Skip to main content

Shaping the future of sustainable finance

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The 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, Distinguished Professor of Finance at Smith School of Business and director of research at the Institute for Sustainable Finance explains sustainable finance.

August 13, 2025

C-59: Government intentions vs. market reactions

ISF's latest Briefing Note, “Bill C-59: Government intentions vs. market reactions,” analyses important elements of industry feedback on the federal government's anti-greenwashing legislation, assesses the Competition Bureau’s compliance guidelines, and recommends next steps.

August 7, 2025

From Ambition to Accountability: Linking executive pay to green targets

ISF has published new research into the growing trend of firms paying executives to improve their company's environmental performance. A White paper, titled “From Ambition to Accountability,” reveals how the practice has become commonplace among the largest U.S. firms, particularly in certain sectors, and how the number and variety of targets has grown. The authors show that targets and incentives need to be designed carefully to achieve long-term commitment and real-world impact.