Biosphere Finance

Earth System savvy metrics for corporations and investors

A climate neutral economy is essential to reach Paris 2°C targets. But while reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is essential to stave off dangerous climate change, humanity also needs to develop strategies to avoid transgressing thresholds in other key Earth System processes.

Essential Environmental Impact Variables

We develop 15 “Essential Environmental Impact Variables” (EEIVs), starting with seven primary industries, which capture the most essential information on key environmental impacts of those industries at local and global scales. By focusing on what is most essential, we could reduce reporting burden  whilst providing more meaningful information.

Sleeping Financial Giants

This research project,  conducted under the initial years of GEDB,  laid the foundations of much of the work on the Earth system and sustainable finance that we conduct today. The project deployed value chain analysis and trade data to identify financial institutions who, based on current ownership patterns, are linked to tipping elements in the Earth system. Therefore, they play a particularly important role for steering away from irreversible large-scale environmental change and escalated global warming. 

Financial Dimensions of a key climate system “Wild Card”

Black carbon gives rise to what is often referred to as the Atmospheric Brown Cloud (ABC) over South Asia. It is created by a range of airborne particles and pollutants from combustion, biomass burning and various industrial processes.

The black carbon particles have a significant effect on the climate change, as well as on the health of local population and the biosphere. This research linked the economic activities contributing to black carbon emissions to the finance sector through the innovative use of emission inventories, wheat and...