ESG: The New Board Risk

Recent years have seen a surge in interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Topics such as climate change, workforce diversity and inclusion, and political spending are increasingly top of mind for stakeholders—investors, customers, employees, and more.

But the growing interest in ESG has also brought growing scrutiny, argues Matteo Tonello, Managing Director of The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center—and the latest guest on CEO Perspectives. As Tonello details, a broad swath of stakeholders expects heightened accountability from executives on how their companies address a variety of ESG-related issues.

Hosted by President and CEO Steve Odland, tune into this podcast for insights on: 

• In recent years, how has investors’ focus on ESG issues changed—and what factors account for the shift?
• Despite the opportunities, what risks can ESG issues pose to companies?
• What steps can boards take to assess their companies’ ESG performance and mitigate risk?
• What board committees should be responsible for oversight of ESG issues?
• Amid increasing—and loudening—calls from stakeholders, where should companies draw the line when responding to their ESG-related demands?
• The role of government in ESG: What lies ahead?

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