Do you expect ESG to continue its growth? Please tell us what you are thinking.
Summer Update: The Status of ESG Sentiment
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2023
Google’s New APIs: AI for the Environment?
Google has taken a significant stride in gathering data related to climate change with the launch of three groundbreaking Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) as part of the Google Maps Platform. These APIs harness the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, aerial imagery, and environmental data to deliver real-time information on critical environmental factors: solar potential, air quality, and pollen levels.
Human Rights and Human Capital
Do you think these investor demands are valid? Do they go far enough? Has the ISSB done enough with its climate and sustainability reporting standards?
Shifting Tides in Oil and Gas Investments due to Sustainability Concerns
The divestment trend from oil and gas highlights the concern among investors about the impacts and viability of these industries. As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change and promote sustainable practices, investors are aligning their portfolios with their values.
Three Reasons to Focus on Sustainability
You are in business to make money, so profits are top of mind, but how often do you think about the long-term viability of your environmental practices? Here are three good reasons to look not only at today’s profit, but sustainability over the long haul. Externalized...
The Role of Maturity Assessments in Advancing Business ESG Efforts
n recent years maturity assessments have emerged as critical tools for enhancing and advancing business environment, social, and
governance (ESG) efforts. The global business landscape has witnessed a shift as ESG considerations have become integral to corporate strategy. Stakeholders are demanding greater accountability and transparency, emphasizing the need for businesses to operate sustainably and ethically. To meet these expectations and navigate the complexities of ESG, organizations must undergo a rigorous and systematic evaluation of their sustainability practices.
The Role of Materiality Assessment in Advancing Business ESG Efforts
As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations continue to gain prominence in the corporate
landscape, businesses are recognizing the significance of adopting sustainable practices. ESG initiatives go beyond mere token gestures of corporate social responsibility; they are essential drivers for long-term value creation, risk management, and reputational enhancement. Among the foundational tools that empower organizations to embark on meaningful ESG journeys is the materiality assessment. This process enables businesses to identify, prioritize, and address ESG issues that are most relevant to their unique operations and stakeholder expectations. In this article, we will explore the critical role of materiality assessments.
Religious Diversity as an Opportunity
Companies that have introduced plans to establish religious diversity, for example Nike’s Victory Swim Collection, cite positive impacts upon embracing religious diversity in business strategies.
Six Benefits of Corporate Diversity
Diversity in corporate boards is not just a box to be ticked; it is a fundamental aspect of strong governance and an integral part of the ESG framework. Diverse boards enhance decision-making, drive innovation, and bolster risk management practices. By fostering an inclusive and diverse boardroom culture, companies can build trust with stakeholders, attract top talent, and remain resilient in a rapidly changing business landscape. Embracing diversity is not just a path to compliance; it is a pathway to sustainable success. As ESG principles continue to guide the future of corporate governance, the importance of diversity will only grow, paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous business world.
Ten Ways to Promote Urban Biodiversity
Biodiversity and sustainability are critical issues facing modern cities. How do cities grow but also create spaces that ensure long term success and a thriving economy? Today, we present 10 solutions today’s leaders should consider as sprawl continues to happen and climate change is facing every person on earth.
GHG and Global Shipping
Earlier this week, the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced a revised strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) associated with the global shipping industry.
Population Trends and ESG
As populations in rich countries (which drive fossil consumption) shrink, greenhouse gasses should decrease. Additionally, measures can be taken to avoid the negative consequences of population decline. Governments can provide solutions such as adjusting retirement ages, encouraging immigration, increasing labor force participation, and enhancing savings and private pensions. ESG frameworks provide valuable tools for analyzing the risks that arise from population shifts, and the integration of these considerations will prove invaluable in modern corporate strategy.
Global Gender Gap
In response to an article on ESGNews.com Read the Article According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, improvements in gender inequality have recently stagnated, with the overall gender gap closing by only 0.3% in the most recent calendar...
Paris 2024 Plastic
As the host of Paris Climate Accords and an exemplar of proactive climate change policy, the city will likely be seen as an antithesis to the controversial Qatar Championship of 2022 – an event criticized for unsustainable practices. Do you think the Olympic Committee should mandate similar sustainable policies for host countries in the future?
It’s Time to Dust off Your 2023 Goals!
It is June already, which means that it’s time to dig out your 2023 goals, take stock of your company’s performance to date, and conduct mid-year reviews with your employees.
Climate Change Leads to Financial Risk
Recent controversy over the prohibition of ESG investment strategies in government pension programs stems from a fundamental misinterpretation of the motivations of environmental considerations. Contrary to what many anti-ESG advocates argue, the incorporation of risk management regarding climate change allows investors to fully evaluate the risks associated with certain investments, serving to ultimately aid profitability, not inhibit it. The stigmatization of ESG strategy acts as a distraction from using available tools like ESG frameworks to analyze a company and make decisions about it. By considering climate risks and opportunities, investors are able to pursue profitability while driving positive environmental change.
Sustainability Chat with Priscilla Ramcharan
I am grateful for the opportunity to talk about sustainability with Priscilla Rammcharan, founder of Our English 2.0, promoter of people and ideas, and author of several books for learners of all ages. Check out the interview, and the amazing things that Priscilla is doing to make the world better.
Europe Takes the Lead on Global Sustainability Standards
The EU is continuing its role as a leader in global sustainability with the adoption in November 2022 of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The CSRD is an effort to standardize sustainability reporting. Standardization is just one of many groundbreaking changes in the program, with the most significant being the requirement that all large companies with business in Europe comply.
Recent Study Debunks ESG Myths
In the past decade, opponents of ESG have relied on the argument that ESG is at odds with a company’s profitability and “bottom line’’. However, as implementation of ESG strategies and metrics grow, data on their impact is increasingly accessible, with conclusions...
Guest Blog- THE EVOLUTION OF ESG: FROM GOOD ACTIONS TO METRICS
Companies of all sizes are including ESG considerations within their strategic decisions. While for some this is not new, each are challenged by novel measuring and accountability requirements. These include determining the impact of these considerations while assuring that matters previously ignored, are now included.
ESG and Politics
Companies across industries report on their commitment to E.S.G. as part of their mission to deliver a positive impact to society, but E.S.G. has attracted criticism in the political arena. Political conservative have taken issue with “woke capitalism,” accusing E.S.G. advocates of imposing their progressive views on businesses and society. Others argue that E.S.G. does not go far enough because it does not mandate that companies serve the public good as well as shareholder interests.
E.S.G. is not a substitute for broader societal and governmental solutions. It is, however, an effective and nonpartisan business planning and decision-making tool.
Have We Entered the Era of the Employee?
The social isolation that resulted from the pandemic also had serious impacts on employee mental health, creating a new wave of opportunity for employers to respond to employee needs. In addition to mental health resources, mental health time off and shortened work weeks are innovative solutions that employers devised.
Liability for Environmental Damage
One of the headline news items coming out of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, in November of 2022, was an agreement to set up a fund for payments to developing countries that suffer loss and damage from climate-driven events like flooding, droughts and wildfires. It...
ESG Investing: A Matter of Ethics, Financial Performance, or Both?
The use of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics by the financial sector is growing through ESG investing. To understand the growth, it is helpful to consider what motivates their use. ESG investing can be divided into two camps. There are those who view...
