A Quick Understanding of Terms

Oxford Reference
An online reference product for Oxford University Press’s Dictionaries, Companions and Encyclopedias. Use this to check a fact or finding key, trusted, concept, or term.

Oxford Handbooks Online
The Editor in Chief and Editorial Board brings together scholars to discuss research and the latest thinking on a range of major topics. The handbooks offer introductions to topics and a critical survey of the current state of scholarship in a particular field of study. The articles review the key issues and major debates, and provide an argument for how those debates might evolve.

Academic Articles & Books
OneSearch
This tool searches across a few databases to find the relevant academic articles in journals and books.
Here are a list of books on Sustainability in NTU Libraries.
To get you started here are some recent journal articles on Corporate citizenship.

Emerald
Use Emerald to find articles on Environment & society, Environmental issues , Environmental management  and Environmental politics

Harvard Business Review
These articles presents analysis of problems and thinking on management, strategy and leadership

Reports
Sustainalytics
Provide sector and thematic ESG reports. Looking at key sector sustainability/ESG trends or specific sustainability/ESG trends that are global and regional. A majority of these reports have been made available for free on their website.

GlobeScan
An evidence-led strategy consultancy. It makes available some of its research reports for free.

OECDiLibrary
OECD produces reports and statistics on Environment, Governance and Social issues.

Thomson One
ESG reports are available in the Filings section.

Ratings
GMI Analyst
It provides ESG ratings grades for companies and the GMI ratings assesses governance risks.

RepRisk
The ESG risk ratings are available on WRDS. You will need apply for a password using your NTU email address.

News
Factiva
Search for news in newspapers and magazines.

Lexis Nexis Academic
Search for news in newspapers and magazines.

Sustainability-related websites
United Nations Environment Programme
Global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda.

Earthwatch
Engages in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

Greenpeace
An independent campaigning organisation, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.

Documentary Movies

There are a number of documentaries that provide great overviews of sustainability issues we are face today. In your spare time, I suggest that you explore these to help build your knowledge. Many of them are available for rent in the library:

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

Former Vice President Al Gore explains the facts of global warming in relatable terms, and shows how climate change has reached a crisis point. He discusses the role of parties who try to discredit global warming, and shares personal anecdotes throughout. Although it’s a decade old, this film is a great introduction to understanding the key issues around climate change. Available from the library (on reserve).

In 2015, Al Gore spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davis, and gave an update of global warming trends and action taken to address climate change, which you can view here.

The Corporation (2004)

Although this was filmed more than a decade ago, the issues of corporations and their negative impact on the environment and society still very much hold true today. Michael Moore and Milton Friedman are both featured in this film. The documentary traces important history of how corporations came to be “individuals” in the eyes of the legal system, with individual rights, but no responsibility. The film examines and criticizes corporate business practices, and diagnoses this all-pervasive “individual” as a psychopath, displaying all the traits of callous unconcern towards others, incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, reckless behavior, deceitfulness, incapacity to experience guilt, and failure to conform to social norms. Available from the Business Library (on reserve).

Years of Living Dangerously (2014)

This eight part series features many Hollywood starts, including Jessica Alba, Matt Damon, America Ferrera, Harrison Ford, and Arnold Schwarzenegger among others. It won an Emmy award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. Climate change is the main focus of this project, and Harrison Ford travels to Indonesia to look at deforestation, for which he was threatened with deportation. Available from the Business Library (on reserve).

 A second season aired in 2016 (not yet available in the library).

Before the Flood (2016)

This new documentary features Leonardo DiCaprio’s journey as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. DiCaprio travels to five continents to witness the effects of climate change firsthand. He accompanies scientists and meets with political leaders who are fighting against inaction. He also unravels calculated disinformation campaigns orchestrated by powerful players with special interests, to deliberately confuse the public. DiCaprio’s trip to Indonesian forests earned him a threat to be banned from entering the country. You can access the documentary here

Wild City (2016)

Legendary wildlife documentarian, Sir David Attenborough, narrates this documentary about Singapore’s wildlife. NTU’s resident pangolin is featured in this two-part series, as well as many other species you’ve probably never heard of or seen. You can watch this documentary online for free here.

Your Personal Librarian
Need help finding information or citing sources?

Get in touch with your personal librarian at CatherineTan@ntu.edu.sg (Ms. Catherine Tan).