ESG: How Did A Well-Intended Idea Become So Polarizing?

When the ESG framework— standing for Environment, Social and Governance— was first introduced among investors and business leaders, it was intended to inspire or demonstrate a greater concern for the environment and society upon which major corporations depend. It has most often been a vehicle for influencing organizational decisions around resource consumption, staff diversity, and overall carbon footprint.

Over the past year, there has been mounting opposition amongst state treasurers and legislatures, particularly in the Ten Across region, to private and public ESG initiatives. For example, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama are now part of a growing number of states that have either introduced or signed legislation prohibiting state involvement with organizations that have factored ESG criteria into their operations.

While the industry term continues to occupy media and political attention, this conversation between Ten Across founder Duke Reiter; the former CEO of The Nature Conservancy, Mark Tercek; and current Senior Vice President of ESG Strategy at The Howard Hughes Corporation, Gautami Palanki, seeks to provide greater insight into the practical and proven applications of ESG performance metrics.