Share It
In part one of this blog, “4 Steps for Driving ESG Initiatives Forward,” we reviewed the growing importance of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) initiatives for businesses, and emphasized how a well-conceived strategy can drive long-term value and mitigate potential risks. We also outlined four essential steps for driving ESG initiatives forward.
Despite the recent backlash swirling around ESG, it continues to play an important role helping corporations around the globe establish credibility with their stakeholders as well as with the general public. As McKinsey noted in last year’s “Does ESG Really Matter And Why?” report, “the fundamental issue that underlies each of the four ESG critiques is a failure to take adequate account of social license — that is, the perception by stakeholders that a business or industry is acting in a way that is fair, appropriate, and deserving of trust.”
The report goes on to highlight the significant role that ESG plays in shaping corporate investment decision-making, noting that “more than 90% of S&P 500 companies now publish ESG reports in some form, as do approximately 70% of Russell 1000 companies.”
In this post, we’ll look at some of the overarching trends driving the ESG market today, identify the critical technological and operational challenges organizations encounter when it comes to reporting on ESG, and outline some of the key ways Casepoint can help organizations overcome these challenges.
Navigating ESG Controversy
In the early days, ESG was primarily focused on ethical considerations, such as avoiding investments in companies involved in tobacco, firearms, or gambling. At the time ESG investing wasn’t the focus of controversy, as it was viewed primarily as a vehicle for investors to align their investments with their personal values.
However, as the scope of ESG expanded to include a broader range of issues — from climate change and labor practices to diversity and inclusion — it’s now become a highly charged political issue. Currently, more than a dozen states are considering legislation to prohibit public pension funds or other public funds from investing with money managers considering ESG factors.
Despite these objections, most independent researchers and analysts agree that any organization subject to rigorous compliance regulations shouldn’t allow political posturing to distract them from prioritizing their ESG initiatives. This is especially true for financial institutions such as retail and commercial banks, investment firms, and insurance providers who are increasingly subject to ESG-related regulations and reporting requirements, such as the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
Take, for instance, the TCFD’s recommendation for companies to disclose information on their exposure to climate risks, including physical risks such as natural disasters and transition risks such as policy changes and market shifts towards low-carbon technologies. Such disclosures will play an increasingly critical role for insurance providers, who will have to carefully weigh these risks when determining coverage and calculating premiums.
As the World Economic Forum noted in this recent article, “for most business leaders, ESG has become a top priority. This is not because of a deep-rooted ethical or moral stance as some critics of ESG like to claim, although this should always be an important consideration. Rather, it is because ESG risks are now one of the largest threats facing businesses, and they could have a significant impact on their long-term performance and profitability, including their ability to raise new capital.”
Top 4 ESG Challenges and How Casepoint Solves Them
There are a variety of diverse technology and operational challenges that must be addressed to effectively integrate and manage ESG initiatives in a holistic manner. Here are four of the top challenges that companies typically encounter as they embark on their ESG journey and a brief look at how Casepoint’s platform helps customers overcome these obstacles:
1. Ensure Data Security and User Privacy
The ability to ensure the security and privacy of ESG data is crucial to every enterprise, as it often contains sensitive information about companies and individuals and is therefore subject to strict data privacy regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and CPRA. As ESG reporting and disclosure requirements gain traction across the globe, companies must adhere to relevant data protection regulations. Non-compliance can result in fines, penalties, and reputational damage, negatively impacting a company’s ESG performance score.
How Casepoint Protects Customer Data
Recognizing the growing importance of safeguarding sensitive information, Casepoint employs the strongest available data encryption, multi-factor authentication protocols, and granular access controls, ensuring that all data is protected both in transit and at rest. By implementing robust security measures and privacy controls, Casepoint not only helps customers maintain compliance with evolving data protection and privacy regulations but also helps companies foster trust and confidence among investors, customers, and other stakeholders.
2. Lack of Data Quality and Standardization
A lack of standardized ESG data and metrics can create inconsistencies in reporting, making it difficult for investors to accurately evaluate and benchmark a company’s ESG performance over time. Additionally, in order to compile and report on ESG metrics, companies must often collect data in a variety of different formats, further complicating their ability to conduct analysis.
How Casepoint Improves Data Quality
As a trusted partner to some of the world’s most recognized brands, Casepoint helps customers accelerate the time-consuming process of data collection, consolidation, and reporting. Casepoint’s customizable features, including automated workflows and integration with third-party systems, support seamless standardization across various data sources, promoting consistency and transparency. As a cloud-native solution, Casepoint consumes fewer natural resources, thereby minimizing its environmental impact.
3. Data Availability and Accessibility
Another key challenge for managing ESG initiatives is that the data required to produce reports is often scattered across various sources, including corporate reports, government databases, and third-party providers. And because ESG data might not be updated on a frequent or consistent basis, organizations are often stuck with outdated or incomplete information, which can limit the relevance of ESG assessments.
How Casepoint Delivers Consistent and Accurate Data
Casepoint helps customers meet their ESG goals by offering a modern unified, cloud-based platform that centralizes data storage and simplifies data retrieval, enabling them to eliminate the bottlenecks caused by outdated and resource intensive technologies. As the McKinsey report notes, reducing reliance on manual processes can also drive down the demands on employees’ time which, in turn, can help improve a company’s ESG standing.
4. Complex and Evolving Regulatory Environment
As regulations around issues such as data privacy continue to rapidly evolve, technology solutions must likewise be flexible enough to adapt without having to re-tool existing processes. This may necessitate regular updates to data collection, analysis, and reporting methods.
How Casepoint Helps Ease the Regulatory Burden
Casepoint’s cloud allows for easier, faster updates, and team members can provide training to keep companies on top of information governance changes. With Casepoint guidance, organizations can develop a mature ESG technology planning process and be better positioned to effectively address sustainability-related challenges, manage risks, and create long-term value for their stakeholders.
To learn more about how Casepoint can help achieve your ESG objectives, view our Corporate Solutions page.
