Solve for S: How businesses can approach the S in ESG and how partnerships with civil society can help

As society is facing growing risks from the impacts of climate change, other social issues are emerging and are being seen to have a destabilising effect. While business can benefit society by employing people, paying taxes and creating services and products people want, it is within the power of businesses to go further, and to address many of these issues more directly.

This can range from being increasingly aware of the impacts they can have on their workforce, consumers and communities, to actively aiming to reduce harms and increase the benefits that result from the way that they operate. The way that the investment system provides capital can make a large difference to how businesses operate, and at the same time, there is an increasing role for civil society to play in partnerships with business in helping to deliver social benefit.

This briefing paper therefore relates to how businesses can approach the S in ESG as an investment tool, and how partnerships with civil society can help.