Resources

Sustainability Industry Bodies and Frameworks

Common themes for socially responsible investments include seeking out companies engaged in social justice, environmental sustainability and clean energy technology.

Acronym	Name of Organization	Description of activities
A4S	Accounting for Sustainability	Established by HRH the Prince of Wales, the A4S aim is to inspire finance leaders to adopt sustainable and resilient business models.
Aldersgate Group	Aldersgate Group	The Aldersgate Group is a politically impartial, multi-stakeholder alliance championing a competitive and environmentally sustainable economy.
BEIS	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	BEIS replaced the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in July 2016. They are responsible for: business, industrial strategy, science, research and innovation, energy and clean growth, climate change.
BSR	Business for Social Responsibility	A global non profit business network of consultancy dedicated to sustainability.
C2ES	Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions	A non profit organization working to forge practical solutions to climate change, including the advancement of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Cambridge Zero	Cambridge Zero	A new climate change initiative launched in 2019 by the University of Cambridge to build on its existing activities. Purpose of creating a zero-carbon future.
Carbon Trust	Carbon Trust	An independent expert on low carbon and sustainable strategies to organizations worldwide, offering insights and bespoke solutions designed to accelerate the transition to low carbon economy.
CBI	Confederation of British Industry (including its Energy and Climate Change Board)	A UK, not-for-profit membership organization which works to promote British business interests via government lobbying and business networks. It includes an ‘Energy and Climate Change Working Group’.
CCC	Committee on Climate Change	Independent advice to government on building a low-carbon economy and preparing for climate change.
CDSB	Climate Disclosure Standards Board	An international consortium of businesses and NGOs which advances and aligns the global corporate reporting model to enhance efficient capital allocation and sustainable economic systems.
CIF	The Climate Investment Funds	The Climate Investment Funds, together with multilateral development banks, bridge the financing gap to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. CIFs are two distinct funds: the Clean Technology Fund and the Strategic Climate Fund. The funds were approved by the World Bank Board of Directors in July 2008 and on September 26, 2008 received pledges of US$6.5 billion.
CISL (and associated Earth Board)	Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership	A globally influential Institute dedicated to developing leadership and solutions for a sustainable economy.
Client Earth	Client Earth	An environmental law charity composed of attorneys and environmental experts that uses the power of the law to protect nature, the environment and environmental rights and to hold governments accountable.
Climate Action100+	100 ‘systemically important emitters’, accounting for two-thirds of annual global industrial emissions	An investor initiative launched in 2017 to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change. More than 370 investors with over $35 trillion in assets collectively under management are engaging companies to curb emissions, improve governance and strengthen climate-related financial disclosures.
CSR	Corporate Social Responsibility	A type of international private business self-regulation that aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature or by engage in or support volunteering or ethically-oriented practices.
ECIU	Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit	A non-profit organization that supports informed debate on energy and climate change issues in the UK.
ESG	Environmental, Social and Governance	Environmental, social and governance refers to the three central factors in measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment in a company or business.
ETC	Energy Transitions Commission	An initiative of leaders across the energy landscape aimed at accelerating change towards low carbon energy systems to meet the twin objectives of economic development and climate change mitigation.
FCA	Financial Conduct Authority	The FCA is a UK financial regulatory body which regulates financial firms providing services to consumers. It also maintains the integrity of the UK financial markets.
FRC	Financial Reporting Council	The FRC is an independent regulator in the UK which regulates auditors, accountants and actuaries. It also sets the UK’s Governance and Stewardship Codes.
GCF	The Green Climate Fund	The Green Climate Fund helps fund climate finance investment in low emission and climate resilient projects in developing countries.
GFI	Green Finance Institute	Established in 2019, the Green Finance Institute is an independent, commercially focused organisation, supported by seed funding from HM Treasury, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the City of London Corporation. As the UK’s principal forum for public and private sector collaboration in green finance, it is able to mobilise capital to accelerate the domestic and international transition to a sustainable, net-zero carbon economy that is also climate resilient. GFI leads mission-led coalitions, made up of networks of decision makers, to identify and unlock barriers to deploy capital at pace and scale towards impactful, real-economy outcomes.
GHG	Greenhouse gases	An atmospheric gas, such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that absorbs and emits radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth’s surface. An increase in GHGs have led to an increase in global warming.
GIIN	Global Impact Investing Network	The GIIN supports activities, education and research that accelerate the development of social and environmental investments, and impact, to produce financial returns.
GRA	Global Research Alliance	The GRA is focused on technologies and practices that deliver more climate resistant food systems without growing greenhouse gas emissions.
Grantham Research Institute	Grantham Research Institute	A leading authority on climate change and environmental science and Imperial College London’s climate change institute, providing world-class research, training and innovation on climate change.
GRI	Global Reporting Initiative	The GRI has pioneered sustainability reporting and accountability, helping organizations identify and manage risk, improve governance, stakeholder relations and trust.
Hughes Hall Centre for Climate Change Engagement	Hughes Hall Centre for Climate Change Engagement	Established to increase awareness of climate change mitigation and adaptation on the boards of private companies and the need for urgent action.
ICAEW	Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales	Act as an independent regulator to protect the public interest by making sure their firms, members, students and affiliates maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
