The Alliance aims to identify and consolidate the fundamental ESG and alternative data firms require to make sustainable investment decisions and positively contribute to the UN SDGs.
Refinitiv has announced the launch of the ‘Future of Sustainable Data Alliance’, an initiative that aims to address data challenges that have hindered the mobilisation of capital into sustainable finance.
Climate change and the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) continue to accelerate the drive towards sustainable finance, however information to quantify, measure and compare impact is in its infancy, a Refinitiv statement says.
“The lack of actionable data and standards results in capital markets that are unable to fully understand and integrate sustainability considerations, and as a result allocate capital to inefficient and sometimes environmentally or socially damaging activities, projects and assets.”
The Alliance aims to identify and consolidate the fundamental ESG and alternative data firms require to make sustainable investment decisions and positively contribute to the UN SDGs.
Launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos, the Alliance seeks to achieve three goals:
- to articulate the future data requirements of investors and governments to accurately integrate ESG data into decision making
- to determine data needs and how to satisfy them for investors wanting to take greater account of SDG Related Risks and Impacts
- to promote new capabilities in technology and data in the transition to sustainable development
“Access to data is central in the transformation to a low-carbon, sustainable economy,” said World Economic Forum head of financial & monetary system initiatives Matthew Blake. “Only through access to fundamental ESG data can firms make informed sustainable investment decisions and comply with UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
“We are delighted the Future of Sustainable Data Alliance is forming to take on this critical role ensuring that this much needed commodity is structured and made widely available.”
Besides Refinitiv and World Economic Forum, the other founding members include the United Nations, IIF (Institute of International Finance), OMFIF (Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum), Tsinghua University, ASIFMA, GFMA, Climate Bonds Initiative, FinTech4good, Everledger, IPE (Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs), Bank of Africa-BCME and GoImpact.
