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.