The Pandemic And Global Climate Action, Among Others Will Be Key ESG Topics For 2021, Report Says

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Jan 28, 2021, 14:58 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (S&P Global Ratings) -- Over the past year, the global economy faced an unprecedented string of compounding environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-related disruptors. In 2021, these ESG forces will continue to play out on a larger stage.

In "Sustainability In 2021: A Bird's-Eye View Of The Top Five ESG Topics," published today, we highlight five topics we believe will dominate the ESG space in 2021:

The continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Growing momentum for global climate action;
The fight for equality;
The expansion of the sustainable debt market and better standardization for sustainability metrics; and
Greater emphasis on the biodiversity crisis.

These are only a few of the many ESG trends that will emerge and evolve in 2021. Given the fast-moving ESG world, we know that some ESG topics that hide below the surface erupt suddenly while others simmer and bubble up slowly.

"We expect the ESG landscape to continue to evolve as current ESG issues mature, new themes emerge, and the growing awareness of the intersections between our global society and the natural world make ESG even more pertinent," said sustainable finance analyst Corinne Bendersky.

Other hot topics that will likely garner some attention in 2021 include shifting consumer preferences and greater demand for sustainable products and services. Further shifts in the energy sector, from the future of oil to the role of hydrogen, will also play out in 2021.

As we make way into the new year, we'll observe how ESG-related rhetoric translates to real results as stakeholders hold companies to account.

This report does not constitute a rating action.

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