Corporate Affairs professionals believe that stakeholder engagement has become a much more prominent part of their professional responsibilities.
AI is the most-cited area of opportunity for business according to Corporate Affairs professionals.
A majority of Corporate Affairs professionals – nearly three-quarters – feel that their company is interested in taking a public advocacy position on issues. This view is shared by experts across industries, with a stronger appetite for corporate activism in the food, agriculture, and forestry sector (80%). Those in financial and professional services perceive a slightly lower interest in corporate activism from their organizations (67%). This suggests that companies are increasingly aware of their role in managing global challenges and … “Insight of the Week: Corporate Affairs Professionals Indicate an Appetite for Activism Among Companies”
Insight of the Week: Corporate Affairs Professionals Perceive Growing Trust Among Their Stakeholders
Four in ten Corporate Affairs professionals now feel they are building stakeholder trust that their business operates in society’s best interest, a significant increase from a year ago. This could be due in part to positive feedback companies have received as a result of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heightened trust in business may also indicate the successes of stakeholder engagement in working to better understand societal and environmental impacts. Data source: Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey Report 2021
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) remains the most widely recognized NGO for its contribution to sustainable development, followed by Greenpeace and World Resources Institute (WRI). Professionals in the NGO and corporate sectors and those based in Asia-Pacific and Europe tend to be more likely to see World Wildlife Fund as a sustainability leader than respondents from other sectors and regions. While the selection of most-recognized NGOs has remained almost the same compared to last year, Greta Thunberg’s climate-focused youth movement, Fridays … “Insight of the Week: WWF, Greenpeace, and WRI Are Viewed as Leading NGOs in Advancing Sustainable Development”
Unilever remains the company most recognized by sustainability professionals across the world for its sustainability leadership, followed by Patagonia, Natura &Co, and IKEA. While the top ten companies are largely consistent over the past few years, there are some new entrants this year in the top 15 group of companies, including Kering, Schneider Electric, and Suzano. A commitment to an ambitious business model and strategy is increasingly seen as the defining attribute of corporate sustainability. Data source: GlobeScan / SustainAbility … “Insight of the Week: Unilever, Patagonia, Natura &Co, and IKEA Most Recognized For Their Sustainability Leadership”
About the 2021 Sustainability Leaders Survey Findings from a new report 2021 Sustainability Leaders by GlobeScan and The SustainAbility Institute by ERM show sustainability experts believe the global pandemic will help draw attention to environmental challenges—but will also deepen socio-economic challenges such as poverty and inequality. The GlobeScan / SustainAbility Leaders Survey has tracked global expert opinions on the evolution of the sustainability agenda since 1997. The 25th edition of this report has taken place against the unprecedented backdrop of … “The 2021 GlobeScan / SustainAbility Leaders Survey | Report & Webinar”
28 July 2021: New research from GlobeScan and the SustainAbility Institute by ERM finds that sustainability experts believe the global pandemic will help draw attention to environmental issues—but will also deepen socio-economic challenges such as poverty and inequality. The GlobeScan / SustainAbility Leaders Survey has tracked global expert opinions on the evolution of the sustainability agenda since 1997. The 25th edition of this report has taken place against the unprecedented backdrop of the pandemic, with nearly 700 sustainability experts from … “Report: Global Survey Finds Covid-19 Is Intensifying Sustainable Development Challenges, But Leading Businesses Are Stepping Up Action”
Corporate Affairs experts rank employees as their most important stakeholder group, followed by shareholders and the investment community. This finding highlights corporate efforts to connect with employees during COVID-19 and speaks to the importance of maintaining a talented workforce for long-term growth, especially in a time of purpose-driven business. Data source: Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey Report 2021
ESG performance tops the list of Corporate Affairs risk priorities globally for organizations, and Corporate Affairs professionals surveyed across the world point to climate change as the most pressing ESG issue. While climate change broadly is less top-of-mind since last year, there is a dramatic increase in concern around net zero and carbon emissions as a critical issue. This suggests that Corporate Affairs priorities are becoming more focused on net zero strategies. The COP 26 meeting in Glasgow later this … “Insight of the Week: Corporate Affairs Professionals Say Climate Change is the Most Pressing ESG Issue for Global Business”