NACD Releases New Guidance for Boards on Corporate Sustainability

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2017 -- The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the advocate for the profession of directorship, today announced the release of its new report, Governance Challenges 2017: Board Oversight of ESG.

Each year, NACD collaborates with its five strategic-content partners to provide guidance for boards of directors on a hot-button governance issue. This year’s topic is ESG—or environmental, social, and governance oversight—which strongly influences corporate sustainability. Studies have shown a link between the incorporation of ESG concerns into strategy development and improved long-term corporate performance. As a result, corporate stakeholders are increasingly expecting boards to consider the social and environmental impacts of their company’s operations, as well as the effect of ESG factors on business operations.

The report features the following sections:

1. Three Ways to Improve Oversight of ESG by Heidrick & Struggles
   
   
2. Connecting Social Responsibility and Strategy in the Boardroom by KPMG Board Leadership Center
   
   
3. A Framework to Assess and Disclose the Impact of Climate Change on Financial Performance by Marsh & McLennan Companies
   
   
4. How Compensation Can Support Improved Environmental and Social Governance by Pearl Meyer
   
   
5. Corporate Social Responsibility: Board Oversight, Disclosure, and Engagement by Sidley Austin LLP

“Board members are bound by fiduciary duties that now extend to considering ESG factors when providing oversight for strategy and risk,” said Peter Gleason, NACD president and CEO. “This new report will assist directors as they navigate these increased responsibilities.”

Governance Challenges 2017: Board Oversight of ESG is available to the public and can be downloaded at www.NACDonline.org/ESG.

For more on this topic, download the NACD Oversight of Corporate Sustainability Activities Handbook.

For more on the board’s role in overseeing risk, visit the NACD Risk Oversight Resource Center.

About NACD
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) empowers more than 17,000 directors to lead with confidence in the boardroom. As the recognized authority on leading boardroom practices, NACD helps boards strengthen investor trust and public confidence by ensuring that today’s directors are well prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. World-class boards join NACD to elevate performance, gain foresight, and instill confidence. Fostering collaboration among directors, investors, and corporate governance stakeholders, NACD has been setting the standard for responsible board leadership for 40 years. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org. To become an NACD member, please contact us at [email protected] or 202-572-2089. If you are already a member, contact your NACD Membership Advisor at [email protected] to ensure that you are receiving the best value from your membership.

Media Contact
Bill Brawner 
Brawner Communications
202-329-1389
[email protected]