Setting and Disclosing ESG Goals: Session One

January 29, 2026 11:00 AM ET - 12:30 PM ET | Hybrid Meeting

ESG goal-setting and disclosure remain central to corporate strategy, yet the landscape has shifted dramatically. Regulatory divergence, increased scrutiny, and political polarization mean that companies must establish ESG commitments that are feasible, defensible, and backed by credible plans and measurable action. In this environment, organizations with vague or unsubstantiated goals face heightened risks – from legal challenges to eroding stakeholder trust.

Hosted by The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center, this Roundtable series will provide organizations with practical insights to help set ESG goals that are credible, measurable, aligned with business strategy, and transparently disclosed.

Session One: Environmental Goals

Thursday, January 29 | 11:00–12:30 PM ET

As climate risks intensify, regulations evolve, and ESG conversations grow more politicized, companies are reassessing their environmental commitments. This session will explore how organizations are advancing – or recalibrating – their climate and resource-related goals. Topics include:

Validating targets through frameworks such as SBTi
Assessing the feasibility of net-zero pathways and Scope 3 reductions
Expanding environmental priorities to water, biodiversity, and circularity
Engaging assurance providers to strengthen the credibility and transparency of reporting

To Attend

Virtual participation: To register, please log into our website at the top of this page.
To attend in person: Please RSVP directly to Lindsay Beltzer: LBeltzer@tcb.org

For issues regarding registration or questions about your company’s Membership status, please get in touch with Abby Martiner, Member Engagement Manager, at AMartiner@tcb.org.

Upcoming Sessions in the Series

Session Two: Social Goals

March 3

Expectations around social impact are shifting rapidly, prompting organizations to rethink how they define and deliver on social commitments. This session will examine how companies are setting measurable goals across areas such as workforce diversity and inclusion, pay equity, employee well-being, supplier labor standards, and community engagement. Discussion will focus on:

Converting broad aspirations into concrete, trackable targets
Using dashboards, reporting, and assurance processes to monitor progress
Sustaining momentum on DEI and related priorities amid a changing political landscape
Aligning social goals more closely with business strategy and global frameworks

Session Three: Governance Goals

April 2

Governance is the foundation that enables credible environmental and social progress. This session will explore how companies are defining and disclosing governance goals that reinforce accountability and support ESG performance. Topics include:

Board diversity, independence, and evolving ESG oversight structures
Linking executive compensation to sustainability outcomes
Governance safeguards against greenwashing and for transparent disclosure
Emerging focus areas such as AI ethics, corporate lobbying, and supply chain risks

Governance & Sustainability Center Roundtables bring business leaders together for strategic, Chatham House Rule discussions that generate actionable insights. Participation is an exclusive benefit for US Governance & Sustainability Center Members. There is no fee to attend.