Our focus areas

What we do

Future Horizons Institute explores the intersections between climate, nature and business through webinars, seminars, reports, courses and policy briefs. Guided by our mission to contribute to a sustainable and fair world, we work to achieve positive economic, environmental and social outcomes for sustainable development in the Global South, in the context of an emerging multipolar world order.

Through our work, we generate and share knowledge, engaging with decision makers in the public and private sector for the benefit of people and planet, with a focus on the areas described below.

Focus areas

Climate justice and the energy transition: Addressing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups, women, and Indigenous Peoples, through mitigation and adaptation actions

Climate change impacts and policies affect populations unevenly. Vulnerable groups, including low-income groups and Indigenous Peoples, often experience greater exposure to climate risks while having more limited access to resources, services, and participation in decision-making processes. There is also an important gender dimension to climate change, which affects women differently, particularly in the Global South.

Climate change policies influence land use, energy systems, livelihoods, and infrastructure, shaping economic and social outcomes. Integrating justice considerations into climate and energy policy supports responses that address both environmental risks and social conditions.

Climate justice also contributes to the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. Local knowledge, indigenous practices, and gender-responsive approaches can strengthen resilience and improve responses to climate impacts. These perspectives support context-specific solutions that reflect environmental, cultural, and social conditions.

In addition, climate justice plays a role in climate governance. Participation, representation, and access to information influence how climate policies are designed and implemented. Inclusive governance supports accountability and the long-term sustainability of mitigation and adaptation measures.

Sustainable Finance: Support for responsible business practices and ESG in global investment policies and practices, with focus on climate, nature, and human rights

Sustainable finance refers to the process of taking environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into account when making investment decisions in the financial sector, leading to more long-term investments in sustainable economic activities and projects. Environmental considerations include climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the environment more broadly, for instance the preservation of biodiversity, pollution prevention, and the circular economy. Social considerations refer to issues of inequality, inclusiveness, labour relations, investment in people and their skills and communities, as well as human rights issues. The governance of public and private institutions – including management structures, employee relations and executive remuneration – plays a fundamental role in ensuring the inclusion of social and environmental considerations in the decision-making process (European Union, 2024).

Integrating ESG considerations into investment decision-making supports improved risk assessment and longer-term investment planning. Furthermore, investment policies and financial practices shape corporate behaviour and economic activity. Finally, corporate disclosure frameworks, investment standards, and governance requirements influence how sustainability objectives are reflected in financial markets. Sustainable finance is particularly relevant given the growing financial implications of climate change, biodiversity loss, and human rights risks.

Sustainable Trade: Advocacy for trade and investment flows for sustainable value chains and commodities based on the highest ESG standards

Trade and investment flows shape the structure and operation of global value chains. Trade policy and investment frameworks influence sourcing, production, and market access, with direct implications for environmental management, labour conditions, and governance practices. Therefore, understanding what sustainable trade consists of is relevant for governments, companies and consumers.

This is particularly important as sustainability considerations become more prominent in international trade. Environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, as well as social issues including labour standards and human rights, are closely linked to the production and trade of commodities. Integrating high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards into trade and investment flows supports alignment between economic activity and environmental and social objectives.

Sustainable trade also plays a role in market stability and regulatory coherence. Common ESG-based expectations across jurisdictions can improve predictability for economic actors and reduce fragmentation in trade and investment rules. This is especially relevant in sectors and commodity markets with high environmental and social risks.

Finally, sustainable trade affects access to global markets. Trade and investment requirements influence participation along value chains and shape development outcomes. How ESG standards are designed and implemented has implications for competitiveness, compliance costs, and inclusion across regions.

Our multipolar world: Promotion of multilateralism as the cornerstone of a new multipolar world order with respect for the rule of law

We live in a multipolar world with ongoing changes in the distribution of global power and influence. As economic and political power become more dispersed and global powers seek to re-shape global trade, security and areas of influence, international multilateral institutions come under under increased stress.

At the same time, issues such as climate change, migration flows, trade, security and financial stability extend beyond national borders and thus require coordinated responses based on international cooperation. Multilateral institutions provide platforms for governments to cooperate, discuss the means to address global challenges, and negotiate ways to manage both solutions and conflicts, based on shared institutions, rules and norms. Multilateralism is therefore a key approach for multiple countries to work together on common goals and resolve differences.

Respect for the rule of law is a key component of multilateral governance. Legal frameworks and dispute resolution mechanisms help ensure consistency, transparency, and fairness in international relations. They also support accountability and limit the role of power-based decision-making. Rules-based cooperation enables both large and small states to engage on agreed terms and supports stability in a multipolar context.