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.
Are investors liking corporate Canada’s ESG tweets?
New ISF research finds a mismatch between firms’ positive ESG messaging on social media, their environmental performance, and their cost of capital. Investors may be tuning them out.
Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets, Part 2
Who’s buying carbon offsets, and why? And what kinds of projects are they supporting? A new study analyses Canadian and global corporate buyers’ use of voluntary carbon credits and implications for financial accounting and sustainability disclosures.
Canadian sustainable bond market report
A new ISF study examines a decade of issuances of some of the most important instruments for financing positive environmental and social outcomes, and prospects for the future of sustainable investing.
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
April 22, 2025
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures: New ISF Primer
"Nature is fundamental to human wellbeing, a healthy planet, and economic prosperity. Nature provides us with many services that we often take for granted," writes Krista Gnau in ISF's latest primer article. The primer covers the basics of how companies can assess, manage, and report on their dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities related to nature. It explores Canadian and global developments, and links to a wealth of resources so your organization can get started.
April 15, 2025
ISF Engagement Survey: Shape the future of sustainable finance
ISF is celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2025, and much has changed in the world of sustainable finance. We are asking our supporters, friends, colleagues and readers to take five minutes to answer a six-question survey. Tell us what fields of research you want ISF to tackle next, what kinds of publications and events you value, and what activities will be the most useful for leaders in business, government and academia.