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Friday 5
Putting the G in ESG
8 November, 2024
Yesterday, our Senior Partner Claire joined a panel discussion with representatives from our friends at Echo Research, Mishcon de Reya and Avon to explore whether governance is the secret weapon for transformation, drawing on insights from the second wave of research with our Sustainability Leaders Panel. The panel explored how to engage the board in sustainability, how to bring the business along on the journey and reflected on the likely impact of the US election and what happens when governance goes wrong.
As sustainability regulations proliferate, a new compliance floor has been set for companies and their value chains, demanding time, resources and attention. However, it seems that new regulations and disclosures are making sustainability teams’ lives harder, often encouraging a retreat from compliance rather than inspiring progress. So how do we turn the dial?
Governance isn’t a tick-box exercise: it a decision-making tool that can be used to ensure that real change happens. When done well, it drives and demands transformation. This is where the power of governance lies: in its ability to move a company from promises to progress. By embedding robust governance structures that distribute accountability and prioritise purpose, boards and directors can ensure that strategies and environmental and social commitments are put into action.
For those wanting some practical actionable insights from the discussion, our Managing Partner, David, has summarised them in a LinkedIn post here.
By Bertie Bateman