Shaping the future of sustainable finance
Subscribe to our NewsletterThe 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.
ISF Research Fellows Program
Bridging the gap between the finance sector and academia
The ISF Research Fellows Program exists to foster collaboration between leading academics and industry experts. ISF’s Research Fellows generate practical, real-world solutions to achieve sustainable economic growth, influence global finance, and ensure that financial institutions are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of a low-carbon future.
Bill C-59: Government intentions vs. market reactions
There have been significant ripple effects from Canada’s new greenwashing legislation. ISF’s Briefing Note analyses the policy’s intent, industry responses, and recommendations to strengthen consumer protection while supporting credible corporate sustainability reporting.
Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets, Part 3
The final report in this series is based on in-depth interviews with key actors spanning the carbon credit value chain. These perspectives inform efforts to ensure quality credits and market integrity.
From Ambition to Accountability
The latest ISF White Paper shows there has been a sharp rise in the use of environmental goals by corporations when they’re determining executive compensation, and the number and variety of such targets has increased. But there is still work to do to connect those incentives to real-world climate action.
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, Former Director of Research, Institute for Sustainable Finance
Newsblog
September 10, 2025
Climate disclosures must be mandatory: Zvan and Hughes in The Globe
"The international investment community agrees that there is an urgent need for better and more transparent information about how companies are preparing (or not) for rising global temperatures," write ISF Advisory Board Member Barbara Zvan and Mark Hughes in The Globe and Mail. "The longer we wait to get mandatory rules in place, the greater the risk and the cost to investors and Canadian businesses."
September 9, 2025
End trade barriers in electricity markets: Bruce Lourie in The Globe
"Prime Minister Mark Carney’s projects of 'national interest' represent the transformational thinking Canada needs to unlock economic success and clean energy potential," writes ISF Advisory Board Member Bruce Lourie. "But without fixing our outdated electricity governance, even the most ambitious federal investments in offshore wind and regional transmission will fall far short of their potential."