Featured Events
Sep 19 2023
2023 Practical ESG Conference
Apr 27 2023
Podcast
: The ABC’s of ESG Episode 8: Governance
Featured Blogs
May 26 2023 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg
Passing Gas: Risks of Using Carbon Capture and Storage in Your GHG Strategy
[Ed. note: In observance of Memorial Day in the U.S., we will not be posting a blog next Monday. ESG in the News will be back on Tuesday. We wish our readers a happy and safe long weekend.] I remember...
May 25 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Conference Early Bird Rate Expires Next Week
Don’t forget – the Early Bird rate for our upcoming PracticalESG Conference (virtual) expires next Wednesday May 31. We have a full day of panels bringing you up to date and usable information on September 19. For instance, two topics...
May 24 2023 #diversity, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social
Disney CEO Handles Mister Toad’s Wild Ride Shareholder Meeting
In a blog last month covering comments Advisory Board member Douglas Chia made to open the “Corporate Governance: A Master Class 2023” on April 11, 2023 in New York City, Doug set the stage for the “war on two fronts”...
May 23 2023 #diversity, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #social
Say This Instead: Is the Hairstyle “Unprofessional” or is it Unfamiliar?
Recently, I have been challenging myself to show up in my most authentic self in every space. For me that means allowing my youth to shine through in work conversations, being more playful in my interactions, and wearing my natural...
May 22 2023 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg
U.S. Climate Cases Move Forward Against Energy Companies
Around the U.S., over 40 states and municipalities have filed suit against energy companies over their role in perpetuating the climate crises. Five of these high-profile cases went up on appeal regarding jurisdictional issues and last week the Supreme Court...
May 22 2023 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
ESG in the News: Federal Reserve shrugs off climate risk; more turmoil in carbon markets
Newsworthy ESG items for the two week period of May 8 – 19, 2023. United States Federal Reserve ESG salaries EU Litigation UK M&A Germany Coal use Insurance Australia Net Zero International Private equity Transition economy CEOs Sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) Net...
May 19 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #environment, #investors, #supply-chain
EU Greenwashing Crackdown Spells Trouble for Carbon Offsets
Back in March, we wrote about the EU’s proposed Green Claims Directive and the heightened level of scrutiny expected for company sustainability claims. Last week, the European Parliament took another step toward cracking down on greenwashing – voting to adopt...
May 18 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Quick Poll – Will a Recession Change Your ESG Direction?
General economic uncertainty hit a peak in past weeks with the US debt ceiling crisis. Financial pressures from an actual or perceived downturn create direct challenges to corporate ESG/sustainability efforts. Companies face hard choices between cost savings, headcount reductions, established...
May 18 2023 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
ABC’s of ESG Podcast Series: Final Episode Available – Acclimating to a New ESG Position
The eleventh and final episode in our ABC’s of ESG podcast series is now available. In this episode, we talk about acclimating to ESG. The tables are turned in this one – Lawrence Heim interviews Zach Barlow on transitioning from...
May 17 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Why Sustainability is STILL Stupid
Back in 2015 when I was in another position – perhaps well before many of today’s ESG/sustainability practitioners entered the profession – I wrote a blog titled Sustainability is Stupid. The article formed the basis of my book Killing Sustainability...
May 16 2023 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Misbehaving in ESG
[Ed. note: Unfortunately, I am under the weather. ESG in the News will be postponed until next week.] Last week I read an interesting article about whether air dryers or recycled paper towels in public restrooms are environmentally preferable. The...
May 15 2023 #diversity, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #social
Say This Instead: Let’s Do Away with Colorblind Ideologies
[Ed. note: ESG in the News will be published tomorrow.] Early in my career, a common response to diversity, equity, and inclusion issues was to take a colorblind approach. Today, similar ideologies abound and sound like the following: “I don’t...
May 12 2023 #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #investors, #social
Episodes 9 and 10 of ABCs of ESG Podcast Series Now Available
The ninth and tenth episodes in our ABC’s of ESG series are now available. In episode nine, John Jenkins joins us to discuss proxies. He explains what proxies are, how they work, and how they impact E&S initiatives at publicly...
May 12 2023 #climate, #compliance, #investors
This Summer’s Hit TV Show: House Judiciary ESG Investigations
A new thrilling investigation is set to stream this summer – and no, unfortunately, it’s not another Knives Out film. Instead, the investigation comes from House Republicans on the Judiciary Committee looking into possible antitrust violations from Climate Action 100+,...
May 11 2023 #climate, #environment, #esg, #investors
A Real ESG Business Case: Gas Stations in Norway Go Electric
I’m wearing out this theme, I know. But it needs repeating because we’ve gotten so off track in determining the business value of ESG. I’ve written many times before that the majority of US companies position their ESG efforts and...
May 10 2023 #climate, #environment, #esg, #investors, #social
Sustainability-Linked Bonds: Structuring Issuances
[Ed. note: Today’s blog was written by Meredith Ervine, Editor of our companion products TheCorporateCounsel.net, CompensationStandards.com and DealLawyers.com. Most recently, Meredith was a partner at Honigman LLP, serving as co-chair of the Public Company, Securities and Governance practice where she...
May 9 2023 #diversity, #equity, #esg, #social
These Three Components Make an Exceptional DEI Report
DEI reports showcase a company’s plans, practices, and progress on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Like other company reports, there isn’t a one-size fits all approach to DEI reports, so they run the gamut from detailed to high level, brief...
May 8 2023 #climate, #compliance, #environment, #esg, #investors, #supply-chain
SEC Climate Disclosure Rule: Later Rather than Sooner?
Last week, rumors floated that the SEC may not issue its final climate disclosure rule until the second half of 2023, rather than in April as preliminarily indicated in the most recent Reg Flex agenda. Of course, April ended over...
