Sustainability and Climate: Top Global ESG Priorities for Boards in 2025

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C-Suite Outlook

Sustainability and Climate: Top Global ESG Priorities for Boards in 2025

21 January 2025 / Quick Take

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As environmental, social & governance (ESG) factors become increasingly integral to business strategy, corporate boards are recognizing the critical role they play in overseeing risks, determining which issues to focus on, and deciding how to optimally serve the interests of stakeholders.

Key Insight

For 2025, board members globally identify sustainability and climate events as the two external ESG-related factors expected to have the greatest impact on their business. This aligns closely with global CEOs’ perspectives, according to our C-Suite Outlook 2025 survey, reflecting a shared acknowledgment of the risks and opportunities presented by “E” and “S” challenges.

To further advance these efforts, boards can:

Strengthen ESG oversight structures: While dedicated ESG committees remain rare among US boards—just 4% of Russell 3000 companies disclosed having such a committee in 2024—boards should empower existing committees, typically nominating and governance, to oversee ESG strategy and consider risks and opportunities. Boards may also consider adding an “E&S” committee to complement the governance committee.
Enhance ESG expertise and fluency: Boards should cultivate sufficient knowledge of ESG issues, including regulatory trends, stakeholder expectations, and industry challenges. ESG expertise on boards grew

Author

Andrew Jones, PhD

Principal Researcher, Governance & Sustainability …
The Conference Board

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