Shaping the future of sustainable finance
Subscribe to our NewsletterThe 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.
ISF Research Fellows Program
Bridging the gap between the finance sector and academia
The ISF Research Fellows Program exists to foster collaboration between leading academics and industry experts. ISF’s Research Fellows generate practical, real-world solutions to achieve sustainable economic growth, influence global finance, and ensure that financial institutions are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of a low-carbon future.
Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets, Part 3
The final report in this series is based on in-depth interviews with key actors spanning the carbon credit value chain. These perspectives inform efforts to ensure quality credits and market integrity.
The Transition Finance Playbook
ISF and Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) collaborated with some of Canada’s largest asset managers to develop a practical guide for financial institutions to scale up transition finance.
Toxic Assets: Divestment of Polluting Firms’ Bonds by Institutional Investors
Pollution can cause serious harm to the environment and human health and risk for investors. A new Working Paper finds institutional investors divest polluters’ corporate bonds following significant toxic release events.
What is Sustainable Finance?
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.
Newsblog
June 18, 2025
Industry insiders reveal key trends in Voluntary Carbon Markets: New report
A new report from ISF, CPA Canada and IFAC brings together the insights of practitioners working across the Voluntary Carbon Market value chain. The study, titled “Not all carbon credits are created equal: Ecosystem views on quality credits and the future of the voluntary carbon market,” is a vital resource for anyone who wants to understand how the market functions and the keys to ensuring quality credits and avoiding reputational risks.
June 9, 2025
Webinar June 18: Seizing the energy transition opportunity
Some of the leading minds from Canadian financial institutions are coming together on June 18 at 10 a.m. ET to have a frank discussion on the current trends and opportunities in the global energy transition. They'll unravel myths and realities about where the market is and where it’s going, look at developments in key industries and technologies, and show us where investors can find value in a changing energy landscape in Canada and around the world.