May 8 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
ESG in the News: Florida violates its own new anti-ESG law; Bank investors less enthusiastic about climate resolutions
Newsworthy ESG items for the week of May 1- 4, 2023. United States Climate disclosure Investor activism ESG ratings Florida Anti-ESG movement EU Corporate climate assumptions Corporate sustainability due diligence UK Investor activism International Private equity ESG ratings Net zero...
May 5 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Let Us Know: What is Your Biggest ESG Challenge?
To begin today – happy Cinco de Mayo! This is a big deal here in Texas and with the fifth falling on a Friday, there will be lots of parties. For those not familiar with the origin of the celebration,...
May 4 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #investors, #social
Episode 8 of ABCs of ESG Podcast Series Now Available
The eighth episode in our ABCs of ESG series is now live on PracticalESG.com. In this episode, we discuss the G in ESG. We look at governance in an E&S context, identify major players and influencers within companies in managing E&S...
May 3 2023 #diversity, #equity, #esg, #human-rights
DEI Leaders, Here’s How to Drive Engagement with Company Leaders
We know that company leaders must be engaged in their DEI initiative for it to be successful. We don’t always know how to help company leaders engage the DEI initiatives while they tackle their priorities in the business. Building relationships...
May 2 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Industry Collaborations for ESG: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Multi-company and cross-industry collaborations are not new. They typically form when corporations are faced with major business threats. The collaborative efforts can be preemptive (such as lobbying efforts) or to develop cost effective’s solutions for managing systemic problems (like climate...
May 2 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social
ESG in the News: Marketing profession lags in ESG competence; “Private label” carbon offsets are coming
Newsworthy ESG items for April 24 – 28, 2023. United States Corporate climate assumptions Greenwashing Anti-ESG ESG jobs Private equity Kansas Anti-ESG movement EU Carbon offsets ESG policy development International Greenwashing Private equity Carbon credits Chief Sustainability Officers Methane emissions
May 1 2023 #climate, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Riding the ESG Bull
[Ed. note: ESG in the News will be published tomorrow.] Readers know I live in West Texas and although I am not a real cowboy, I revel in the cowboy state of mind. So this past weekend when I had...
Apr 28 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
Next Time, It’ll be Different
As I mentioned recently, we have been working on some changes to the PracticalESG.com website to improve the organization and visibility of the many resources available on the site. Feedback from members, blog subscribers and others informed and guided these...
Apr 28 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #esg, #investors
Critical Audit Matters Don’t Seem to Matter
When the Critical Audit Matter (CAM) standard was released by the PCAOB, I felt that could be a viable path for auditors to bring more visibility to financially material ESG matters. My idea didn’t seem to be getting much traction...
Apr 27 2023 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #investors, #social
So Sue Me: Study Finds that Litigation Risks Alter Company Disclosure Practices
Companies face increasing pressure from investors to disclose voluntary environmental data. A 2018 survey showed that 82% of investors claim to incorporate ESG data into their investment decisions in some financial context. With the increase in investors relying on ESG...
Apr 26 2023 #assurance, #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
ESG Reports – Bigger Ain’t Mo’ Bettah
We need to talk. About your company ESG report. I’ll just get right to the point – it’s probably just too big. When companies first started reporting on CSR (ESG’s most direct ancestor) they tended to be tome-like – almost...
Apr 25 2023 #climate, #compliance, #esg, #investors, #social
New Guidance Issued for Europe’s SFDR
The past two weeks have seen major activity from the European Commission (EC) and European Banking Authorities (EBAs) regarding clarification and further development of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). First, on April 12, the EBAs published a...
Apr 24 2023 #climate, #compliance, #diversity, #environment, #equity, #esg, #human-rights, #investors, #social, #supply-chain
ESG in the News: China’s EV growth means more coal power; anti-ESG quiets talk but not action
Newsworthy ESG items for the week of April 17-21, 2023. Not related to ESG issues, but I couldn’t let this go. You have to hand it to the folks at SpaceX. They called the unplanned explosion of what was the...
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Subject Areas View all Subject Areas
For ease of navigation, we have broken all subject areas into categories: Environmental, , and Governance.
Environmental
Governance
- B Corporation
- Board Oversight of E&S Issues
- Board Oversight of E&S Issues / M&A Considerations
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- E&S Governance
- ESG Staffing Matters
- Investor Policies & Trends / Shareholder Activism & Engagement / Shareholder Proposals
- Investor Trends
- M&A Considerations
- Public Benefit Corporation
- Risk Management
- Shareholder Activism
- Shareholder Engagement
- Shareholder Proposals
View all Subject Areas, including those spanning multiple disciplines, here.
Featured Q&A Members Only
CDP Disclosure Insight Action
We recently received a letter from CDP Disclosure Insight Action requesting that we disclose certain environmental information through their questionnaire. From what I can tell, this is not required and, as we currently disclose sustainability related information in many different places and to many different people, we’re not inclined to voluntarily add another to the list. However, I was curious what other companies who received this letter intend to do. Would appreciate your thoughts here.
04/21/2023, Question #15429
ESG Report Restatements
Have you seen companies restate ESG reports for material data errors? If so, do they just post it the amended version on the website with specific reference to amendment and/or issue a press release to disclose an amended report has been issued?
04/13/2023, Question #15272
“Leading” ESG disclosure framework?
What do you view as the leading ESG disclosure framework right now for US-based companies that have primarily US operations? If it’s TCFD, are there also elements of other frameworks that are important to know? If/when the SEC adopts climate disclosure rules, are there parts of these voluntary reporting frameworks that are also going to continue to be relevant? Thanks for any thoughts!
03/17/2023, Question #14628