THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Could lawyers be the key to ESG?
Authors
Matthew Sekol
Sometimes science (and logic) need a legal push
Following ESG and sustainability stories daily is an exercise in emotional management. The highs and lows around this topic intersect with nothing less serious than our foundational social contracts for civil society through to our very survival.
These issues go back and forth from progress to reversion everywhere you look in a never-ending cycle of perspective, nuance, and context. For those who understand ESG, the value of transitioning, and supporting our planet and its people, the challenges against progress can range from the ridiculous to the concerning.
Amid the removal of ESG from some corporate websites and the shutdown of unproductive DEI programs, a new trend has emerged over the past few months. ESG has moved into litigation. As it turns out, the courts may be where progress gets made. But before we get into progress around sustainability, Governance, and transition risk, it is essential to recognize that the legal door swings both ways.
