“Dropping the term ‘ESG’ doesn’t change the underlying pressures. Regulation may be in flux—the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rolled back climate disclosure efforts, and even in the EU, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is now subject to political pushback. But the material risks haven’t disappeared. Investors are still asking pointed questions about transition exposure and long-term viability. Consumers remain attentive, particularly in sectors like food, fashion, and mobility. And climate events—from floods to wildfires—are only accelerating. The pressures are still there. They’ve just become harder to talk about.”

[COMMENTARY] This thoughtful article is written by Dr Ioannis Ioannou, one of the foremost and earliest proponents of ESG and sustainability. He writes that regardless of terms used the need for companies to integrate ESG and sustainability into their activities continues to grow.
What The ESG Backlash Reveals—and What Comes Next, by London Business School, March 25, 2025, Forbes, USA.