Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), a global provider of equity, fixed income, real estate indexes, multi-asset portfolio analysis tools, ESG and climate products, has launched sustainability institute.

According to MSCI, the institute aims to advance the role of capital markets in creating sustainable value and tackling global challenges like climate change.

The institute will use MSCI’s investment industry expertise to foster collaboration across finance, academia, government, NGOs, think tanks, and companies. It will provide access to data and knowledge, encourage innovation in new approaches, curate decision-useful research, and provide a forum for debate.

It will equip academic researchers and policymakers with sustainability data, metrics, and models, and encourage innovators to pilot new data and measurement approaches. The initiative is supported by the Bezos Earth Fund and ClimateWorks Foundation, MSCI said in a press release.

Henry Fernandez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MSCI, said, “Global challenges such as climate change cannot be solved by governments, corporations, NGOs or multilateral organizations alone. The most meaningful solutions all require some type of cross-sector collaboration. Through the MSCI Sustainability Institute, we will bring together a wide range of thinkers with complementary strengths and expertise, and help them turn data-driven ideas into real-world influence and action.”

Linda-Eling Lee, Founding Director and Head, MSCI Sustainability Institute, said, “We are incredibly excited to work with investors, academics, policymakers, NGOs and companies across industries, leveraging MSCI’s experience in developing new ways to measure both financial and non-financial value. Together, we will deepen knowledge of how capital markets can help drive sustainable value.”

The institute will also be advised by Hiromichi Mizuno, who recently joined the firm as Special Advisor to the CEO, with a particular focus on climate and sustainable investing issues.