The ESG "backlash": How to balance competing demands
Climate change and social issues have, for (at least) the last decade, occupied legislative, regulatory and shareholder thinking, with implications for corporate decision making around the globe. Over the last year, the consequences of ongoing economic challenges and geopolitical events have ushered in what has been called a "rollback" in ESG – a renewed and altered focus on policies intended to combat climate change and the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The implications of this backlash are pertinent to corporates across western economies, with the potential to impact corporate strategies, investment paths and engagement with stakeholders from shareholders to consumers.