ESG Investing Glossary

The explicit and systematic inclusion of material ESG factors in investment analysis and decision-making.

A measure used to track an environmental, social or governance topic, such as emissions intensity, injury rate or board independence.

An assessment that scores an entity, security or fund on selected ESG risks, practices or performance using a provider's methodology.

The possibility that environmental, social or governance factors adversely affect an organisation's strategy, operations, financial position, reputation or stakeholders.

A time-bound qualitative or quantitative commitment to improve a defined ESG outcome or performance measure.

Executive or employee pay that is partly determined by performance against specified ESG measures.

An investment approach that selects or excludes assets according to moral, religious or values-based criteria.

European Union rules requiring specified commodities and products placed on or exported from the EU market to be deforestation-free and legally produced.

A voluntary European Union standard for bonds whose proceeds are allocated to activities aligned with the EU Taxonomy and subject to specified disclosure and review.

The European Union classification system defining criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities.

The standards used by companies reporting under the CSRD, covering cross-cutting, environmental, social and governance disclosures.

The salary, incentives, benefits and other compensation awarded to senior executives.

A policy approach that makes producers responsible for specified environmental impacts of products, especially collection, recycling and end-of-life management.

A cost or benefit created by an activity that is not fully reflected in its market price and is borne or enjoyed by others.

A legal or equitable duty to act loyally, prudently and in the best interests of beneficiaries or the organisation.

The significance of a sustainability-related risk or opportunity to an organisation's cash flows, access to finance, cost of capital or prospects.