Be clean or contribute to the transition? csr and the challenge of sustainability
RESEARCHERS
Franck Amalric (Ph.D. Researcher — Consultant)
Franck holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard University, after graduating from Ecole Polytechnique (X) and ENSAE. His thesis was on the political economy of sustainable development. He has directed the Society for International Development, an international NGO, developed the CSR strategy of UBS AG, and co-founded the Center for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CCRS) at the University of Zurich.
He is the author of 35 academic publications on sustainable development and CSR.
Publication
- Amalric, Franck (2021). “Entreprises et durabilité : Être propre ou contribuer à la transformation? “ Square
Hugo Marin (Ph.D. Researcher — Consultant)
Hugo has a PhD in Finance from the University of Paris Dauphine — PSL. His thesis focused on corporate finance, in particular corporate governance and behavioural finance.
Hugo is working on research questions relating to the financial impact of climate risks on banking institutions. He is also interested in the levers available to players in the financial sector to enable them to act in favour of the ecological transition.
Publications
- Gresse, C., & Marin, H. (2022). Geographical Proximity and Enhanced Attention in P2B Crowdlending Strategies. Université Paris-Dauphine Research Paper, (3864118).
- Gresse, C., & Marin, H. (2023). Learning by Doing in Crowdlending Auctions. Working Paper.
- Marin, H. (2023). Staggered Boards and Firm Value After the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Working Paper.
Romain Schweizer (Ph.D. Researcher — Consultant)
Romain has a PhD in Economics from the University of Paris Dauphine — PSL. His thesis focused on the political economy of transition and the greening of finance. Before joining the Square Research Center, he worked for France Stratégie, writing reports on climate and water resources.
He is interested in transition via 2 axes in particular: the geopolitics of transition and climate change and the availability of water resources and strategic raw materials.
Publications
- Scenario To Deal With Transition Risk From an Investment Bank Perspective (2021), Working Paper, Mines ParisTech
- Les enjeux de modélisation pour évaluer l’impact macroéconomique de la transition climatique (2022). Document de travail, France Stratégie
- Inflation (2023), Rapport thématique de la mission J. Pisani-Ferry, France Stratégie
- Marché du capital (2023), Rapport thématique de la mission J. Pisani-Ferry, France Stratégie
- Compétitivité(2023),Rapport thématique de la mission J. Pisani-Ferry, France Stratégie
- Quels usages de l’eau dans un futur marqué par une réduction des ressources en eau douce ? (A paraître), Note d’analyse, France Stratégie
PUBLICATIONS
Portfolio alignment
Portfolio alignment makes it possible to measure the climate performance of a portfolio of assets. A number of alignment methodologies have been developed in the wake of the Paris Agreement to meet the objective of making financial flows compatible with a low level of emissions. To date, existing methodologies do not take account of the risk dimension. As a result, a portfolio can be aligned with a 2°C trajectory and still be significantly exposed to climate risks.
Machine learning to resolve poor data ‘quality’
The use of machine learning comes up against ‘data scarcity’, i.e. poor data ‘quality’, which can only be exploited if it has been ‘labelled’ before and according to the analysis you want to carry out.
Design Network
Network design determines the structure of a business network and influences its costs and performance. This covers a range of strategic decisions, such as determining the number, size, and location of facilities in the Network, and can include tactical decisions (such as distribution, transport, and stock management policies) as well as operational decisions (such as meeting customer demand).
‘Diversity and inclusion’ policy to drive performance
Regulatory and ethical developments, linked to anti-discrimination law and the promotion of equality, are making it increasingly necessary to ensure that diversity and inclusion are respected and exemplified within an organisation. The same applies to talent management and employer branding.
Explicability of ‘black box’ ai* models
Artificial intelligence models are used in a number of fields (e.g. granting credit, fraud detection) and they deliver very good results. However, they lack transparency and explicability, which hinders their adoption by business teams and management, as well as their use in the eyes of regulators.
Causal inference: the uplift
‘Uplift modelling’ is the name given to a set of scoring methods used to assess individual sensitivity to sales prospecting.
Incorporating climate risks into the value of property assets
Real estate is vulnerable to a wide range of climate risks (physical, regulatory, and economic) that can significantly reduce its value. This depreciation may go so far as to generate ‘stranded assets’.
Digital twins of warehouses — intralogistics
Digital twins are virtual replicas that enable an exact copy of an object, machine, or process to be viewed on a screen and its behaviour to be simulated according to different scenarios.
Insurance to meet the challenge of the climate transition
An R&D programme on the transformation of the insurance business faced with the risks arising from the transition.
AI* to help assess the impact of climate change on the activities in the financial sector
AI makes it easier to assess and anticipate financial climate risks (e.g. risks for insurers, credit risks, and/or market risks).
AI* for supply chain resilience and sustainability
In supply chain terms, resilience is the ability to anticipate sudden disruptions and resist their spread, whereas sustainability refers to the ability to maintain functions and performance over the long term while meeting environmental, economic, and social requirements.
AI* and NLP* in the service of CSR
The proliferation of data (news, social networking, company reports, and press releases) has become a major challenge for CSR experts and decision makers in terms of extracting and interpreting key data.
Modelling of the impact of physical and transition risk on insurance company solvency
In the face of climate disruption, insurers need to know exactly what weather-related disasters (e.g. drought, hurricanes) they will have to deal with in order to anticipate the costs and consequences for their business.
Modelling of the impact of physical and transition risk on banks’ solvency
Climate risk has now been clearly identified as a risk to be taken into account in banks’ capital requirements.
Modelling of organisational culture
Faced with increasingly frequent changes, managing the cultural aspect of a company (e.g. values, shared symbols, history, individual, collective and managerial behaviour) is essential for optimising long-term transformation strategies.
New responsible marketing business models
In the age of sustainability, the influence of marketing on changes in consumer behaviour is becoming key, whether in terms of the transformation of business models, modes of governance, changes in consumption patterns, or the transformation of the marketing function, its practices, and marketing strategies (e.g. objectives, indicators, culture).
New working and management methods
The proliferation of ‘fads’ and proposed managerial innovations is driving the way in which many companies are trying to adopt new approaches, which are often wholly unsuitable for their managers and teams.
Responsible digital technology
Digital technology is responsible for a growing proportion of greenhouse gas emissions and has also negative social and societal impacts.
Value-based strategy: driving performance through value
Today, a company’s performance can no longer be conceived and measured exclusively in terms of financial performance.
Managing the decarbonisation of property assets
Property assets account for almost 45% of energy consumption in France, making them a priority target for decarbonisation strategies. These are currently based on the Energy Performance Diagnosis (‘DPE’, or energy label), which does not reflect the actual consumption and emissions of buildings.
Platformisation and innovation strategies
Platformisation marks the transition from an economy centred on products to one centred on digital intermediaries, and many companies are using it as a lever for development and a new business model.
Bank sustainability
Since the 2008 financial crisis, the ability of banks to withstand negative shocks affecting the quality of their assets has been a key concern for the authorities, regulators, and executives.
Transition to responsible innovation
In the age of sustainability, the influence of marketing on changes in consumer behaviour is becoming key, whether in terms of the transformation of business models, modes of governance, changes in consumption patterns, or the transformation of the marketing function, its practices, and marketing strategies (e.g. objectives, indicators, culture).