Simply put, ESG is an acronym that stands for environmental, social, and governance and is a framework for financial institutions to understand better a company’s sustainability profile and their risks. However, what exactly do the categories of E, S, and G measure and why (as well as how to measure) is the challenge that companies face today in preparing for the future and anticipating business impacts. Make no mistake, with the global financial sector and regulatory bodies driving ESG momentum at a fast pace, now’s the time for design firms to double-down on sustainability and evolve their business models and practice standards to align and capture the opportunity.
In this webinar, Victor Risk Management Director Yvonne Castillo will discuss:
- What is (and is not) ESG?
- How do you measure ESG efforts?
- Why is ESG important?
- How are regulatory disclosure standards evolving?
- What impact will ESG frameworks have on design firms—their business models, standards of practice, and operations?
What many may not yet realize is that the ESG movement has quickened and prompted a brand new era of owner-client thinking when it comes to the built environment. Up-front investment conversations may no longer drown out long-term strategic planning, especially as it relates to climate change adaptation and mitigation. In other words, the difficult conversations are becoming less difficult out of sheer market demand to follow-through on net-zero targets, concern regarding the physical risks of climate change, and investor sentiment. To ready for those conversations and become a credible advisor, design firms must not only operate corporately with strong ESG principles in place, but also prepare to seize the historic opportunity to provide crucial professional services that their clients need to do so as well.
