Global Corporate Survey: ESG And Sustainability Governance, Strategies And Priorities
Connor Taylor
Kim Knickle
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Executive Summary
This report, based on a global survey of 400 respondents, assists senior executives in benchmarking their firms’ ESG and sustainability governance, strategies and priorities against industry peers. It should be leveraged by ESG and sustainability software suppliers and services providers to align business and product strategy with market demand and priority areas of interest. The data were gathered via telephone interviews with executives from across 30 industries and diverse geographies between May and July 2021. The survey highlights that firms are ramping up investments in ESG and sustainability, with 57% predicting double-digit spend increases in 2022, and are prioritizing funding initiatives relating to climate change and supply chain sustainability. Concurrently, the report finds that CEOs now play a leading role in defining corporate ESG and sustainability strategies.Global Survey Reveals Strategic Priorities For ESG And Sustainability Executives
Global Survey Features 400 Executives Across Geographies And Industries
ESG And Sustainability Governance Now Top Of Mind For Senior Executives
Firms Are Embedding ESG And Sustainability Into Strategic Business Decisions
Climate Change Policy And Investor Interest Are Driving Corporate Engagement With Sustainability
CEOs Are Spearheading Plans To Embed Sustainability In Organizations
The C-Suite Now Play A Significant Role In Defining Sustainability Strategies
Sustainability Strategies Are Implemented By EHS Functions, With Support From Across The Organization
Firms Anticipate Significant Increases In ESG And Sustainability Budgets
ESG Budgets Are Set To Expand Rapidly In 2022
Climate Change And Supply Chain Concerns To Shape ESG And Sustainability Investment
ESG Spend Is Highly Contingent On Developing Market Factors
Figure 2. Survey Respondent Geographical Breakdown
Figure 3. Survey Respondent Industry Breakdown
Figure 4. ESG And Sustainability Perspectives
Figure 5. ESG And Sustainability Strategies
Figure 6. Drivers Responsible For Increasing Engagement With Sustainability
Figure 7. Decision-Makers Responsible For ESG Strategy Implementation
Figure 8. Decision-Makers Responsible For Funding ESG Strategies
Figure 9. Business Functions Responsible For Implementing ESG Strategies
Figure 10. Projected ESG And Sustainability Investment In 2022
Figure 11. Priority Sustainability Initiatives To Receive Funding Over The Next Two Years
Figure 12. Projected Spend Change On Professional Services Projects In 2022
Figure 13. Priority Digital Projects To Receive Funding Over The Next Two Years
Figure 14. Priority Performance Areas For Consulting Projects
Figure 15. ESG And Sustainability Data Barriers
Figure 16. ESG And Sustainability Corporate Software Supplier Preferences
Figure 17. Digital Strategies For ESG, Climate Change And Sustainability
Figure 18. Potential Factors Impacting Spend On Sustainability Initiatives
About the Authors
Connor Taylor
Principal Analyst
Connor is a Principal Analyst at Verdantix. He focuses on delivering research to help senior executives navigate decarbonization decision-making and build effective strategies...
Kim Knickle
Research Director
Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...
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