Diversity, inclusion and sustainability in the financial system

This paper offers an introduction to the Special Issue of the European Journal of Finance on ‘Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability in the Financial System’. The nine included articles address a wide range of research questions relating to diversity, governance, climate risk, ESG integration and leadership within financial institutions and markets. In summarising these contributions, we group them into three broad themes: (i) diversity, inclusion and governance effectiveness; (ii) sustainability, climate and ESG governance; and (iii) leadership responses to sustainability and performance challenges. We also discuss the broader implications of these findings for financial institutions and policymakers and outline directions for future research.