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.
5-Year Progress and Impact Report
A look back at ISF’s achievements over five years into its mission to align mainstream financial markets with Canada’s transition to a prosperous, sustainable economy.
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.
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
May 15, 2025
ISF welcomes new Research Fellow, Dr. Hongping Tan
ISF welcomes the newest addition to its Research Fellows Program, Dr. Hongping Tan, Professor of Accounting at Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University. “ISF is a transformative catalyst at the intersection of sustainability and financial markets. I am honoured to serve as a research fellow,” said Dr. Tan, “My work centres on sustainability reporting and its value implications for various stakeholders. By synthesizing data-driven insights from diverse sources, I aim to promote sustainable and accountable practices that create enduring value for businesses, society, and the environment.”
May 14, 2025
Road to Net Zero Ranking, 2025: Globe and Mail
As ISF Advisory Board Member Yrjo Koskinen of the Haskayne School of Business told Jeff Jones of The Globe and Mail, Canada can set itself apart and compete for global climate capital while the U.S. turns away from climate action. How are we doing? The Globe's latest rankings track which corporations are in the lead on the Road to Net Zero.