IEA	International Energy Agency	The IEA provides data, analysis, training and solutions on the full spectrum of fuels and energy issues globally.
IIGCC	Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change	The IIGCC is the European membership body for investor collaboration on climate change whose mission is to mobilize capital for low carbon transmission.
IPCC	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change	The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides scientific assessments of climate change and its future risks.
IPCC Reports	IPCC reports (including the latest on 1.5 degrees vs 3 degrees)	The IPCC prepares comprehensive assessment reports about climate change, its causes, potential impact and response options.
MDG	Millennium Development Goals	Were eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. All 191 United Nations member states at that time, and at least 22 international organizations, committed to help achieve the following Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
NRDC	National Resources Defence Council	The NRDC is a non-profit organization that tackles pollution from fossil fuels and works to reduce dependence on these dirty sources by expanding clean energy cities, states and nations.
PRA	Prudential Regulation Authority	The Bank of England prudentially regulates and supervises financial services firms through the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
Prince of Wales CLG	Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group	CLG brings together European business leaders to accelerate progress towards a low carbon, sustainable economy that will deliver net-zero emissions by 2050.
Royal Institution	The Royal Institution of Great Britain	The Royal Institution is an independent charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science.
SASB	Sustainability Accounting Standards Board	Establish industry-specific disclosure standards across environmental, social, and governance topics that facilitate communication between companies and investors about financially material, decision-useful information.
SBTi	Science Based Targets Initiative	The initiative: Showcases companies that set science-based targets through case studies, events and media to highlight the increased innovation, reduced regulatory uncertainty, strengthened investor confidence and improved profitability and competitiveness generated by science-based target setting.
Science Based Targets	Science Based Targets	Science-based targets are a set of goals developed by a business to provide it with a clear route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments.
Scope 1	Scope 1 – All Direct Emissions	All Direct Emissions from the activities of an organisation or under their control. Including fuel combustion on site such as gas boilers, fleet vehicles and air-conditioning leaks.
Scope 2	Scope 2 – Indirect Emissions	Indirect Emissions from electricity purchased and used by the organisation. Emissions are created during the production of the energy and eventually used by the organisation.
Scope 3	Scope 3 – All Other Indirect Emissions	All Other Indirect Emissions from activities of the organisation, occuring from sources that they do not own or control. These are usually the greatest share of the carbon footprint, covering emissions associated with business travel, procurement, waste and water.
SDGs	Sustainable Development Goals	The 17 UN sustainable development goals and 169 smaller targets, including pledges to protect the world’s oceans, improve water management and the energy system, and take urgent action on climate change.
SRI	Socially Responsible Investment	Common themes for socially responsible investments include seeking out companies engaged in social justice, environmental sustainability and clean energy technology.
TCFD	Taskforce on Climate Related Financial Disclosure	The TCFD issues voluntary climate-related financial risk disclosures for use by companies in the information they provide to investors, lenders, insurers and other stakeholders as part of their climate-related financial risk disclosure in mainstream filings.
The B Team	The B Team	A private sector initiative of business leaders who are driving a better way of doing business for the wellbeing of the people and the sustainability of the planet.
The Climate Group	The Climate Group	An international non- profit group which specializes in high impact climate and energy collaboration with the world’s leading businesses and state and local governments, aimed at addressing climate change.
TPI	Transition Pathway Initiative	TPI is a global initiative aimed at investors which assesses companies’ preparedness for the transition to a low carbon economy by tracking companies’ management of greenhouse gas emission and expected future carbon performance and which publishes the results of this analysis.
TPR	The Pensions Regulator	TPR is the UK public body that works with employers to protects workplace pensions.
UN Global Compact	UN Global Compact	Via a principle-based framework the UN Global Compact aims to mobilize sustainable companies and stakeholders to do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations to principles on human rights, labour and anti corruption.
UN PRI	United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment	The United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment is an international network of investors working together to put ESG principles into investment practices.
UNEP	UN Environment Program	The UN Environment Program is the leading, global advocate for the management of the environment, setting the global environment agenda and promoting sustainable development.
UNFCCC	United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change	The UNFCC treaty is designed to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere with the aim to prevent interference with the climate system.
WBCSD	World Business Council for Sustainable Development	A global, CEO led organization of over 200 businesses, working with member companies to deliver solutions for their most challenging sustainability issues and the transition to a more sustainable world.
WEF	World Economic Forum Climate Governance Initiative	A global platform aimed to accelerate climate action via public and private sector collaboration. It includes the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, a network of CEOs who seek a transition to a low carbon and climate resistant economy.
WRI	World Resources Institute	WRI is a global research organization which analyses the environment and its capacity to provide for future generations by focusing on climate, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities and the ocean.
WWF	World Wildlife Fund for Nature	An international non-governmental organization working in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment.
XR	Extinction Rebellion	Extinction Rebellion is a socio-political movement which uses civil disobedience and non-violent resistance to protest against climate breakdown, biodiversity loss and social and ecological collapse.