements this by offering industry-specific frameworks that identify material sustainability issues relevant to different sectors, providing detailed metrics for companies to measure and report their sustainability performance. Together, ISSB's broad principles and SASB's detailed industry guidance aim to streamline sustainability reporting, making it more relevant and actionable for stakeholders worldwide.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
The ESRS standards are reporting standards for sustainability within the EU. The ESRS standards are an integral part of the CSRD, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive of the European Parliament and the Council. This means that the ESRS reporting standards are mandatory. The adoption of the first set of 12 standards by the Commission is considered a significant step to promote sustainable practices and transparency in companies and to contribute to their comparability. This is because the new reporting requirements herald major changes in sustainability reporting and these will affect around 50,000 companies based in the EU. However, subsidiaries, branches abroad and companies that carry out a large part of their business activities in the EU area may also be indirectly affected, which is why the scope of impact can be significantly broader.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures
The objective of IFRS S2 is to require an entity to disclose information about its climate-related risks and opportunities that is useful to users of general-purpose financial reports in making decisions relating to providing resources to the entity.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information
IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information provides a set of disclosure requirements designed to enable companies to communicate to investors about the sustainability-related risks and opportunities they face over the short, medium, and long term.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT)
HM Treasury launched the Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) in April 2022 to develop the gold standard for private sector climate transition plans.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Integrated Reporting Framework
The Integrated Reporting Framework defines integrated reporting as ‘a process founded on integrated thinking that results in a periodic integrated report by an organisation about value creation over time and related communications regarding aspects of value creation.’
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Africa: Key Facts
Population (2022, World Bank) 1.3 billion GDP (2020, World Bank) 2.39 USD trillion CO2 Emission (2020, EDGAR) 1 384,72 Mton Electrification rate (2020, World Bank) 55.94 % Installed Renewable Energy Capacity (2021, IRENA) 55.2 GW
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE)
The Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE Scenario) is a normative scenario that shows a pathway for the global energy sector to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, with advanced economies reaching net zero emissions in advance of others.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR), often referred to as "negative emissions technologies," encompasses methods and technologies aimed at actively removing and sequestering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
SASB Taxonomy
The SASB Taxonomy was designed for companies to report their ESG information following SASB Standards in a structured, machine-readable data format (i.e., XBRL) to the investor and analyst community and other companies’ non-financial information users.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL)
eXtensible Business Reporting Language is an open international standard for digital business reporting. The SASB Taxonomy was designed for companies to report their ESG information following SASB Standards in a structured, machine-readable data format (i.e., XBRL) to the investor and analyst community and other companies’ non-financial information users.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
West Virginia v. EPA
The Supreme Court limited the EPA's power to regulate power plant emissions by striking down the Clean Power Plan due to lack of clear Congressional authorization, potentially impacting future climate change regulations and agency power in general.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
SFDR Article 8
An Article 8 Fund under SFDR is defined as “a Fund which promotes, among other characteristics, environmental or social characteristics, or a combination of those characteristics, provided that the companies in which the investments are made follow good governance practices.”
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Carbon Intensity
Carbon intensity refers to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced per unit of energy or economic output. It is a critical metric used to understand the environmental impact of various activities, sectors, or industries, and it helps to track progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions over time.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Sustainable aviation fuel is a type of jet fuel formulated to have a reduced impact on the environment compared to conventional jet fuels. The primary goal of developing SAFs is to minimize the carbon footprint of aviation, which is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable energy or from low-carbon power. It is a clean-burning fuel that produces no emissions when used. Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrical current. The electricity can be generated from solar, wind, or other renewable sources.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
Final Investment Decision
FID stands for Final Investment Decision. It's a key phase in the capital project planning process when the decision to make major financial commitments is taken. In energy, FID is the final step in determining whether to move forward with the construction of an infrastructure project. In exploration, FID costs are those directly related to the discovery of oil or another commodity.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
IFRS Foundation
The IFRS Foundation is a not-for-profit, public interest organization established to develop high-quality, understandable, enforceable, and globally accepted accounting and sustainability disclosure standards. Our Standards are developed by our two standard-setting boards, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and Ithe International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
Materiality
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) state that “information is material if omitting, misstating or obscuring it could reasonably be expected to influence the decisions that the primary users of general purpose financial statements make on the basis of those financial statements, which provide financial information about a specific reporting entity.”
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Scope 3 Emissions: Employee Drive to Work
The emissions resulting from employees driving to work generally fall under scope 3 emissions rather than scope 1 emissions.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Energy Return on Investment
Metric used to assess the energy efficiency and viability of an energy source or energy-producing process. EROI measures the ratio between the amount of usable energy acquired from a particular energy source and the amount of energy invested to obtain, produce, or harness that energy.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation
The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is a European regulation introduced to improve transparency in the market for sustainable investment products, to prevent greenwashing and to increase transparency around sustainability claims made by financial market participants. It imposes comprehensive sustainability disclosure requirements covering a broad range of environmental, social & governance (ESG) metrics at both entity- and product-level. The main provisions of the SFDR have been applicable as of 10 March 2021, with a statutory instrument known as a Delegated Act containing more precise disclosure standards yet to be adopted by the European Commission.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures
To develop and deliver a risk management and disclosure framework for organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks, with the ultimate aim of supporting a shift in global financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and toward nature-positive outcomes.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures–Metrics and Targets
Disclose the metrics and targets used to assess and manage relevant climate-related risks and opportunities.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures–Risk Management
Disclose the processes used by the company to identify, assess, and manage climate-related risks.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures–Strategy
Disclose the actual and potential impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities on the company’s businesses, strategy, and financial planning.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures - Governance
Disclose the company’s governance around climate-related risks and opportunities.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) part of IFRS
The Trustees of the IFRS Foundation announced the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) on 3 November 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow, following strong market demand for its establishment. The ISSB is developing—in the public interest—standards that will result in a high-quality, comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosures focused on the needs of investors and the financial markets.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Biodiversity
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variety of life on Earth. It includes the variety of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and other organisms as well as the variety of ecosystems in which they live.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes or power plants and storing them underground in geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, or deep geological formations.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Ammonia as a Fuel
Ammonia can be used as a fuel. It has a high energy content per unit of mass, and when burned, it produces only water and nitrogen gas as byproducts, which makes it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Blue Hydrogen
Blue hydrogen is a type of hydrogen produced from natural gas or other fossil fuels using a process called steam methane reforming (SMR), which involves reacting natural gas with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Net-zero Transition Plan
A net-zero transition plan is a roadmap for an organization to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero. A net-zero target means that the organization's emissions are equal to or less than the amount of emissions it removes from the atmosphere.
