The Institute for Sustainable Finance is a multi-disciplinary network of research and professional development that brings together academia, the private sector, and government to shape Canada’s innovations in sustainable finance.
Learn sustainable investing strategies that are transforming finance.
This program will provide the key components and considerations for sustainable investing and ESG assessment, including deeper dives into integrating ESG into securities selection and portfolio management processes, and best practices for stewardship and engagement.
A new report by the Institute for Sustainable Finance updates the findings of its popular 2021 review of TSX Index firms’ GHG emissions disclosures, targets and plans. Much has changed in a year but Corporate Canada still must “up its game”
An ISF assessment of the physical risks to Canada from higher levels of global warming finds potential costs of up to $5.5-trillion by the end of the century if we don’t take action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
ISF launches a new report assessing Canada’s progress to scale sustainable finance and bolster Canadian competitiveness.
The Canadian Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance defines it as: capital flows, risk management activities, and financial processes that assimilate environmental and social factors as a means of promoting sustainable economic growth and the long-term sustainability of the financial system.
In its simplest form, this means aligning our financial systems and services to promote long-term environmental sustainability and economic prosperity. Learn more about Sustainable Finance through our Primer Series.
Ryan Riordan, Distinguished Professor of Finance at Smith School of Business and director of research at the Institute for Sustainable Finance explains sustainable finance.
The past year has been a time of growth and change for the Institute for Sustainable Finance.
From opening the TSX to attending COP26, we have been where the action is, helping mobilize capital to fight climate change. Our hard-hitting research has informed decision makers in finance, industry and public policy. We captured the attention of the media, and led a lively discussion on social media. And we have contributed significantly to making sustainability a mainstream issue that investors and firms must pay attention to.
We hope you enjoy this video tribute to the many accomplishments of our great team. You’ll be hearing a lot more from us in 2022.
July 29, 2022
ESG integration is “table stakes for investors.” ISF Research Director Ryan Riordan recently spoke with Susan Thompson, Director, Sustainable Finance & Corporate Transitions at TD Securities, and Samantha McDonald, Vice President, ESG Research and Engagement at TD Asset Management, about how investors can drive sustainable business practices, important developments in sustainable finance in Canada, and what the future looks like for ESG investing. To learn more about Sustainable Finance read the primer article and check out the interview video.
July 26, 2022
"A pension fund for four Ontario universities is promising to reach net-zero emissions across its portfolio by 2040, catapulting it into a position of climate leadership," reports the National Observer. "University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP) is an $11.8-billion fund for more than 37,000 members working at the University of Toronto, University of Guelph, Trent University and Queen’s University. Its net-zero target places it 10 years ahead of peers like the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. To help guide emission reductions, the pension fund is also setting interim 2025 and 2030 targets, representing a 16.5 per cent and 60 per cent cut to emissions from a 2021 baseline."