“In the next 12 months, fourteen per cent of commercial businesses plan to take out financially sustainable solutions.” – RFI Insight

The global pandemic heightened awareness of how interconnected we are. It additionally emphasised the importance of integrity. Financial factors no longer serve as the sole prism to view a company’s viability for consumers and in turn the markets. Customers and consumers resonate highly with organisations that align their values with their business goals resulting in greater returns. Therefore, climate change and financial inclusion are high on the agenda of investors and executives focused on long-term achievements and realistic forecasted results.

Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) continues to steadily climb up the regulatory agenda, requiring sustainability needs to become a strategic priority for finance leaders. In the next 12 months, fourteen per cent of commercial businesses plan to take out financially sustainable solutions. What can leaders do today to ensure they can meet the demands of the ESG factors that will most certainly hold prominence tomorrow?

ESG provides the framework for companies to outline their core values and align their business models with the broader demands of society and the environment. Adopting ESG is business-critical in the strife of a clean and sustainable economy. Finance leaders already play a balancing act, juggling business expectations and risk management, now they must add ESG credentials to the list.