Glimpse, another perspective on business
A SKEMA Business School magazine for professionals
No.1, January 2024 | Click here to read it
The acronym ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) is gaining prominence in the media in response to the climate emergency. For more than 20 years, preserving the environment has been a crucial global issue for ensuring the sustainability of the planet and human living conditions. To encourage action, scientific data and IPCC reports need to be supported by a narrative. While politicians play an essential role in raising awareness of environmental issues and guiding public policy, businesses are responsible for "changing the game". As well as preserving the environment, social concerns and governance are also becoming important.
Companies are taking a proactive approach to ESG challenges, but there is still a gap between awareness, commitment and effective action. ESG approaches require time, training and adjustments to eliminate negative externalities and achieve carbon neutrality.
Through the testimonies of 9 international companies, this challenge highlights that organisations are striving to become sustainable by making carbon neutrality a priority. However, they also aspire to become 'contributing companies' with a wider positive impact, which implies a review of business models. ESG thus becomes a virtuous process aimed at transforming companies into regenerative organisms in harmony with nature. Although this takes time, it is a collective objective that gives new meaning to companies in the midst of change. Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical challenges, it is encouraging to see companies making a commitment to ESG.
Enjoy your read!
Pascale Viala, Vice-Dean and Director of the Corporate Office, SKEMA Business School
Fabien Seraidarian, Director of Knowledge Transfer and of SKEMA Global Executive MBA, SKEMA Business School
Read Glimpse no.1 "ESG, a new deal between business and society"
Would you like to discuss your ESG strategy and challenges in more detail? Contact us at skema-business-hub@skema.edu