https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk3OMxbo850

Robert Patalano, Acting Head of the Financial Markets Division

In the past few years, OECD conducted a series of studies to analyze if the financial system is helping the transition to a greener economy. The active chief of the financial markets division, Robert Patalano, shows us the most important results. One of the issues is the lack of converge among ESG ratings: the consequence is that is it is still unclear what exactly a high ESG score means. A second study focused on the E pillar and the results were ambiguous: on the one hand, there is some evidence that companies with high E scores are better at recognizing environmental issues and tend to invest more R&D in climate related projects, on the other, these high E scores might still be associated with a high carbon footprint and intensity. Perhaps the great lesson of this work is acknowledging that ESG integration is still a work in progress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE5qc0CkAA0

Gabriela Gutierrez-Huerter, Lecturer in International Management at King’s Business School

Gabriela Gutierrez presentes the results of her transnational study on the ESG reporting practices of multinational subsidiaries. The good news is that ESG reporting is already recognized and practiced by the majority corporations. She also points that Brazil is one of the leaders in adopting ESG reporting and that these practices are being strategically used by emergent economies multinationals to gain market in developed countries. One of the bad news is that there are some difficulties in aligning ESG values with local values and practices, what creates significant challenges with reports accuracy and reliability. The ugly news on ESG revolves around greenwashing and the lack of transparency, particularly due to the companies’ unilateral focus on the positive contributions. Gabriela ends presenting some steps that could bring us closer towards a new ESG reporting paradigm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roU7OTPs2aQ

Keyvan Macedo, Sustainability Director at Natura &Co

Natura &Co’s Director of Sustainability recalls the company’s history, with its focus on the preservation of the Amazon biome and the appraisal of traditional knowledges and practices. He presents the group business model, based on integrated management uniting economic, environmental and social performances, and insists on the need for sustainability to permeate the organization in its entirety. He discusses what is expected from corporations today and the current status of environment and social measurement and report, and finishes talking about Natura’s Sustainability Vision 2030, Commitment to Life.