What is ESG and why it needs a closer look?
ESG stands for environment, social and governance and refers to factors/criteria measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of a company or business. Increasingly today, investment decisions are made based on a company’s environmental, social and governance performance with metrics to report for each criterion to together give a final ESG score. Today the discourse around ESG parameters or measurement is still evolving in India.
Companies or sectors in India especially those in the harmful commodities industries (for example: tobacco industry) have been reporting on their sustainability practices, at times even when it is not a government mandate. Although such businesses sell lethal products causing much damage to health and the environment, they are able to present themselves to the public as a ‘good corporate’ and retain investor confidence by showing a good ESG rating/score. As ESG is becoming a buzzword in the investment world, the tobacco industry is already making tall claims to be ESG-friendly investment destinations.
About webinar series
The Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH) with support from the Union (International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease) is organising a two-part webinar series on the topic, “ESG: Will it change how businesses shape public health?” on consecutive Saturdays, 29 October and 5 November 2022 from 1 to 2.15 pm IST.
Who should attend and what to expect?
This webinar is open to all public health professionals and/or enthusiasts keen to understand and address how businesses impact health. The webinars will be organised as a series of carefully curated lectures followed by a Q & A session with experts.
Part 1 of the webinar series will explore the following topics:
- ESG as a concept, its history and evolution
- Regulatory frameworks in India on measuring and reporting on ESG
- Gaps in ‘E’ , ‘S’ and ‘G’: Environmental, Social and Governance concerns
Part 2 of the webinar series will explore the following topics:
- ESG within Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH)
- Understanding implications of ‘E’, ‘S’ and ‘G’ in relation to the tobacco industry
- Tobacco Industry and Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) in India
- The way forward for businesses and health
