Corporate Sustainability and ESG Challenges

A group of planetary boundaries that define specific thresholds for Earth's environment, indicating safe levels for human activity.

Environmental, Social, and Governance factors that are increasingly relevant in business.

The process of converting information into a quantifiable format for digital analysis. It can be used to track and measure various data points related to ESG factors.

Companies that dominate production volume in a sector, connect global ecosystems through subsidiaries, and influence global governance.

A set of sustainability and responsibility challenges for corporations, including greenhouse emissions, pollution, and freshwater supply.

The growing size and influence of corporations, especially those involved in production, resource extraction, and global supply chains.

Increased transparency of corporate conduct due to digital platforms and data collection, allowing for better scrutiny of responsible and irresponsible actions.

The responsibility of large technology companies to address their potential negative impacts on ESG factors, such as energy consumption and data privacy.

The lack of global governance refers to the absence of a strong, independent body with authority to regulate the activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) on a global scale.

The Regulatory Vacuum Effect occurs when MNCs exploit loopholes in national regulations by spreading their operations across countries, creating a space where few rules apply.

Extraterritorial jurisdiction allows a state to exercise its authority over individuals or entities outside its own borders.

Corporate sustainability aims to balance a company's ecological, social, and economic impact, creating a long-term positive effect on all three areas.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) focuses on managing the social and environmental impacts of a company's activities within the company's own framework.

Business ethics focuses on the moral principles and values that guide business decisions.

Corporate sustainability emphasizes systems-level changes, while CSR emphasizes internal management practices to address social and environmental impacts.

A situation where taking actions to benefit one area (like profit) comes at the expense of another (like the environment).

A complex network of institutions, laws, rules, and behaviors that shape economic activity in a specific area.

A system where life forms interact with the atmosphere, water, and Earth's crust, including energy flow and storage.

Development that meets current needs without jeopardizing future generations' ability to meet their own needs.

A system that recognizes the close relationship between human society (social) and natural environment (ecological).

The ability to anticipate and envision future possibilities to inform current decisions.

A structured process that brings together diverse stakeholders (citizens, scientists, businesses, policymakers) to create shared visions of the future, develop strategies, and implement actions.

Using foresight techniques to support policy-making by identifying priorities, critical technologies, and guiding government investments.

A method of using foresight to influence the direction of research, technology, and innovation.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to a company's integration of social, environmental, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities into its operations, processes, and core business strategy. This means aligning actions with stakeholder values and considering their impact on society.

Business ethics involves the study of moral right and wrong within business situations, activities, and decisions. It examines the ethical implications of business practices and explores dilemmas where values clash or are unclear.

The concept of Corporate Sustainability emphasizes the interconnectedness of corporate actions with larger systemic change. It focuses on how a company's choices contribute to broader environmental and social impacts.

ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, is a framework used to assess the sustainability and ethical performance of corporations. It considers factors such as environmental impact, social responsibilities, and corporate governance practices.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals established to achieve sustainable development by 2030. They encompass various social and environmental issues and aim to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.

Corporations engage in sustainability initiatives for various reasons, including attracting investors, improving brand reputation, mitigating risks, and staying ahead of regulatory changes. These initiatives can help organizations create a positive impact on society and the environment, fostering long-term value creation.

The process of anticipating the future and its potential impacts on an organization or a specific area, such as research or business.

A strategy that involves understanding long-term trends and anticipating potential future challenges and opportunities.

A strategy that focuses on identifying promising research areas and guiding the scientific community toward important priorities for long-term sustainability.

The ability to gather information about future changes in trends, emerging issues, and potential risks. This is crucial for informed decision-making.

Extending the strategic focus beyond traditional boundaries and departmental limitations to understand the overall needs and impacts on society.

Helping decision-makers develop well-informed future visions and strategies by adopting a future-oriented mindset.

The concept that companies operate within a complex web of relationships and dependencies with various groups, each having its own interests.

A process of collaborating with diverse stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that benefit all involved parties.

Individuals, groups, or entities that significantly influence or are influenced by an organization's goals and activities.

The practice of managing relationships with stakeholders to ensure their satisfaction, understanding, and involvement in an organization's operations and decision-making.

Stakeholders who have a direct and interdependent relationship with the firm, where both parties affect and are affected by each other's actions and survival.

Stakeholders who are not directly involved in the firm's core operations but can still influence or be affected by the pursuit of its objectives.

A framework that guides and supports responsible business practices by considering environmental, social, and governance factors in decision-making.

The dynamic relationship between business, nature, and society, evolving through different historical stages with varying levels of corporate responsibility.

A framework for sustainable development that outlines 17 goals to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.