Projects & Reports

Partial Disclosure: Assessing the state of physical and transition climate risk disclosure in Canada

The latest ISF study demonstrates that in aggregate, climate-related disclosures by Canadian companies are inadequate, both in terms of quantity and quality. This impedes the ability of financial institutions to properly price the opportunities and risks associated with climate change, which has significant consequences for Canadian competitiveness and the functioning of Canadian markets. The solutions are complex, but manageable if approached cooperatively, with clarity of intention, and with strong regulatory leadership and support.

Report (PDF 608KB)

A Closer Look at the GHG Protocol: Observations and Implications for Standards Setters and Regulators

The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol supplies the most commonly proposed and used national and global standard for companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions. But what the Protocol is and how its standard should be used are often misunderstood. A new report by the Institute for Sustainable Finance and CPA Canada finds that while the Protocol has been wildly successful, its expanded role in securities law requires a rethink. The Protocol makes a good start but it offers much more guidance than defined, prescriptive standards, and there is much work needed to provide companies with clear direction for the gathering and reporting of emissions data that will soon be required.

Report (PDF 369KB)

Updated!

Canadian Corporate Performance on GHG Emissions, Disclosures and Target Setting

ISF has released the follow-up to its popular study reviewing TSX companies’ target and disclosure performance on greenhouse gas emissions, and much has happened in a year. The findings highlight the need and opportunity for Canada’s largest corporations and highest emitters to close gaps on reporting emissions and planning reductions, in order to secure their own and Canada’s competitiveness in the global transition to a low-carbon economy. While progress has been made, with increased global demands for climate data as well as credible commitments to emissions reduction targets, the report shows that Corporate Canada must step up its game.

Executive summary (PDF 210KB)
2022 report (PDF 672KB) 2021 report (PDF 676KB)

The State of Corporate Sustainability Data in Canada – Survey Results

A major reallocation of capital will be required to transition Canada to its goal of Net Zero carbon emissions. However, to make the decisions that will get us there, financial institutions, regulators, investors and other stakeholders will need quality information and data about corporate GHG emissions and climate risks. The Institute for Sustainable Finance recently surveyed researchers, investment professionals and academics to better understand the current state of sustainability data.

Report (PDF 357KB)

The Physical Costs of Climate Change, A Canadian Perspective

Canada is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. But until now, we haven’t had an effective assessment of the physical risks and the potential cost to Canada from loss of biodiversity, sea-level rise, and infrastructure damage due to fires and floods. ISF fills this void with a new report which finds the total value of capital output lost due to climate change under different scenarios. The costs range from $2.773-trillion with 2°C warming by the end of the century, to almost double that amount at $5.520-trillion under a 5°C warming scenario. The report also compares the investments required to fight climate change to the cost of global warming, and finds the additional physical risks associated with higher warming scenarios are larger than the required investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In other words, tackling climate change more than pays for itself in terms of avoided physical damage alone.

Report (PDF 737KB)

Changing Gears: Sustainable Finance Progress In Canada

ISF's latest report assesses Canada’s progress to scale sustainable finance and bolster Canadian competitiveness. The report uses the Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance’s 2019 recommendations as its starting point, and reveals that while progress has been made against the recommendations, Canada needs to move faster in aligning financial systems with a global low-carbon transition.

This report is available in English and French.

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Capital Mobilization Plan

On September 29, 2020, the Institute for Sustainable Finance launched landmark research to provide a concrete, data-driven capital blueprint for Canada’s low carbon transition. The Capital Mobilization Plan for a Canadian Low Carbon Economy highlights that cooperation between the public sector, private sector, and financial system is critical to securing investments needed to meet Canada’s 2030 climate targets.

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Green Finance: New Directions in Sustainable Finance Research & Policy

As we increasingly experience the physical impacts of climate change (flooding, extreme weather, forest fires), we will experience the financial impacts as well. The challenge for Canada is: how do we attract global investment while, at the same time, protecting Canadian assets, investors, and firms from risk in the context of climate change? In essence, this is what sustainable finance is about — harnessing our financial systems to help accelerate the activities, decisions, and structures that will put Canadian industries and our economy ahead of the curve.

Report (PDF 522KB)