How can you advocate for ESG policies that support sustainability?

You cannot set reliable goals without working on your sustainability strategy. Even companies in the same sector, even direct competitors may emphasize different topics connected with ESG. Be sure that you invest in what is crucial for you and your stakeholders and your strategic outlook will help you with this. When choosing your ESG goals, it is best to start in areas that you already have experience in or data on. For example, do you want to reduce carbon emissions or achieve greater transparency and accountability? Do you know your current emissions? Have you ever calculated them? Your goal might be starting to do that as well as improving your results. Be ambitious, but also be reasonable.

This involves engaging stakeholders, emphasizing the business case for sustainable practices. Communicate the financial benefits, risk mitigation, &long-term resilience associated with ESG. Collaborate with industry peers, NGOs &regulatory bodies to drive collective action. Integrate sustainability metrics into key performance indicators. Foster transparency through clear reporting on environmental impact, social responsibility, &governance practices. Engage investors & shareholders in dialogues about the positive impact of ESG policies on long-term value creation. Continuously educate & update stakeholders on the measurable outcomes of sustainability initiatives, emphasizing the alignment with broader corporate goals & societal well-being.

ESG é uma jornada de transformação cultural de uma organização. É a criação de um ciclo virtuoso que se torna transversal na empresa, pois seus aspectos acabam por estar presentes em quase todos os processos. Um bom diagnóstico ajuda a conhecer os pontos prioritários dentro da agenda ESG que sua organização deve perseguir e priorizar. Não adianta ter muitas iniciativas e poucas acabativas. TEnha foco em alguns itens mais críticos e depois vai progredindo em outras e criando uma mentalidade dentro da organização, alcançando uma mudança de cultura.

Understanding your ESG goals is like having a compass for sustainable success. Environmental: Dive into eco-friendly initiatives that reduce your carbon footprint, promote renewable energy, and champion resource conservation. Social: Embrace initiatives that prioritize fair labor practices, diversity, and community engagement. Building strong relationships with stakeholders and ensuring the well-being of your workforce is key. Governance: Uphold ethical practices, transparency, and accountability. A robust governance structure ensures responsible decision-making and aligns your organization with long-term sustainability. Incorporating ESG goals isn't just a checklist; it's a commitment to a better, more responsible future.

Not all companies want to move forward with ESG until a regulation lands on their doorstep. I have found the single best way to address this topic, is by encouraging the company to look at the bottom line in areas that affect ESG. - Introducing smart building concepts from the consumption of electricity, water and more, is an easy win. All companies can clearly see how saving money by reducing consumption. - Offering electric chargers to employees helps save money on fuel for the employe & often reduces tax liability in a corporation - Asking employees where they see waste and placing a program behind reducing waste, empowers the employee and often helps the bottom line. Aligning ESG to profit is the quickest way for companies to move.

A good starting point to establish ESG goals is to make a materiality process and understand the material aspects for the organization with engagement with stakeholders.

Knowing your ESG goals is crucial when advocating for policies that support sustainability because it provides a clear roadmap for organizations to integrate responsible business practices into their operations. Setting and communicating specific ESG goals help in driving positive change, measuring progress, and demonstrating a commitment to sustainable development. Example: A company sets a goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% over the next five years. This specific target allows stakeholders to track the company's progress and hold it accountable for achieving its stated environmental objective. The company can regularly report on emission reductions and demonstrate its commitment to mitigating climate change.

Dinheiro não aceita desaforo. Mas, de repente, as letras ESG passaram a fazer parte do vocabulário dos negócios, como se investidores quisessem "queimar dinheiro" em nome de ideais "politicamente corretos". Investidores querem aplicar seu dinheiro em empresas lucrativas, sem dúvida. Mas hoje quais são as maiores ameaças ao lucro das empresas? Um desastre ambiental? Uma ação trabalhista, ou pior, um escândalo de trabalho análogo ao escravo? Uma fraude bilionária ou o envolvimento em um esquema de corrupção? A agenda ESG nas empresas não deve ser encarada como uma ação de marketing mas uma série estruturada de ações de gestão desses três riscos: o ambiental, social, e de governança, garantindo a lucratividade, no longo prazo.

Get some help! You are already busy enough doing the day job, right? Are you an expert in this area? Perhaps you can learn from someone who has experience in pulling together all the people and elements needed as well as being able to pose the right questions and help you prioritise. We’ve enlisted the support of @FutureShift here in the UK.

Aligning with Stakeholder Expectations: Example: A multinational corporation establishes a goal to ensure that 80% of its suppliers meet specific labor and human rights standards within the next three years. By setting this social goal, the company aligns itself with the expectations of socially conscious investors, customers, and advocacy groups. This commitment can improve the company's reputation and market positioning.

I feel it is key to remember the Pareto Principle. The most important decision making stakeholders would be fewer in number and would hold maximum authority over adoption of policies. It will help if the stakeholders are involved during the entire stage as they will become the biggest advocates during the rollout of ESG policies.

