The Evolving Marketscape of Climate Finance

Climate Law ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 94-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Richardson

An important dimension of international and national climate governance is the financial sector. Climate finance refers to the role of financial institutions in addressing climate change, such as through investment transactions, identifying financial risks and supporting clean and green energy developments. Global financial markets have become a significant driver of environmental pressure, but also potentially a means of leveraging positive change. The latter role is expressed through the growing movement for socially responsible investing (sri). This article examines how the financial industry affects action on climate change, the role of the sri movement in improving environmental behaviour, and the place of state-based regulation in creating a more conducive “marketscapeˮ for climate finance.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idiano D’Adamo ◽  
Paolo Rosa

Climate change has determined the deterioration of the ecosystem, but some politicians deny this evidence. There is a relationship between sustainability and resilience, and COVID-19 has demonstrated that life can change quickly. Social and economic disaster share a close bond. Can the realization of a great plan for infrastructure support the planet’s rebirth? This is the key role of the green economy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Giamporcaro ◽  
Jean-Pascal Gond ◽  
Niamh O’Sullivan

ABSTRACTAlthough a growing stream of research investigates the role of government in corporate social responsibility (CSR), little is known about how governmental CSR interventions interact in financial markets. This article addresses this gap through a longitudinal study of the socially responsible investment (SRI) market in France. Building on the “CSR and government” and “regulative capitalism” literatures, we identify three modes of governmental CSR intervention—regulatory steering, delegated rowing, and microsteering—and show how they interact through the two mechanisms of layering (the accumulation of interventions) and catalyzing (the alignment of interventions). Our findings: 1) challenge the notion that, in the neoliberal order, governments are confined to steering market actors—leading and guiding their behavior—while private actors are in charge of rowing—providing products and services; 2) show how governmental CSR interventions interact and are orchestrated; and 3) provide evidence that governments can mobilize financial markets to promote CSR.


2009 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 597-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J Richardson

Abstract‘Climate finance’ is becoming an important feature of the emerging legal and policy regimes to address global warming. However, the current approach largely confines the financial sector to a transactional agent to mobilise capital for clean energy and to broker emission allowance trading. The sector's potential to leverage more sweeping positive changes in the economy as sought historically through the movement for socially responsible investment (SRI) has been insufficiently acknowledged. Indirectly, by regulating greenhouse gases the legal system is helping to create a business case for investors to respond to climate change threats. However, the potential contribution of SRI to address climate change problems more comprehensively is presently limited owing to inadequate governance frameworks, as well the sector's increasing abandonment of its traditional ethical agenda.


Author(s):  
Mark Anthony Camilleri

This chapter explains how socially responsible investing (SRI) has evolved in the last few decades and sheds light on its latest developments. It describes different forms of SRI in the financial markets and deliberates on the rationale for the utilisation of positive and negative screenings of listed businesses and public organisations. It also presents key theoretical underpinnings on the subject and reports that the market for the responsible investments has recently led to an increase in contractors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and research firms who are involved in the scrutinisation of the enterprises' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials. This contribution raises awareness on the screenings of positive impact and sustainable investments. It puts forward future research avenues in this promising field of study.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Anthony Camilleri

Purpose This study aims to explain how socially responsible investing (SRI) has evolved in the past few decades and sheds light on its latest developments. It describes different forms of SRI in the financial markets, and deliberates on the rationale for the utilization of positive and negative screenings of listed businesses and public organizations. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review suggests that the providers of financial capital are increasingly allocating funds toward positive impact and sustainable investments. Therefore, this descriptive paper provides a factual summary of the proliferation of SRI products in financial markets. Afterwards, it presents the opportunities and challenges facing the stakeholders of SRI. Findings This research presents a historic overview on the growth of SRI products in the financial services industry. It clarifies that the market for responsible investing has recently led to an increase in a number of stakeholders, including contractors, non-governmental organizations and research firms who are involved in the scrutinization of the businesses’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) behaviors. Originality/value This discursive contribution raises awareness on the screenings of positive impact and sustainable investments. The researcher contends that today’s socially responsible investors are increasingly analyzing the businesses’ non-financial performance, including their ESG credentials. In conclusion, this paper puts forward future research avenues in this promising field of study.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document