Making the Connection

CHAPTER 10

Environment—The Rationale

Footprint

The environment, especially climate change aspects, is considered the most pressing immediate concern in the “ESG world.” Indeed, if climatologists’ predictions are correct, there could be knock-on environmental implications (e.g., crop failure and habitat reduction) that lead directly to adverse social ramifications. So the “E” and “S” parts of ESG are, in principle, intertwined.

Many organizations have well-embedded environmental policies and associated action programs. This has been best known, and most identifiable, via “corporate responsibility” policies, which have been a feature of corporate mission statements since well before the turn of the century¹.

Much of this began with pollution control ...