Boards that act now in framing their ESG issues will be ahead of the curve in terms of the effective delivery of new products and services in established and new formats and ongoing sustainability.

With a broad coalition of interests coalescing around the ESG banner, there are many reasons to support boards in developing their ESG understanding and decisions to improve relevant ESG-related activities.

The Next Generation NED Network held a lively and wide-ranging discussion on ESG – and particularly, the role of NEDs in steering their businesses through this seemingly ever-changing landscape. There were a variety of viewpoints and areas of expertise spanning finance, communications and academia.

Wherever the pressure for embracing ESG comes from, it is the board that should lead on defining the organisation’s values and aims in tackling ESG issues as part of its legal, ethical and cultural responsibilities. However, with so many other issues competing for the board’s time, it can be difficult to explicitly address ESG in board papers and discussions.

The ESG Summit brought together experts from across industry to explore recent developments in the fast-moving ESG landscape. Here are some key takeaways.

Chris Hodge FCG reflects upon acting as moderator for a panel discussion about how ESG issues are impacting on companies, investors and the relationship between them.

Boards need to see their way through the myriad of definitions, interpretations and priorities that have come to be ESG. The question is: how?

The government’s recent announcement that it will build more data centres highlights the demand for technological infrastructure. As data centres expand, the discussion around their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) implications grows.

As societal expectations evolve and environmental and social challenges come to the forefront, regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on ESG issues.