- Risk ManagementStrategic
Shared Socioeconomic Pathways
Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) are a set of scenarios that were developed to explore different possible futures of human society and their potential impacts on the Earth's environment and climate. They are used in conjunction with Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) to model how the Earth's climate may respond to different future socioeconomic conditions.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Representative Concentration Pathways
Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) are scenarios developed to explore future greenhouse gas emissions and their potential impacts on the Earth's climate. They are used as inputs to climate models to project how the Earth's climate may change in the coming decades and centuries.
- Risk ManagementStrategic
Integrated Assessment Models
Integrated assessment models (IAMs) are mathematical models that are used to study the interactions between the climate, the economy, and society. IAMs are used to assess the potential impacts of climate change on the economy, and to develop policies to mitigate climate change.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a United Nations body that was established in 1988. Its mandate is to provide policymakers with objective, scientific information on climate change, its impacts, and possible adaptation and mitigation options.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Net Zero
Net zero refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
Sustainability-linked Bonds
Sustainability-linked bonds are structured so that the issuer is incentivized to meet certain sustainability performance targets, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving worker safety, or increasing renewable energy usage.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
Sustainability Bonds
Sustainability bonds are a type of bond that finance projects with a positive environmental or social impact.
- Sustainable FinanceSocial
Social Bonds
A social bond is a type of debt instrument that is issued to finance social or community projects.
- Sustainable FinanceStrategic
Green Bonds
A green bond is a type of debt instrument that is issued to finance environmental or climate-related projects.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Anthropogenic Climate Change
Anthropogenic climate change refers to the phenomenon of climate change that is caused by human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Natural Capital
Natural capital refers to the natural resources and ecosystems that provide benefits to humans and the economy. These include air, water, soil, plants, animals, minerals, and energy resources that are used for various human activities and industries.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Nationally Determined Contributions
NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets are a mechanism that allows individuals, businesses, and governments to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in projects or activities that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The idea behind carbon offsets is that if an entity cannot reduce their emissions directly, they can compensate for their emissions by supporting projects that prevent or reduce GHG emissions in other parts of the world.
- Clean Energy & TransitionEnvironmental
Energy Transition
Energy transition refers to the global shift from using fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources to clean, renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass. The goal of the energy transition is to reduce the environmental impact of energy production and consumption and increase energy security and affordability.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Science Based Targets initiative
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets.
- Indigenous & Community RightsSocial
United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples
The United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the indigenous peoples' survival, dignity, and well-being. It also elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Durable Net Zero
Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in a way that is sustainable over the long term.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Climate Policy Initiative
CPI is an analysis and advisory organization with deep expertise in finance and policy. Our mission is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
The Investor Agenda
Draws on expertise from across the investor landscape to set out clearly joint expectations in four interlocking areas – corporate engagement, investment, policy advocacy, and investor disclosure.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Carbon Taxes
Carbon taxes, which impose a price per ton of CO2 emitted, have typically been favored by economists.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Climate Risks: Physical, Transition, Liability, Social and Financial
There are physical, transition, liability, and financial risks.
- Sustainable FinanceEnvironmental
The Global Energy Transition– Larry Fink, BlackRock
Investing for the long term requires taking a long-term view of what will impact returns, including demographics, government policy, technological advancements, and the transition to a low carbon economy.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
SASB General Issue Category: Leadership & Governance
SASB General Issue Category: Leadership & Governance including Business Ethics, etc.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
SASB Business General Issue: Model & Innovation
SASB Business General Issue Model & Innovation
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
SASB: Environment
Aspects include GHG Emissions, Air QualityEnergy Management, etc.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Task Force On Climate-related Financial Disclosures
The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures was created in late 2015 to help identify information needed by the financial sector to appropriately assess and price climate-related risks.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Scope 3 emissions are greenhouse gas emissions that result from an organization's activities but are not directly controlled by the organization. They are also known as "indirect" or "value chain" emissions.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Scope 2 emissions: These are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heat, and steam.
- Climate Risk & AdaptationEnvironmental
Scope 1 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Scope 1 emissions: These are direct emissions from a company's own operations, such as emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels in boilers and vehicles.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Global Reporting Initiative
GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing them with the global common language to communicate those impacts.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
SASB Standards guide the disclosure of financially material sustainability information by companies to their investors.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
Sustainability Reporting Standards
Set of criteria used by investors and other stakeholders to evaluate a company's sustainability and social responsibility practices.
- ESG Disclosure & ReportingGovernance
SEC and ESG
Based on the guidance from the SEC and its staff to date, companies should consider topics related to material impacts caused by climate change, among other things, in preparing their SEC filings and providing appropriate disclosures.
- ESG Strategy & IntegrationStrategic
Greenwishing
Well-intended efforts to tackle sustainability challenges may not make enough difference or encourage superficial changes when more structural ones are required.
- ESG Frameworks & StandardsGovernance
GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions