Identify

This document describes the core concepts behind impact performance measurement toward the SDGs, both through the use of IRIS+ Core Metrics Sets and the IRIS Catalog of Metrics.

Use this resource to:

• Strategy: Within the IRIS+ Thematic Taxonomy, begin a Theory of Change from published evidence.
• Identify: Discover other factors to consider, including impact risk.
• Measure, assess and value: Access IRIS+ Core Metrics Sets to help define what to measure in the context of your strategy.
• Set targets and plan: Access curated third-party resources on targets.

IRIS metrics are designed to measure the social, environmental and financial performance of an investment.

Use this resource to:

• Identify: Filter through metrics via alignment to SDGs, other frameworks, and Impact Theme (from the IRIS+ Thematic Taxonomy) to select relevant measures.
• Measure, assess and value: Access usage and calculation guidance for the selected metrics.

The environmental, health, and safety (EHS) guidelines are technical reference documents with general and industry-specific examples of good international industry practice (GIIP).

Use this resource to:

• Identify: Understand the performance levels and measures that are generally considered to be achievable in new facilities by existing technology at reasonable costs.

Country-level data and insights about SDG-enabling investment opportunities. This work focuses on the gap between interest in investing in SDGs and the business models that could provide investable opportunities.

Use this resource to:

• Identify: Identify investment themes in emerging markets which have significant potential to advance the SDGs that are aligned to government policies and sustainable national development needs.

The Impact Protocol provides a step-by-step overview of how to analyse and manage bank portfolio impacts.

Use this resource to:

• Understand how to manage bank portfolio imapcts as per UNEP FI’s holistic impact approach and in conformity with the requirements of the Principles for Responsible Banking.The Protocol provides an overview of the impact management process as a whole; it is complemented by further UNEP FI resources such as the Impact Management Tool and the Thematic Target-Setting Guidance, which can be used to operationalise the methodology.

The Core Characteristics of Impact Investing define the growing approach of impact investing, and offer the financial markets greater clarity on what constitutes credible impact investing.

This resource calls upon organisations to:

• Intentionally contribute to positive social and environmental impact, use evidence and impact data in investment design, manage impact performance, and contribute to the growth of impact investing

The first global guide to manage ESG risks in risk assessment and insurance underwriting. It has an initial focus on non-life insurance business—also known as property and casualty insurance business.

Use this resource to:

• Identify: Understand the materiality of ESG risks to various lines of business and economic sectors, including characteristics which might affect the ability to assess and mitigate such risks.
• Measure, assess, and value: Develop approaches to assess ESG risks in non-life insurance business transactions, particularly industrial and commercial insurance business.
• Implement: Address the growing concerns by stakeholders across society (e.g. NGOs, investors, governments).

A framework that incorporates financial materiality and sustainability performance calibrated to progress on sustainability outcomes. This resource also considers sources of data needed to complete this picture across entities such as companies, governments and global institutions and activities.

Use this resource to:

• Identify: Identify current and forward-looking information that assesses the range of sustainable risks and opportunities.
• Measure, assess and value: Assess and interpret a company’s sustainability performance and alignment in the context of long-term sustainability goals and thresholds.

This discussion paper details the current approaches that infrastructure investors are adopting to consider the Sustainable Development Goals as part of their investment approaches.

Use this resource to:

• Identify: Identify outcomes caused by, contributed to and linked to their infrastructure investors, in relation to the SDGs.
• Implement: Understand the methods by which infrastructure investors can achieve desired SDG outcomes. Ensure that outcomes in line with the SDGs are integrated into infrastructure investment processes.