THE AGE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Investors are beginning to realize that the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors can enhance performance. We are now at the brink of an inflection point where market-led changes will accelerate a massive transformation towards cleaner, healthier and socially more inclusive outcomes. But in the current environment of eroding liberal principles, low trust and a weakening of the rule-based system, the question arises whether the corporate responsibility movement has a future at all.

Clearly, the forces that propel corporate sustainability forward are largely independent of policymaking and they will continue to drive the movement even in the face of weakening support for international cooperation and a rule-based trading system.

As protectionism continues to spread around the world, there is now an urgent case for responsible business leaders to speak up and to use their influence to defend and strengthen the rule-based market system and the values that hold markets and humanity together.