Dentro do processo de mapeamento, é fundamental conhecer todos os stakeholders envolvidos em cada um dos processos e como eles impactam ou são impactados. É preciso entender o grau de prioridade e importância de cada item para cada grupo de stakeholders, para poder alinhar um discurso customizado para cada um.

Understand the different perspectives and priorities of stakeholders like investors, board members, employees, and the community. Frame your arguments in a way that resonates with each group, highlighting the specific benefits they will gain from adopting sustainable practices.

Building your credibility is a process that will take time. Start with checking the market on how you can educate yourself. Choose different options and possibilities – it may be post-graduate studies, an MBA, conferences or seminars, meeting with people who could become your mentors, checking reporting standards, or being up to date with research and trends. Also be aware that ESG is a broad topic, and you cannot be an expert on everything. Know the outlook, but choose what you want to specialize in and employ experts for the rest. Once you feel more comfortable and have gained knowledge, start sharing it with others. From the expert position, it will be easier for you to advocate for ESG policies.

26 years in the packaging industry and I can assure you it takes time to build your reputation and credibility. I'm not saying you can't add value if you're new but it can take some time to earn the respect of your customers and peers.

VOcê tem duas formas de falar sobre ESG. Busque capacitação e formação, ou através da sua experiência, ou o diploma da vida, podem ser base para que você construa sua autoridade sobre o tema. Não estamos falando de um PhD, mas sim de uma forma de olhar e trabalhar o ESG sendo aderente à estratégia organizacional, mantendo um olhar firme da parte financeira, sem esquecer das necessidades estratégicas de atendimento a certas demanda de mercado. Existem muitos seminários, workshops, forums ou associações e grupos que falam sobre ESG e isso pode dinamizar seu conhecimento.

Partner with other organizations and individuals who share your goals. This can amplify your voice and lend credibility to your arguments. Consider collaborating with environmental groups, industry associations, and community organizations to build a broader base of support.

In any scenario worldwide, people only follow the leaders who can actually lead through actions than words. It is very important to build credibility in the space when a certain part of the community is expected to abide by it. Usually the "Expert Power" plays the most important role in establishing a body as the one looked upto for adherence of ESG measures. Make sure that you keep a board of individuals who are identified as experts.

While reporting frameworks and standards will enhance the comparability of ESG information reported, credibility of the information being reported will come from assurance. Regardless of the requirement for assurance, an opinion or conclusion from an independent practitioner on the ESG-related information will provide the credibility and trust in a company’s ESG information that investors and others seek. Other than what is mentioned, considering the credibility of your ESG disclosures and how that can be achieved is becoming a crucial need of investors and other stakeholders, and an area that cannot be ignored.

Sustainability cannot be suspended in a vacuum. Whatever companies do in the environmental, social or governance aspect, it is for the greater community, be it the current generation or future ones. This is a great obligation, but it also means that it requires dialogue, consultation, and being open to feedback from the stakeholders – in both the narrow and the broader circles. Your communication with your stakeholders is fundamental in any sustainability initiatives and it should also lie at the heart of your actions. You need to give your perspective as well as understand theirs, even if you do not fully agree with it. Explain your goals, plans and ambitions and ask for feedback and suggestions. Then, repeat and repeat, again and again.

Meaningful dialogue is key to influencing ESG policies. Engage stakeholders and policymakers in open discussions, presenting data-driven arguments and real-life case studies that highlight the positive impacts of sustainable practices. Listening to diverse perspectives and fostering constructive discussions can help build consensus.

Por ser um processo complexo e muitas vezes questionado em suas métricas de resultados, você precisa estar pronto para dialogar com todos os setores da empresa, num processo de convencimento. Mas, nada ocorrerá se você não tiver informações e dados nas mãos, para que seu discurso encontre suporte e seja bem recebido.

Ao advogar nesse segmento, como meu caso, a comunicação clara e persuasiva sobre os benefícios das práticas ESG se torna uma ponte entre o jurídico e o estratégico. Transmitir os impactos positivos dessas políticas, utilizando dados, histórias e argumentos embasados, é crucial para cativar não apenas intelectualmente, mas também emocionalmente. Além disso, é fundamental convidar ativamente os clientes e investidores a participarem desse processo, solicitando feedback e sugestões para construir juntos um caminho rumo à sustentabilidade no setor elétrico. Essa abordagem dialogada e colaborativa não apenas fortalece as relações, mas também promove uma compreensão mútua e um engajamento mais profundo com os objetivos ESG.

Dialogue is not just used to increase the adoption but would also give fillip to the policy improvisation. There is always a space of improving the policies and make them more consolidated for better outcomes. Dialogues happen to define an ice-breaking scenario that increases the percolation of policies. It also provides insights on better communication channels.

To champion ESG policies for sustainability, focus on under-discussed areas. Push for mental health and wellbeing in 'Social' metrics, showing its impact on productivity and community. In 'Environmental,' go beyond carbon footprints; advocate for biodiversity conservation in business practices. On 'Governance,' stress ethical AI use in decision-making. Implement these in your firm first, then publicize the outcomes, challenging industry norms. It's about pioneering uncharted paths in ESG and inspiring unconventional approaches.

