Companies and investors have a mutual responsibility to preserve and enhance long-term corporate value. In doing so they must focus, not only on aspects relating to a company’s long-term financial value, but also on factors impacting the health of society and the environment too. In essence this is about ‘the governance of sustainability’ and the role of the board in overseeing the integration of human and natural capital management in alignment with a company’s purpose and long-term strategy.
This session will cover recent developments, including the integration of sustainability issues into the ICGN’s Global Governance Principles during its recent update. The feature discussion will bring together key stakeholders in the area of corporate governance including regulators, issuers and investors.
Issues to be addressed
- What are the sustainability duties of corporate boards?
- How should companies clarify their responsibility to promote the success of the company to preserve and enhance share value, while also contributing to a sustainable economy, society and environment?
- How should boards expand risk oversight to include social and environmental systemic events such as ecological degradation and social inequality?
- What is the board’s role in addressing climate change, assessing business impacts and how the company can meet the needs of a net zero economy?
