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Shaping the future of sustainable finance

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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.

Professional Development

Sustainable Investing - Virtual Program

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.

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.

The Wealth of Wetlands

Canada’s vast tracts of nature are a valuable asset that has not been properly accounted for. A new ISF report finds that wetlands contribute roughly $225-billion in value to the Canadian economy each year.

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.

October 23, 2024

Webinar, Nov. 13: Climate science for business decision-making

This upcoming webinar, co-hosted by ISF and the CPA Centre for Corporate Reporting & Professionalism will explore how research from the climate sciences, engineering and economics can be translated for financial decision makers grappling with net zero planning and the uncertainties of climate change. Tanya Fiedler Scientia Fellow the University of New South Wales, joins us in conversation with Meigan Terry, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability, Social Impact and Communications Officer, at Scotiabank.

October 18, 2024

Event video: Capitalizing on Clarity: The Canadian taxonomy in action

Video is now available for the PRI In-Person side event, “Capitalizing on Clarity: The Canadian Taxonomy in Action," hosted by ISF and the Canada Climate Law Initiative. The long-awaited sustainable finance taxonomy in Canada will provide much-needed clarity for allocating climate capital that investors have been demanding. Our expert panel delved into recommendations for the practical implementation of the taxonomy in Canada, governance considerations, and lessons from the international community.