What Should Boards Really Be Doing About ESG?

In recent years, issues relating to environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") topics have become higher corporate priorities, tracking with the developing expectations of investors and the public.

The Issue: Many companies have already addressed ESG issues, but others may need to fine-tune their plans to turn aspiration into action.

The Outcome: Corporate boards should recognize their companies' ESG achievements and coordinate future efforts and disclosures in this area, emphasizing issues relevant to their own corporate culture and linked to long-term shareholder value.

For Corporate America, the focus on ESG issues has never been sharper. Investors—ranging from retail shareholders to the very largest fund families—are challenging companies to tackle social issues, including more traditional social topics like diversity and employee safety to special-interest matters like gun safety and the opioid crisis. Earlier this year, BlackRock,