PwC's new "Mind the gap: the continued divide between investors and corporates on ESG" - aimed at corporates and investors - does a very nice job of explaining: (i) why investors care about ESG, (ii) why companies should care about and integrate ESG-related risks & opportunities into their long-term strategy, and (iii) some of the bases for different or conflicting investor and corporate perceptions and communications about ESG. An instructive graphic (page 8) identifies sound ways in which each "side" can facilitate narrowing the communications and expectations gaps, including - as to corporates - integrating the internal sustainability function/staff with other key functions such as ERM, strategic planning, and IR, to ensure that the company's long-term value creation messaging reflects pertinent material ESG risks & opportunities.
The companion publication for directors: "ESG in the boardroom: What directors need to know" includes a series of questions for the board to ask management to better understand the company's current positioning on ESG and advance its ESG communications with investors.