Asset Pools : Equities

The world’s equity markets have historically been the primary source of risk capital, - around 45,000 companies have a total listed market capitalization of about US$70 trillion. In addition is the US$20 trillion in property portfolios, the privately held portion of the US$35 trillion in infrastructure assets and the US$4 trillion in private equity and venture capital. Four key areas for aligning equity markets with sustainability are:

Sustainability disclosure: Harmonizing and strengthening stock market requirements for reporting on environmental performance and risks.
Deepen the use of sustainability data by investment analysts and in benchmarks and indices by encouraging greater transparency in both equity analysis and indices.
Upgrade the capital-raising function of equity markets for example by reducing the registration costs for ‘green IPOs’ and ensuring regulations enable innovative, infrastructure investment vehicles such as green infrastructure investment trusts (yieldcos).
Mobilize more private capital into infrastructure. Review financial regulations to remove unintentional constraints on investments in sustainable infrastructure. Optimise “blended finance” approaches to ensure that good value is obtained for public spending, and to develop best practice and expertise.

Inquiry Publications

Experience and Lessons from South Africa: An Initial Review

Date: 17-Jun-2016

This paper provides an outline of South Africa’s financial sector, the environmental and social issues it faces, the response of government and financial regulators and the extent to which has resulted in measurable sustainable investment flows. In South Africa environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations appear on the agenda of strategic discussions and are part of the
India Country Report

Date: 29-Apr-2016

An India Advisory Council of the UNEP India Inquiry was convened by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). This report highlights key proposals emerging from their discussions for aligning the Indian financial system with sustainability. In the Indian context, they call for development of a more robust and resilient ‘sustainability-oriented market framework’ focused
Aligning the Financial System with Sustainable Development in the United States of America

Date: 01-Feb-2016

The US financial system is undoubtedly among the largest, most innovative and most sophisticated in the world. It is also clear that this is both a benefit and an impediment to non-governmental investment in sustainability and inclusiveness. To date, the actual investment in infrastructure and sustainability does not meet current needs, especially those related to maintaining
Indonesia Country Report

Date: 30-Apr-2015

Placing Indonesia’s economy onto a green and sustainable development pathway, as envisaged in the National Long Term Development Plan, will require a large mobilization of investment. Estimates of the annual investment needed are in the order of US$300‐530 billion, with a large portion of this investment needed in critical infrastructure, as well as environmentally sensitive
The Environmental Risk Disclosure Regime

Date: 06-Jul-2015

In recent years, a plurality of different governance initiatives has emerged that are designed to expand the disclosure of environmental risk within financial markets. There is evidence for policy convergence among different initiatives but it lacks the enforcement necessary for coherence, and contributes to uncertainty within the financial sector over the impact of environmental risk. This uncertainty justifies an expanded role of international
3rd Update Report: Pathways to Scale

Date: 07-Jan-2015

This is the 3rd Update Report of the UNEP Inquiry, it is focused on the challenge of financing the low-carbon transition. It explores how innovative ideas and practices can be made more effective, adopted more widely, and taken to scale—and as a result move the trillions that are required. Scaling-up proven but limited innovations, is a common
China Green Finance Task Force Report: Mandatory Disclosure

Date: 02-Apr-2015

This paper makes the case that compulsory disclosure of environmental information by listed companies and bond issuers is an effective measure to increase the sense of corporate social responsibility, improve corporate environmental performance, incentivize investors to refrain from polluting investments and strengthening green investments. It recommends: CSRC and stock exchanges formulate rules on compulsory environmental
China Green Taskforce Report: Green IPOs

Date: 02-Apr-2015

Developing innovative and growing green industry sectors in China depends on broadening funding source beyond government loans to capital markets. One of the major bottlenecks for entering the stock market for Chinese green enterprise today is the slow IPO process. The paper recommends that the CSRC simplify the IPO review and approval processes for green enterprises, in particular by: Develop a green
China Green Finance Task Force Report: Stock Index

Date: 02-Apr-2015

Traditional energy and other highly polluting industries account for a significant share of China’s major stock indices, meaning that passive investments based on stock indices encourage investment polluting industries. Creating green stock indices (stock indices with a significant share of green enterprises) is an international practice to increase the share of green investment by institutional

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