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At Westpac, we believe that what we call 'extended performance management' - social, environmental and workplace performance, together with our reputation, stakeholder relationships and other intangibles - is fundamentally linked to long-term shareholder value.

Whether it is called corporate responsibility, sustainability, or environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, the evidence is building for the business case for managing this agenda.

Here we bring together some of the best examples of this thinking and research - please contact each organisation involved for further information.

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Measuring, Managing & Reporting What Matters – The state of ESG Environment, social and governance, or 'ESG,' performance, is where sustainability and capital markets converge. The current review of the ASX corporate governance principles will likely entail new disclosure requirements for all listed companies around material business risk. This paper sets out the major drivers and initiatives globally which mean that 2007 is the year ESG moves centre-stage for investment markets. Measuring, managing & reporting what matters - The state of ESG (PDF 88kb)

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UNPRI Report on Progress 2007 The first-ever global undertaking that captures in significant detail how investors are integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues within investment decision making and ownership practices with the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). UNPRI Report on Progress (PDF 1.1Mb)

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UNEPFI Working Capital Report 2007 By July 2007 assets approaching USD 10 trillion, owned or managed by more than 200 major investment organizations from 25 countries, had committed to the Principles for Responsible Investment. This Report describes how the PRI came about and captures the views of leading thinkers in the field of sustainable finance and responsible investment. UNEPFI Working Capital Report 2007 (PDF 589kb)

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Goldman Sachs Sustain report (June 2007) GS SUSTAIN brings together Goldman Sachs analysis of the sustainability of corporate performance. It includes a proprietary framework for analysing competitive advantage in mature industries and the identification of winners in emerging industries as they evolve in response to a rapidly changing, globalizing world. Goldman Sachs Sustain report (PDF 4.39Mb)

The Business Case for Early Action (2006) Westpac was one of 6 companies, along with the Australian Conservation Foundation, to launch the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change. This research examined the economic implications of early action to prevent dangerous climate change. The Business Case for Early Action (PDF 879kb)

Show Me The Money: Linking Environmental, Social and Governance Issues to Company Value (2006) UNEP-FI on the value of ESG in institutional investment Show Me The Money: Linking Environmental, Social and Governance Issues to Company Value (PDF 516kb)

Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2006 (Australia & New Zealand) The Carbon Disclosure Project and the Investor Group on Climate Change Australia/New Zealand (IGCC) – which includes BT Financial Group – have partnered to elevate climate change as a critical shareholder value issue. Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2006 (PDF 761kb)

Good Corporate Governance=Good Investment Returns (2006) Goldman Sachs JB Were on corporate governance and shareholder returns Good Corporate Governance=Good Investment Returns (PDF 345kb)

Climate Change – Risks & Opportunities (2006) SAM Group on climate change - risks and opportunities Climate Change – Risks & Opportunities (PDF 1.1Mb)

When social issues become strategic (2006) McKinsey on sustainability and strategy When social issues become strategic (PDF 3.3Mb)

A climate for change: A trustee's guide to understanding and addressing climate risk (2006) The Investor Group on Climate Change Australia / New Zealand (IGCC) - a coalition of Australian fund managers including BT Financial Group - provides superannuation fund trustees with high-level information on the potential for climate change to impact financial risk and returns. A climate for change: A trustee's guide to understanding and addressing climate risk (PDF 1.08Mb)

BT SRI Thought Leadership - Water (2006) BT Financial Group looks at the implications of water management on the investment sector. BT SRI Thought Leadership - Water (PDF 225kb)

A legal framework for the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into institutional investment (2005) UNEP-FI on fiduciary responsibilities and the legal framework A legal framework for the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into institutional investment (PDF 999kb)

Human Capital Management: The key to more value added (2004) SAM Group on people management and company performance Human Capital Management: The key to more value added (PDF 149kb)

Developing Value: The business case for sustainability in emerging markets (2003) SustainAbility's overview of the business case in developing markets Developing Value: The business case for sustainability in emerging markets (PDF 2.2Mb)

Buried Treasure: Uncovering the business case for corporate sustainability (2001) SustainAbility's overview of the business case Buried Treasure: Uncovering the business case for corporate sustainability (PDF 1.2Mb)

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