Advocacy is not solely about conversation; it's also about action. Champion initiatives that align with your ESG goals. Collaborate with stakeholders and support policies that promote sustainability. Actively participating in industry associations or advocacy groups can amplify your voice and influence policy changes.

ESG ou mesmo num espectro maior, a própria Sustentabilidade, exigem ações concretas. ESG de relatório apenas, é um princípio de ESGwashing. Como em tantos outros é preciso avançar com ações concretas, demonstrando, na prática, seu compromisso com a sustentabilidade. Defina seu plano, com objetivos claros e transparentes, dentro de um cronograma realista. Todos os recursos pessoais e de material devem estar à disposição. Na medida em que o processo avança, a utilização de metodologias para monitorar e revisar é sempre aconselhável. E não se esqueça de celebrar as conquistas, pois essa é uma forma de manter e até incrementar o engajamento do time. Lembre-se que ESG é uma jornada de cultura, e toda transformação cultural é sempre complexa.

Baseado em minhas experiências, posso garantir que ouvir as pessoas, ter metas e prazos contribuem muito para excelentes resultados em ESG. Com isso é possível avaliar como estão os processos, saber com quem contar, pedir ajuda e avaliar o andamento. E principalmente: incentivar as pessoas a serem parceiras dessa causa.

Uma vez identificadas as necessidades é importante iniciar o olhar para a implementação. Na minha visão, não se deve tentar muitos processos simultâneos, mas sobretudo aqueles prioritários, criando um senso na organização de necessidade da agenda, e mesmo uma cultura de ESG. A partir dai, outras questões virão para a pauta.

Não se trata apenas de transmitir informações, mas também de criar pontes para a colaboração. É como se lançássemos pontes entre ideias, convidando ao compartilhamento de feedback, sugestões e convites à colaboração. Essa postura não apenas fortalece os laços com as partes interessadas, mas também enriquece o processo, trazendo novas perspectivas e possibilidades que podem impulsionar ainda mais os objetivos ESG.

There are some universal approaches to the development of ESG policies and practices that are consistently beneficial. - Assess and set goals - Engage stakeholders - Develop an ESG strategy - Embed ESG into operations - Plan and implement projects with optimal impact - Measure and report progress - Foster a culture of sustainability, transparency, DE&I

Implementing ESG policies and demonstrating commitment to sustainability requires a structured approach. Develop a detailed action plan with clear goals and responsibilities, allocate resources, and integrate ESG into operations. Engage stakeholders, monitor progress, and report transparently. Lead by example, foster continuous improvement, and stay informed about emerging trends. By taking decisive action and embedding sustainability into the organizational culture, long-term value can be created for all stakeholders.

Make your goals measurable and reportable. This all starts with data collection and having a starting point that you can jump off from. The future can be better if we take action.

A one-size-fits-all, overarching ESG policy may not be a way to go. Instead, advocate for specific policies tailored to address material aspects of the business. To investigate the key areas, you need to conduct a materiality assessment. Engage stakeholders, articulating the business case for sustainable practices and highlighting the value creation potential. Collaborate with industry peers and organizations to share best practices and collectively drive change. Showcase the positive impacts of specific ESG policies on financial performance, risk mitigation, and stakeholder relations.

The biggest barrier to strengthening corporate approaches to ESG is the lack of education on how to operationalise it in different contexts. There is an urgent need for businesses, academics and civil society, therefore, to forge partnerships with the goal of conceiving strategic blueprints for operationalising ESG.This begins with formulating guidelines which can be aligned with country/community/public sector level social and environmental initiatives.  The most effective way for the world to move forward on sustainability is for organisations to unite on important sustainability goals and, by sheer weight of numbers, help educate the wider commercial world around best practices.

Acredito que é fundamental ter a consciência de que as ações de ESG e sustentabilidade em geral, são atitudes que vão impactar significativamente o futuro da geração. ESG não é algo pautado em soluções e alcances do agora por mais que seja necessário tomadas de decisões no presente, é preciso MUITA estratégia, foco e intencionalidade por parte da liderança para incentivar a equipe a pensar e agir de forma sustentável com um olho no amanhã.

Stay informed about the latest developments in ESG trends and regulations. Develop strong data analysis skills to effectively track your progress and demonstrate the positive outcomes of your advocacy efforts. Use technology and digital tools to your advantage to reach a wider audience and engage stakeholders effectively.

By collaborating with institutions and participating in public consultations, advocates can influence the development and implementation of robust ESG policies that drive the transition to a more sustainable economy. Emphasizing the importance of ESG reporting standards and sustainable finance practices, advocates can encourage companies to prioritize sustainability and integrate ESG considerations into their business strategies. By engaging stakeholders across sectors and monitoring progress, advocates can ensure that ESG policies effectively address emerging sustainability challenges and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.